02/14/2019
Research Article
Fetal human masculinisation depends on testosterone production by the testes and an alternative “backdoor” androgen. Peter O’Shaughnessy, Michelle Bellingham, Paul Fowler and co-workers show that this androgen is likely to be androsterone, which is sexually dimorphic in the fetus but does not come from the testes; instead, synthesis probably depends on placental substrates.
Image credit: Zoe Johnston
Current Issue January 2019
02/08/2019
Research Article
Structures of the complexes formed between human superoxide dismutase-1 (SOD1) and its copper chaperone hCCS, by Fernanda Sala, Gareth Wright, Samar Hasnain and co-authors, give mechanistic insights into the interaction that culminates in SOD1 activation, minimising copper wastage and production of potentially toxic SOD1 species.
Image credit: pbio.3000141
02/11/2019
Research Article
Karine Narbonne-Reveau and Cédric Maurange find that the loss of regeneration potential in Drosophila wing imaginal discs is induced by the production of the steroid hormone ecdysone after the larva reaches its critical weight. Manipulating ecdysone signaling or the downstream transcription factors can uncouple regenerative properties from developmental progression.
Image credit: pbio.3000149
02/13/2019
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Genetic experiments in fruit flies, by Maria Yurgel, Alex Keene and co-authors, identify a single pair of neurons in the lateral horn of the brain that express the neuromodulator leucokinin and are required for the integration of sleep and feeding states.
Image credit: pbio.2006409
02/12/2019
Perspective
Bodo Stern and Erin O’Shea propose new practices for scientific publishing that align better with today's digital environment than do legacy practices. In a separate article, Björn Brembs asserts that the most prestigious journals publish the least reliable science, and asks how long we can afford to reward scientists for publishing there.
Image credit: congerdesign, Pixabay
02/11/2019
Research Article
A study of Drosophila species with independently formed sex chromosomes, by Chris Ellison and Doris Bachtrog, reveals that diverse mutational paths are utilized to evolve hundreds of de novo binding motifs for the dosage compensation complex; the “genomic environment” is an important determinant in the outcome of evolutionary adaptations.
Image credit: pbio.3000094
02/13/2019
Unsolved Mystery
Emily Dangelmaier, Sarah Lazar and Ashish Lal explore mechanisms by which long noncoding RNAs might regulate such a subset downstream of p53, a well-studied transcription factor and major tumor suppressor.
Image credit: RCSB PDB
02/07/2019
Short Reports
A marine fish, the cleaner wrasse, appears to perform all the appropriate behavioural responses during the mirror, or mark test. Does this mean that cleaner wrasse are self-conscious? Read the accompanying Primer.
Image credit: Alex Jordan
02/04/2019
Research Article
Many Gram-negative bacteria communicate using quorum-sensing autoinducers called DSFs. Structure-function studies in Burkholderia reveal the interaction of a DSF with its receptor as well as the interaction of the receptor with the DSF synthase.
Image credit: pbio.3000123
02/04/2019
Research Article
A massive survey of Earth's bacteria and archaea reveals that their diversity is orders of magnitude lower than previously thought. The study also indicates that extinctions played an important role in prokaryotic evolution.
Image credit: qimono, Pixabay
Susanna Bidgood explores the future of using poxviruses as versatile tools for cell biology research.
Rachel Harding proposes that open notebooks present an opportunity for researchers to showcase their work and rapidly advance science in their field
On the eve of the UN General Assembly meeting on TB, Christoph Grundner urged the need to consider basic research as an essential component of any future anti-TB strategy.
Norman Pace remembers the early days of what became known as "metagenomics," as experienced by the author during his development as a scientist.
Rodrigo Almeida argues that considering the social context of emerging plant diseases and effective science communication are essential for the management epidemics.
Meet Senior Editor Ines Alvarez-Garcia in Keystone, CO.
January 27-31, 2019
Meet Senior Editor Lauren Richardson in La Jolla, CA.
January 22-24, 2019
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