Nature Structural & Molecular Biology (original) (raw)

Pair of pretzels

RNA loops in splicing

Two studies report cryo-EM structures of naturally occurring circularly permuted group II introns revealing mechanisms of branching, self-splicing and circular RNA formation.

A metabolic hub in ciliary and flagellar motion

Radial spokes link the doublet microtubules at the periphery of the cilium to the central pair complex at its core. The detailed morphology and function of the radial spoke 3 (RS3) complex was unknown, but a new study reports its structure and reveals its role in metabolism.

Announcements

Collection on AI in structural biology

New call for submissions to our cross-journal collection on Artificial Intelligence Methodology and Applications in Structural Biology
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Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2024

The 2024 Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to David Baker “for computational protein design” and to Demis Hassabis and John M. Jumper “for protein structure prediction”. In recognition of this award, Nature Portfolio presents a collection of research, review and opinion articles that celebrates both contributions by the awardees and the advances they have inspired.

Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2024

The 2024 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded jointly to Victor Ambros and Gary Ruvkun "for the discovery of microRNA and its role in post-transcriptional gene regulation". To celebrate the award, Nature Portfolio presents a Collection, which includes publications from the winners, essential reviews on the topic, and further insightful research.

Latest Research articles

Structural basis for the synergistic assembly of the snRNA export complex

Dubiez and colleagues present a cryo-EM structure of the complex responsible for nuclear export of pre-small nuclear RNAs, comprising CBC–PHAX–CRM1–RanGTP. The structure provides insights into the complex architecture, assembly and target RNA recognition.

SNARE disassembly requires Sec18/NSF side loading

Khan et al. show that Sec18 uses both D1 and D2 AAA+ rings cooperatively, opening them laterally for SNARE substrate loading and for subsequent release of SNAREs.

Cell cycle regulation has shaped replication origins in budding yeast

Licensing of eukaryotic origins of replication with MCM double hexamers (DHs) can occur through distinct pathways. Here, Lim et al. show that in yeast, cell cycle-dependent regulation of DH formation by CDK and origin structure have co-evolved.

Latest Reviews & Analysis