09/15/2023
Research Article
The proton-activated chloride (PAC) channel plays a critical role in ischemic neuron death, but its activation mechanisms remain elusive. Piao Zhao, Cheng Tang, Yuqin Yang, Hao Dong, Rajesh Khanna, Zhonghua Liu and co-authors reveal the proton gating and protonation-independent voltage gating mechanisms of the PAC channel, with implications for drug development.
Image credit: pbio.3002309
Current Issue August 2023
09/15/2023
Research Article
Overlapping genes are widely prevalent but their expression and consequences are poorly understood. Bhavesh Parmar, Liesbet Temmerman and co-workers show that the C. elegans zyxin locus, zyx-1, contains a small open reading frame, azyx-1, which has a dual cis- and trans-acting role in regulating zyx-1 isoform diversity.
Image credit: pbio.3002300
09/14/2023
Short Reports
Raimund Jung, Della David and colleagues show that, during failure of core protein quality control in C. elegans, a specialized anti-aggregation mechanism involving intracellular pathogen response factors and lysosome-mediated degradation is triggered, promoting tissue-specific resilience to age-dependent protein aggregation and its proteotoxic effects.
Image credit: pbio.3002284
09/14/2023
Research Article
Jiaojiao Hao, Jinsheng Huang, Chunyu Hua, Yan Zuo, Wuguo Deng, Fei Lin, Wei Guo and co-worker reveal that a novel TOX3-WDR5-H3K4me3/ABCG2 signaling axis is upregulated in colorectal cancer (CRC) stem cells; targeting this pathway may help overcome the challenges of drug tolerance, recurrence and metastasis. Also read the Primer by Christopher Hubert, Shaun Stauffer and Justin Lathia.
Image credit: pbio.3002256
09/12/2023
Short Reports
Susceptibility to pathogens is mitigated by the effects of diversity on epidemiological factors. This study of two major crops, by Rémi Pélissier, Jean-Benoit Morel and co-authors, shows that in the absence of epidemics, the mere growing of mixed plants from different genotypes can have stronger effects than intrinsic susceptibility levels, with implications for nature-based solutions for agriculture.
Image credit: Unsplash user Andhika-Wiguna
09/12/2023
Methods and Resources
Daylength guides the timing of biological processes in plants, but a comprehensive view of the underlying transcriptional regulation is lacking. Chun Chung Leung, Daniel Tarté, Lilijana Oliver, Qingqing Wang and Joshua Gendron use time course RNA-seq to thoroughly examine gene expression of Arabidopsis plants in three photoperiods, revealing previously unexplored photoperiodic gene regulation.
Image credit: pbio.3002283
09/14/2023
Perspective
Those who follow non-linear career trajectories often face disadvantages in academia. This Perspective looks at why individuals might choose non-linear careers and how these benefit diversity in science.
Image credit: pbio.3002291
09/11/2023
Essay
This Essay advocates combining genomic tools with partnerships with subsistence-level groups experiencing rapid lifestyle change to identify genetic loci associated with disease risk.
Image credit: pbio.3002311
09/05/2023
Essay
What are the features that make a research institute and its people flourish? This Essay explores the organization and culture of successful research institutes and looks at the lessons that can be learned from them.
Image credit: pbio.3002267
08/29/2023
Perspective
Loss of large-bodied wildlife degrades the processes in tropical forests that sequester carbon. This Perspective argues that carbon-based markets that incentivize wildlife conservation can support forest and hunting management.
Image credit: John G. Robinson
This collection explores engineering strategies to help us adapt plants to a changing climate, including breeding techniques, genome engineering, synthetic biology and microbiome engineering.
The green collection explores biological solutions that could be applied to reduce CO2 emissions, get rid of non-degradable plastics, produce food in a sustainable manner or generate energy.
This collection explores potential solutions to mitigate the impacts of human activity on ocean ecosystems to minimize or reverse degradation.
To mark 200 years since the birth of Gregor Mendel, this collection looks back at the impact of his original research and asks how well it stands up to modern views on genetics.
Nearly 50 years after researchers first found specks of plastic floating in the Atlantic Ocean, microplastics are everywhere. This collection contains evidence-based commentaries on the diverse impacts of microplastics.
September 20 - 23
Meet Senior Editor Paula Jauregui (pjaureguionieva@plos.org)
September 20 - 22
Meet Editor in Chief Nonia Pariente (npariente@plos.org)
October 4 - 7
Meet Senior Editor Richard Hodge (rhodge@plos.org)
October 11 - 14
Meet Senior Editor Richard Hodge (rhodge@plos.org)
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