Nature Communications - 27 December 2012

Weekly Content Alert 27 December 2012 Featured image: Zhang et al. report the first assembly for the Chinese plum genome as an important step to understand the evolution of Rosaceae. Latest content: Articles Journal homepage Recommend to library Web feed     Latest Articles View all Articles     From chaos to selective ordering of vortex cores in interacting mesomagnets S. Jain, V. Novosad, F.Y. Fradin, J.E. Pearson, V. Tiberkevich, A.N. Slavin and S.D. Bader The collective gyrotropic excitation of an array of spin vortices has frequencies that depend on the polarities and chirality of individual vortices. This work demonstrates control of the spectral response of the system by tuning the excitation frequency or the external magnetic field. 27 Dec | Nat Commun 3:1330 doi:10.1038/ncomms2331 (2012) Physical sciences Materials science Nanotechnology Abstract | Full Text | PDF (2,678 kB) | Supplementary Information Extracellular Ca2+ is a danger signal activating the NLRP3 inflammasome through G protein-coupled calcium sensing receptors OPEN Manuela Rossol, Matthias Pierer, Nora Raulien, Dagmar Quandt, Undine Meusch, Kathrin Rothe, Kristin Schubert, Torsten Schöneberg, Michael Schaefer, Ute Krügel, Sanela Smajilovic, Hans Bräuner-Osborne, Christoph Baerwald and Ulf Wagner Levels of extracellular calcium can increase at sites of infection and inflammation; however, the physiological significance of this has been unclear. This work shows that extracellular calcium acts as a danger signal, triggering the NLRP3 inflammasome via two G protein-coupled receptors. 27 Dec | Nat Commun 3:1329 doi:10.1038/ncomms2339 (2012) Biological sciences Immunology  Abstract | Full Text | PDF (635 kB) | Supplementary Information Alba shapes the archaeal genome using a delicate balance of bridging and stiffening the DNA OPEN Niels Laurens, Rosalie P.C. Driessen, Iddo Heller, Daan Vorselen, Maarten C. Noom, Felix J.H. Hol, Malcolm F. White, Remus T. Dame and Gijs J.L. Wuite How the genome is physically organized is less understood in archaea than in eubacteria or eukaryotes. Laurens et al. measure DNA binding by the Sulfolobus solfataricus proteins Alba1 and Alba2 using single-molecule techniques and conclude that the presence of Alba2 leads to more bridging between DNA. 27 Dec | Nat Commun 3:1328 doi:10.1038/ncomms2330 (2012) Biological sciences Biochemistry Biophysics  Molecular biology Abstract | Full Text | PDF (1,651 kB) | Supplementary Information Experimental implementation of bit commitment in the noisy-storage model Nelly Huei Ying Ng, Siddarth K. Joshi, Chia Chen Ming, Christian Kurtsiefer and Stephanie Wehner In quantum communication, the noisy-storage model assumes that an attacker’s memory device is imperfect, thus enabling two parties to implement protocols securely. Using polarization-entangled photon pairs, Ng et al. analyse and verify a two-party bit commitment protocol within the noisy-storage. 27 Dec | Nat Commun 3:1326 doi:10.1038/ncomms2268 (2012) Physical sciences Applied physics  Optical physics  Abstract | Full Text | PDF (354 kB) | Supplementary Information High-speed and high-efficiency travelling wave single-photon detectors embedded in nanophotonic circuits OPEN W.H.P. Pernice, C. Schuck, O. Minaeva, M. Li, G.N. Goltsman, A.V. Sergienko and H.X. Tang High-efficiency and high-speed single-photon detectors are vital for quantum optical technologies. Using superconducting nanowire detectors on nanophotonic waveguides, Pernice et al. demonstrate on-chip single-photon detection efficiencies up to 91% at telecommunications wavelengths. 27 Dec | Nat Commun 3:1325 doi:10.1038/ncomms2307 (2012) Physical sciences Applied physics  Nanotechnology  Optical physics  Abstract | Full Text | PDF (1,150 kB) | Supplementary Information Ultrasensitive magnetic field detection using a single artificial atom M. Bal, C. Deng, J-L. Orgiazzi, F.R. Ong and A. Lupascu For the ultrasensitive detection of magnetic fields either atomic transitions or superconducting circuits are used. Bal et al. combine such approaches and demonstrate a superconducting device functioning as an artificial atom for magnetic field detection with high sensitivity and spatial resolution. 27 Dec | Nat Commun 3:1324 doi:10.1038/ncomms2332 (2012) Physical sciences Applied physics  Condensed matter  Abstract | Full Text | PDF (851 kB) | Supplementary Information Fluid flow and interlinked feedback loops establish left–right asymmetric decay of Cerl2 mRNA Tetsuya Nakamura, Daisuke Saito, Aiko Kawasumi, Kyosuke Shinohara, Yasuko Asai, Katsuyoshi Takaoka, Fenglan Dong, Atsuko Takamatsu, Jose Antonio Belo, Atsushi Mochizuki and Hiroshi Hamada During embryonic development, midline fluid flow results in asymmetric nodal gene expression. Using genetic manipulations and mathematical modelling, Nakamura et al. find that expression of the nodal antagonist Cerl2 is regulated post-transcriptionally, and that asymmetry is maintained by Wnt-Cerl2 feedback loops. 27 Dec | Nat Commun 3:1322 doi:10.1038/ncomms2319 (2012) Biological sciences Developmental biology  Genetics Abstract | Full Text | PDF (4,144 kB) | Supplementary Information High internal quantum efficiency in fullerene solar cells based on crosslinked polymer donor networks OPEN Bo Liu, Rui-Qi Png, Li-Hong Zhao, Lay-Lay Chua, Richard H. Friend and Peter K.H. Ho The conversion efficiency of organic solar cells depends on the shape of the interface between their donor and acceptor components. Liu et al. demonstrate a scalable method using crosslinked polymer networks to fabricate the finely interpenetrating structures needed to achieve near-perfect internal quantum efficiency. 27 Dec | Nat Commun 3:1321 doi:10.1038/ncomms2211 (2012) Physical sciences Materials science  Abstract | Full Text | PDF (908 kB) | Supplementary Information In vivo imaging of virological synapses Xaver Sewald, David G. Gonzalez, Ann M. Haberman and Walther Mothes In vitro, retroviruses spread between cells via structures resembling synapses. Sewald et al. now demonstrate that virological synapses can also be observed in living mice by intravital microscopy, validating this concept in vivo. 27 Dec | Nat Commun 3:1320 doi:10.1038/ncomms2338 (2012) Biological sciences Immunology  Microbiology Virology Abstract | Full Text | PDF (3,304 kB) | Supplementary Information Structured patterns in geographic variability of metabolic phenotypes in Arabidopsis thaliana Sabrina Kleessen, Carla Antonio, Ronan Sulpice, Roosa Laitinen, Alisdair R. Fernie, Mark Stitt and Zoran Nikoloski Plants such as Arabidopsis have evolved genetic adaptations to their geographic location. Here, a network-based approach is applied to study the link between geographic location and heterogeneous molecular phenotypes, revealing a pattern of isolation by distance in genotypic variability, flowering and metabolic phenotypes. 27 Dec | Nat Commun 3:1319 doi:10.1038/ncomms2333 (2012) Biological sciences Genetics  Plant sciences Systems biology Abstract | Full Text | PDF (639 kB) | Supplementary Information The genome of Prunus mume  OPEN Qixiang Zhang, Wenbin Chen, Lidan Sun, Fangying Zhao, Bangqing Huang, Weiru Yang, Ye Tao, Jia Wang, Zhiqiong Yuan, Guangyi Fan, Zhen Xing, Changlei Han, Huitang Pan, Xiao Zhong, Wenfang Shi, Xinming Liang, Dongliang Du, Fengming Sun, Zongda Xu, Ruijie Hao, Tian Lv, Yingmin Lv, Zequn Zheng, Ming Sun, Le Luo, Ming Cai, Yike Gao, Junyi Wang, Ye Yin, Xun Xu, Tangren Cheng and Jun Wang The Prunus mume was domesticated in China over 3,000 years ago and is an important ornamental plant and fruit. Here Qixiang Zhang et al. obtain the first assembly of its genome with a combination of next-generation sequencing, whole-genome mapping and restriction-site-associated DNA. 27 Dec | Nat Commun 3:1318 doi:10.1038/ncomms2290 (2012) Biological sciences Bioinformatics  Genetics Plant sciences Abstract | Full Text | PDF (754 kB) | Supplementary Information Activity of the mitochondrial calcium uniporter varies greatly between tissues Francesca Fieni, Sung Bae Lee, Yuh Nung Jan and Yuriy Kirichok The flow of calcium into the mitochondrial matrix is mediated by the mitochondrial calcium uniporter. Fieni et al. apply patch-clamp techniques to mitoplasts isolated from different mouse and Drosophila tissues and find that the mitochondrial calcium uniporter activity varies depending on the tissue studied. 27 Dec | Nat Commun 3:1317 doi:10.1038/ncomms2325 (2012) Biological sciences Biophysics  Abstract | Full Text | PDF (5,700 kB) Pioneer glutamatergic cells develop into a morpho-functionally distinct population in the juvenile CA3 hippocampus OPEN Thomas Marissal, Paolo Bonifazi, Michel Aimé Picardo, Romain Nardou, Ludovic Franck Petit, Agnès Baude, Gordon James Fishell, Yehezkel Ben-Ari and Rosa Cossart The heterogeneity of cortical interneurons results from spatio-temporal differences in embryonic origin. Marissal et al. show that early-generated glutamatergic neurons display distinct morpho-functional features, suggesting that temporal factors are also important in determining glutamatergic function. 27 Dec | Nat Commun 3:1316 doi:10.1038/ncomms2318 (2012) Biological sciences Developmental biology  Neuroscience Abstract | Full Text | PDF (2,926 kB) | Supplementary Information Observations of ubiquitous compressive waves in the Sun’s chromosphere Richard J. Morton, Gary Verth, David B. Jess, David Kuridze, Michael S. Ruderman, Mihalis Mathioudakis and Robertus Erdélyi A full understanding of the heating and dynamics of the Sun's atmosphere remains elusive, but magnetohydrodynamic waves are believed to be crucial. Using observations from the ROSA imager, this study finds compressive waves in the solar chromosphere, which may provide the energy needed for coronal heating. 27 Dec | Nat Commun 3:1315 doi:10.1038/ncomms2324 (2012) Physical sciences Astronomy  Fluids and plasma physics  Abstract | Full Text | PDF (1,154 kB) | Supplementary Information Atomic-scale engineering of magnetic anisotropy of nanostructures through interfaces and interlines OPEN S. Ouazi, S. Vlaic, S. Rusponi, G. Moulas, P. Buluschek, K. Halleux, S. Bornemann, S. Mankovsky, J. Minár, J.B. Staunton, H. Ebert and H. Brune The design and assembly of nanostructures exhibiting ferromagnetic hysteresis at room temperature are recognized goals for high-density data storage. Here, the authors engineer nanostructures with atomically sharp bimetallic interfaces and interlines, which exhibit large magnetic anisotropy and high temperature hysteresis. 27 Dec | Nat Commun 3:1313 doi:10.1038/ncomms2316 (2012) Chemical sciences Inorganic chemistry  Nanotechnology Physical chemistry Abstract | Full Text | PDF (1,366 kB) | Supplementary Information Phospho-dependent ubiquitination and degradation of PAR-1 regulates synaptic morphology and tau-mediated Aβ toxicity in Drosophila Seongsoo Lee, Ji-Wu Wang, Wendou Yu and Bingwei Lu PAR-1 in Drosophila has been identified as a key physiological tau kinase. Lee and colleagues perform genetic screens for regulators of PAR-1 and find that it is targeted for ubiquitination and degradation by the ubiquitin ligase complex SCF(Slimb), and that this pathway modulates synaptic morphology. 27 Dec | Nat Commun 3:1312 doi:10.1038/ncomms2278 (2012) Biological sciences Cell biology  Neuroscience  Abstract | Full Text | PDF (2,105 kB) | Supplementary Information   Nature Communications JOBS of the week Lead World-Changing Research to Improve Health Outcomes University of Sydney Postdoc Evolutionary Genetics Jagiellonian University in Krakow Assistant or Associate Professor (Tenure-track) Louisiana State Univeristy Postdoctoral Research Associate Aston University, School of Life and Health Sciences More Science jobs from Nature Communications EVENT European Climate Change Adaptation Conference 2013 18.-20.03.13 Hamburg, Germany More science events from     Natureevents is a fully searchable, multi-disciplinary database designed to maximise exposure for events organisers. 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