stVCR: spatiotemporal dynamics of single cells www.nature.com/articles/s4...

You might have heard the claim that human genetic evidence increases drug success rate by 2-3 times.

I did a deep dive into the paper making the claim, discussing the nuances of using human genetic insights in drug development.

Composite SMG5-SMG6 PIN domain formation is essential for NMD | Nature Communications Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD) relies on the coordinated assembly and action of multiple protein factors. Degradation of target mRNAs begins with endonucleolytic cleavage near premature stop codons, but the mechanisms of endonuclease activation and regulation remain unclear. Using structural predictions, biochemical in vitro assays, and cell-based NMD analysis, we show that SMG5 and SMG6 interact via their PIN domains to form a composite interface (cPIN) with full endonuclease activity. In vitro reconstituted SMG5-SMG6 cPIN heterodimers show high activity, as SMG5 completes the SMG6 active site and substrate binding site. Mutations in residues at their predicted interaction surfaces, RNA-binding sites, or active site attenuate or abolish cPIN activity in vitro and impair cellular NMD. Our findings demonstrate how paralogous PIN domains complement each other to assemble a highly active endonuclease in NMD, providing a structural and mechanistic explanation for efficient NMD sub

New insights into NMD: SMG5 and SMG6 form a composite PIN domain, critical for mRNA decay via endonucleolytic cleavage near premature stop codons. PMID:41714610, Nat Commun 2026, @NatureComms https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-69819-w #Medsky #Pharmsky #RNA #ASHG #ESHG 🧪

Durable alloy anode for Na-ion batteries with high volumetric energy density - Nature Energy Alloy anodes can boost the energy density of Na-ion batteries but suffer from instability, and current strategies trade off performance and scalability. Here the authors develop a high-loading Sn anode reinforced with single-walled carbon nanotube networks, achieving high capacity and long-term cycling performance.

Yongsheng Hu and team develop durable Sn anodes for Na-ion batteries with high volumetric energy density.

Forget SkinTok: the real science of skincare and why it matters for your health Nature - Skip the complicated regimens and expensive products seen on social media. The science of skin is deep but the recommendations are simple.

Although there are a plethora of products and elaborate routines that promise seemingly flawless skin, maintaining healthy skin often demands a simple approach

go.nature.com/4s9IJ8k

New ACC/AHA Guidelines published today for lipids address measuring Lp(a) and ApoB www.jacc.org/doi/10.1016/...
and gift link summary www.wsj.com/health/welln...

the secret to rust is to have several projects going so you can fiddle with another one while you wait for the linker

PEX14 acts as a molecular link between optineurin and the autophagic machinery to induce #pexophagy. From Hongli Li, Marc Fransen and colleagues (KU Leuven): rupress.org/jcb/article/...

📕 Part of #Autophagy 2026 👉 rupress.org/jcb/collecti...
#GRC

America’s endgame. 🤡

@politico.com
www.politico.com/news/2026/03...

Comparative Epigenomics Reveals that RNA Polymerase II Pausing and Chromatin Domain Organization Control Nematode piRNA Biogenesis piRNAs are an important genome regulatory mechanism conserved across metazoans. In the nematode C. elegans, piRNA biogenesis evolved several differences from other metazoans. Beltran et al. study the ...

Happy pi (RNA) day everyone! And what better way to enjoy than to revisit the unusual features of nematode piRNAs: www.cell.com/developmenta...

Thank you @thevirusmc.bsky.social for the visit and making a bunch of us very happy at Heidelberg 😊 It was nice to celebrate (watch this space!) & as always talk science. Awesome hearing all the cool stories that the Clavel lab is cooking @mpi-mp-potsdam.bsky.social

'Virtual cell' captures most-basic process of life: bacterial division Nature - Researchers simulated nearly every molecule in a bacterial cell — and then watched the cell grow and reproduce.

For the first time, researchers have simulated nearly every chemical reaction in a living bacterial cell

go.nature.com/4bp0jOy

M&uumlllerian duct maintenance at the cranial region is promoted by Gata2 https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.03.11.711111v1

More MAHA

Portable AI tool helps triage breast cancer risk Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 12 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s44222-026-00426-6An article in Technology in Cancer Research & Treatment reports the clinical evaluation of JULIETA, a portable, non-invasive, radiation-free device that uses bioimpedance spectroscopy and artificial intelligence to identify electrical tissue patterns associated with potentially malignant breast changes.

ICYMI: Portable AI tool helps triage breast cancer risk

Engineering considerations for paediatric drug delivery Nature Reviews Bioengineering, Published online: 12 March 2026; doi:10.1038/s44222-026-00418-6Designing therapeutics for children requires careful consideration of age-dependent anatomy, physiology and immunology. This Review discusses the engineering and optimization of drug delivery systems for paediatric microenvironments to prevent, treat and cure childhood diseases.

ICYMI: Engineering considerations for paediatric drug delivery

Roles of microtubules and LIS1 in dynein transport machinery assembly | Nature Cytoplasmic dynein-1, a microtubule (MT)-based motor protein, requires dynactin and a coiled-coil adaptor to form the processive dynein–dynactin–adaptor (DDA) complex1,2. The roles of MTs and dynein regulator lissencephaly-1 (LIS1) in DDA assembly have remained elusive. Here we use cryo-electron microscopy to determine the structural basis of MT- and LIS1-mediated DDA assembly. We show that an adaptor-independent dynein–dynactin complex spontaneously forms on MTs with an intrinsic 2:1 stoichiometry in a highly efficient manner, driven by parallel alignment of dynein tails upon MT binding. Adaptors can wedge into and exchange within the assembled MT-bound dynein–dynactin complex; these processes are enabled by relative rotations between dynein and dynactin and facilitated by the dynein light-intermediate chains that assist the adaptor ‘search’ mechanism. Although LIS1 is dispensable for efficient DD(A)–MT assembly, its presence expands the conformational landscape of DD(A) assemblies on

Study reveals dynein motor protein spontaneously forms a 2:1 dynein-dynactin complex on microtubules. LIS1's role in this assembly unveiled via cryo-EM. PMID:41708859, Nature 2026, @Nature https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-026-10153-y #Medsky #Pharmsky #RNA #ASHG #ESHG 🧪

US researchers are advising students not to enter academia A survey of NIH-grantees in Massachusetts reveals delayed hiring in labs, layoffs, careers being pursued abroad and research scope reductions

US researchers are advising students not to enter academia.

"More than two-thirds of the researchers in Massachusetts... who responded to a survey conducted by The Boston Globe recommend their students consider careers outside academia."

#AcademicSky

www.chemistryworld.com/news/us-rese...

I assume none of your fathers are proud of you, but I am

​​UMD LEAD Lab Manager Ad The Language, Experience, and Development (LEAD) lab at the University of Maryland, College Park, directed by Dr. Rachel Romeo (she/her/hers), is seeking a lab manager. Expected start date is early su...

I am hiring a new lab manager for the @umdleadlab.bsky.social to start this summer! Job ad and link to apply here. Please re-post and share with your seniors, and/or anyone else who would be a good fit! docs.google.com/document/d/1...

WTF?

Investigadores alemanes desarrollan sistema para transportar hidrógeno líquido a −253 °C hacia las turbinas de los aviones Científicos alemanes prueban cómo llevar hidrógeno líquido extremadamente frío desde el tanque hasta el motor de un avión.

Investigadores alemanes desarrollan sistema para transportar hidrógeno líquido a −253 °C hacia las turbinas de los aviones.

ecoinventos.com/investigador...

Every mlb team needs a Dominican star for the vibes and aura.

It is science.

Why some Gen Z workers are already planning for early retirement This 26-year-old is part of a growing wave of young savers taking advantage of employer retirement plans and using index funds to build long-term wealth.

Boston-based financial analyst Ryan Lowe is a 26-year-old still decades away from retirement age, but that hasn’t stopped him from saving for it in hopes that he can enjoy it sooner reut.rs/4sdlQ42

Antibiotic use and gut microbiome composition links from individual-level prescription data of 14,979 individuals - Nature Medicine Using individual-level data from the Swedish Prescribed Drug Register and fecal metagenomes of 14,979 individuals in Sweden, the authors examined the association between oral antibiotic use over 8 yea...

#NatMicroPicks

Antibiotics in the long run ⌛💊🦠

Antibiotic use shows lasting associations with reduced gut microbial diversity for up to 8 years, indicating long-term impacts on the adult gut microbiome.

#MicroSky #MicrobiomeSky

www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Src is inverted onto the cell surface in cancer cells.

Interesting observation with potentially significant implications:

Intracellular N-myristoylated proteins, such as Src, may be topologically inverted onto the cell surface in cancer and targeted.

Facebook makes it easier for creators to report impersonators | TechCrunch Facebook is making it easier for creators to report impersonators while tightening rules around reposts and other unoriginal content.

Facebook is making it easier for creators to report impersonators while tightening rules around reposts and other unoriginal content.

Local cloud enhancement associated with urban morphology: evidence from observations and idealized large-eddy simulations - Nature Communications Using cloud observations from 44 US cities and large-eddy simulations, this study shows that taller buildings strengthen urban-breeze updrafts, while denser buildings suppress vertical turbulence, tog...

New study based on #cloud observations from 44 US cities and large-eddy simulations shows that taller buildings strengthen #urban - #breeze updrafts, while denser buildings suppress vertical #turbulence, reshaping #moisture transport and cloud formation. www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Plasmids promote antimicrobial resistance through insertion sequence-mediated gene inactivation - Nature Microbiology Inactivation of chromosomal genes through plasmid-encoded IS elements is an extended mechanism of antimicrobial resistance evolution in bacteria.

Final version of our last paper is out!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Saskatchewan Book Awards Announces 2026 Shortlist Regina & Saskatoon, SK — March 6, 2026 - Saskatchewan Book Awards Saskatchewan Book Awards recognizes and celebrates excellence and diversity in Saskatchewan writing and publishing.

We are pleased to have two books shortlisted for the 2026 Saskatchewan Book Awards! Elizabeth Quinlan for Standing Up to Big Nickel: The Story of the Mine, Mill, and Smelter Workers Strike & Bohdan Kordan for No Place Like Home: Enemy Alien Internment in Canada during the Great War.