@article{20351, abstract = {Rab GTPases organize intracellular trafficking and provide identity to organelles. Their spatiotemporal activation by guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) is tightly controlled to ensure fidelity. Our structural and functional comparison of the tri-longin domain RabGEFs Mon1-Ccz1 and Fuzzy-Inturned reveals the molecular basis for their target specificity. Both complexes rely on a conserved sequence motif of their substrate GTPases for the catalytic mechanism, while secondary interactions allow discrimination between targets. We also find that dimeric Mon1-Ccz1 from fungi and the metazoan homologs with the additional third subunit RMC1/Bulli bind membranes through electrostatic interactions via distinct interfaces. Protein-lipid interaction studies and functional characterization in flies reveal an essential function of RMC1/Bulli as mediator of GEF complex membrane recruitment. In the case of Fuzzy-Inturned, reconstitution experiments demonstrate that the BAR (Bin-Amphiphysin-Rvs) domain protein CiBAR1 can support membrane recruitment of the GEF. Collectively, our study demonstrates the molecular basis for the adaptation of TLD-RabGEFs to different cellular functions.}, author = {Wilmes, Stephan and Tönjes, Jesse and Drechsler, Maik and Ruf, Anita and Schäfer, Jan Hannes and Lürick, Anna and Januliene, Dovile and Apelt, Steven and Di Iorio, Daniele and Wegner, Seraphine V. and Loose, Martin and Moeller, Arne and Paululat, Achim and Kümmel, Daniel}, issn = {2375-2548}, journal = {Science Advances}, number = {35}, pages = {eadx2893}, publisher = {AAAS}, title = {{Mechanistic adaptation of the metazoan RabGEFs Mon1-Ccz1 and Fuzzy-Inturned}}, doi = {10.1126/sciadv.adx2893}, volume = {11}, year = {2025}, } @article{20352, abstract = {At high metallicity, a majority of massive stars have at least one close stellar companion. The evolution of such binaries is subject to strong interaction processes, which heavily impact the characteristics of their life-ending supernova and compact remnants. For the low-metallicity environments of high-redshift galaxies, constraints on the multiplicity properties of massive stars over the separation range leading to binary interaction are crucially missing. Here we show that the presence of massive stars in close binaries is ubiquitous, even at low metallicity. Using the Very Large Telescope, we obtained multi-epoch radial velocity measurements of a representative sample of 139 massive O-type stars across the Small Magellanic Cloud, which has a metal content of about one-fifth of the solar value. We find that 45% of them show radial velocity variations that demonstrate that they are members of close binary systems, and predominantly have orbital periods shorter than 1 year. Correcting for observational biases indicates that at least 70+11−6 % of the O stars in our sample are in close binaries, and that at least 68+7 −8% of all O stars interact with a companion star during their lifetime. We found no evidence supporting a statistically significant trend of the multiplicity properties with metallicity. Our results indicate that multiplicity and binary interactions govern the evolution of massive stars and determine their cosmic feedback and explosive fates.}, author = {Sana, H. and Shenar, T. and Bodensteiner, J. and Britavskiy, N. and Langer, N. and Lennon, D. J. and Mahy, L. and Mandel, I. and De Mink, S. E. and Patrick, L. R. and Villaseñor, J. I. and Dirickx, M. and Abdul-Masih, M. and Almeida, L. A. and Backs, F. and Berlanas, S. R. and Bernini-Peron, M. and Bowman, D. M. and Bronner, V. A. and Crowther, P. A. and Deshmukh, K. and Evans, C. J. and Fabry, M. and Gieles, M. and Gilkis, A. and González-Torà, G. and Gräfener, G. and Götberg, Ylva Louise Linsdotter and Hawcroft, C. and Hénault-Brunet, V. and Herrero, A. and Holgado, G. and Izzard, R. G. and De Koter, A. and Janssens, S. and Johnston, C. and Josiek, J. and Justham, S. and Kalari, V. M. and Klencki, J. and Kubát, J. and Kubátová, B. and Lefever, R. R. and Van Loon, J. Th and Ludwig, B. and Mackey, J. and Maíz Apellániz, J. and Maravelias, G. and Marchant, P. and Mazeh, T. and Menon, A. and Moe, M. and Najarro, F. and Oskinova, L. M. and Ovadia, R. and Pauli, D. and Pawlak, M. and Ramachandran, V. and Renzo, M. and Rocha, D. F. and Sander, A. A.C. and Schneider, F. R.N. and Schootemeijer, A. and Schösser, E. C. and Schürmann, C. and Sen, K. and Shahaf, S. and Simón-Díaz, S. and Van Son, L. A.C. and Stoop, M. and Toonen, S. and Tramper, F. and Valli, R. and Vigna-Gómez, A. and Vink, J. S. and Wang, C. and Willcox, R.}, issn = {2397-3366}, journal = {Nature Astronomy}, pages = {1337--1346}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, title = {{A high fraction of close massive binary stars at low metallicity}}, doi = {10.1038/s41550-025-02610-x}, volume = {9}, year = {2025}, } @phdthesis{20362, author = {Babic, David}, issn = {2663-337X}, pages = {116}, publisher = {Institute of Science and Technology Austria}, title = {{Mechanisms of auxin-mediated early embryogenesis in Arabidopsis thaliana}}, doi = {10.15479/AT-ISTA-20362}, year = {2025}, } @article{20370, abstract = {The Huntingtin protein (HTT), named for its role in Huntington’s disease, has been best understood as a scaffolding protein that promotes vesicle transport by molecular motors along microtubules. Here, we show that HTT also interacts with the actin cytoskeleton, and its loss of function disturbs the morphology and function of the axonal growth cone. We demonstrate that HTT organizes F-actin into bundles. Cryo–electron tomography (cryo-ET) and subtomogram averaging (STA) structural analyses reveal that HTT’s N-terminal HEAT and Bridge domains wrap around F-actin, while the C-terminal HEAT domain is displaced; furthermore, HTT dimerizes via the N-HEAT domain to bridge parallel actin filaments separated by ~20 nanometers. Our study provides the structural basis for understanding how HTT interacts with and organizes the actin cytoskeleton.}, author = {Carpentier, Rémi and Kim, Jaesung and Capizzi, Mariacristina and Kim, Hyeongju and Fäßler, Florian and Hansen, Jesse and Kim, Min Jeong and Denarier, Eric and Blot, Béatrice and Degennaro, Marine and Labou, Sophia and Arnal, Isabelle and Marcaida, Maria J. and Peraro, Matteo Dal and Kim, Doory and Schur, Florian KM and Song, Ji-Joon and Humbert, Sandrine}, issn = {2375-2548}, journal = {Science Advances}, number = {38}, publisher = {AAAS}, title = {{Structure of the Huntingtin F-actin complex reveals its role in cytoskeleton organization}}, doi = {10.1126/sciadv.adw4124}, volume = {11}, year = {2025}, } @article{20374, abstract = {Pioneer transcription factors (TFs) engage chromatinized DNA motifs. However, it is unclear how the resultant TF-nucleosome complexes are decoded by co-factors. In humans, the TF p53 regulates cell-cycle progression, apoptosis, and the DNA damage response, with a large fraction of p53-bound sites residing in nucleosome-harboring inaccessible chromatin. We examined the interaction of chromatin-bound p53 with co-factors belonging to the ubiquitin proteasome system (UPS). At two distinct motif locations on the nucleosome (super-helical location [SHL]−5.7 and SHL+5.9), the E3 ubiquitin ligase E6-E6AP was unable to bind nucleosome-engaged p53. The deubiquitinase USP7, on the other hand, readily engages nucleosome-bound p53 in vitro and in cells. A corresponding cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM) structure shows USP7 engaged with p53 and nucleosomes. Our work illustrates how chromatin imposes a co-factor-selective barrier for p53 interactors, whereby flexibly tethered interaction domains of co-factors and TFs govern compatibility between co-factors, TFs, and chromatin.}, author = {Chakraborty, Deyasini and Sandate, Colby R. and Isbel, Luke and Kempf, Georg and Weiss, Joscha and Cavadini, Simone and Kater, Lukas and Seebacher, Jan and Kozicka, Zuzanna and Stoos, Lisa and Grand, Ralph S. and Schübeler, Dirk and Michael, Alicia and Thomä, Nicolas H.}, issn = {1097-2765}, journal = {Molecular Cell}, number = {15}, pages = {2919--2936.e12}, publisher = {Elsevier}, title = {{Nucleosomes specify co-factor access to p53}}, doi = {10.1016/j.molcel.2025.06.027}, volume = {85}, year = {2025}, } @phdthesis{20393, author = {Kishi, Kasumi}, issn = {2663-337X}, pages = {102}, publisher = {Institute of Science and Technology Austria}, title = {{Regulation of notochord and floor plate size during mouse development}}, doi = {10.15479/AT-ISTA-20393}, year = {2025}, } @article{20402, abstract = {The recent classification of the onset of turbulence as a directed percolation (DP) phase transition has been applied to all major shear flows including pipe, channel, Couette and boundary layer flows. A cornerstone of the DP analogy is the memoryless (Poisson) property of turbulent sites. We here show that, for the classic case of channel flow, neither the decay nor the proliferation of turbulent stripes is memoryless. As demonstrated by a standard analysis of the respective survival curves, isolated channel stripes, in the immediate vicinity of the critical point, age. Consequently, the one to one mapping between turbulent stripes and active DP-sites is not fulfilled in this low Reynolds number regime. In addition, the interpretation of turbulence as a chaotic saddle with supertransient properties, the basis of recent theoretical progress, does not apply to individual localized stripes. The discrepancy between channel flow and the transition models established for pipe and Couette flow, illustrates that seemingly minor geometrical differences between flows can give rise to instabilities and growth mechanisms that fundamentally alter the nature of the transition to turbulence.}, author = {Vasudevan, Mukund and Paranjape, Chaitanya S and Sitte, Michael Philip and Yalniz, Gökhan and Hof, Björn}, issn = {2041-1723}, journal = {Nature Communications}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, title = {{Aging and memory of transitional turbulence}}, doi = {10.1038/s41467-025-63044-7}, volume = {16}, year = {2025}, } @article{20404, abstract = {Collagens are fundamental components of extracellular matrices, requiring precise intracellular post-translational modifications for proper function. Among the modifications, prolyl 4-hydroxylation is critical to stabilise the collagen triple helix. In humans, this reaction is mediated by collagen prolyl 4-hydroxylases (P4Hs). While humans possess three genes encoding these enzymes (P4H⍺s), Drosophila melanogaster harbour at least 26 candidates for collagen P4H⍺s despite its simple genome, and it is poorly understood which of them are actually working on collagen in the fly. In this study, we addressed this question by carrying out thorough bioinformatic and biochemical analyses. We demonstrate that among the 26 potential collagen P4H⍺s, PH4⍺EFB shares the highest homology with vertebrate collagen P4H⍺s. Furthermore, while collagen P4Hs and their substrates must exist in the same cells, our transcriptomic analyses at the tissue and single cell levels showed a global co-expression of PH4⍺EFB but not the other P4H⍺-related genes with the collagen IV genes. Moreover, expression of PH4⍺EFB during embryogenesis was found to precede that of collagen IV, presumably enabling efficient collagen modification by PH4⍺EFB. Finally, biochemical assays confirm that PH4⍺EFB binds collagen, supporting its direct role in collagen IV modification. Collectively, we identify PH4⍺EFB as the primary and potentially constitutive prolyl 4-hydroxylase responsible for collagen IV biosynthesis in Drosophila. Our findings highlight the remarkably simple nature of Drosophila collagen IV biosynthesis, which may serve as a blueprint for defining the minimal requirements for collagen engineering.}, author = {Ishikawa, Yoshihiro and Toups, Melissa A and Elkrewi, Marwan N and Zajac, Allison L. and Horne-Badovinac, Sally and Matsubayashi, Yutaka}, issn = {1569-1802}, journal = {Matrix Biology}, number = {11}, pages = {101--113}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, title = {{Evidence for the major role of PH4⍺EFB in the prolyl 4-hydroxylation of Drosophila collagen IV}}, doi = {10.1016/j.matbio.2025.09.002}, volume = {141}, year = {2025}, } @article{20405, abstract = {Dielectric breakdown of physical vacuum (Schwinger effect) is the textbook demonstration of compatibility of Relativity and Quantum theory. Although observing this effect is still practically unachievable, its analogue generalizations have been shown to be more readily attainable. This paper demonstrates that a gapped Dirac semiconductor, methylammonium lead-bromide perovskite (MAPbBr3), exhibits analogue dynamic Schwinger effect. Tunneling ionization under deep subgap mid-infrared irradiation leads to intense photoluminescence in the visible range, in full agreement with quasi-adiabatic theory. In addition to revealing a gapped extended system suitable for studying the analogue Schwinger effect, this observation holds great potential for nonperturbative field sensing, i.e., sensing electric fields through nonperturbative light-matter interactions. First, this paper illustrates this by measuring the local deviation from the nominally cubic phase of a perovskite single crystal, which can be interpreted in terms of frozen-in fields. Next, it is shown that analogue dynamic Schwinger effect can be used for nonperturbative amplification of nonparametric upconversion process in perovskites driven simultaneously by multiple optical fields. This discovery demonstrates the potential for material response beyond perturbation theory in the tunneling regime, offering extremely sensitive light detection and amplification across an ultrabroad spectral range not accessible by conventional devices.}, author = {Lorenc, Dusan and Volosniev, Artem and Zhumekenov, Ayan A. and Lee, Seungho and Ibáñez, Maria and Bakr, Osman M. and Lemeshko, Mikhail and Alpichshev, Zhanybek}, issn = {2330-4022}, journal = {ACS Photonics}, number = {9}, pages = {5220--5230}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, title = {{Observation of analogue dynamic Schwinger effect and non-perturbative light sensing in lead halide perovskites}}, doi = {10.1021/acsphotonics.5c01360}, volume = {12}, year = {2025}, } @article{20406, abstract = {The origin of the rest-optical emission of compact, red, high-redshift sources known as little red dots (LRDs) poses a major puzzle. If interpreted as starlight, it would imply that LRDs constitute the densest stellar systems in the Universe. However, alternative models suggest active galactic nuclei (AGN) may instead power the rest-optical continuum. Here, we present JWST/NIRSpec, NIRCam, and MIRI observations from the RUBIES and PRIMER programs of The Cliff: a bright LRD at z = 3.55 with an exceptional Balmer break, twice as strong as that of any high-redshift source previously observed. The spectra also reveal broad hydrogen (Hα FWHM ∼ 1500 km s−1) and He I emission, but no significant metal lines. We demonstrate that massive evolved stellar populations cannot explain the observed spectrum, even when considering unusually steep and strong dust attenuation or reasonable variations in the initial mass function. Moreover, the formally best-fit stellar mass and compact size (M* ∼ 1010.5 M⊙,  re ∼ 40 pc) would imply densities at which near-monthly stellar collisions might lead to significant X-ray emission. We argue that the Balmer break, emission lines, and Hα absorption line are instead most plausibly explained by a black hole star (BH*) scenario, in which dense gas surrounds a powerful ionising source. In contrast to recently proposed BH* models of dust-reddened AGN, we show that spectral fits in the rest UV to near-infrared favour an intrinsically redder continuum over strong dust reddening. This may point to a super-Eddington accreting massive black hole or, possibly, the presence of (super)massive stars in a nuclear star cluster. The Cliff is the clearest evidence to date that at least some LRDs are not ultra-dense massive galaxies, and are instead powered by a central ionising source embedded in dense, absorbing gas.}, author = {De Graaff, Anna and Rix, Hans Walter and Naidu, Rohan P. and Labbé, Ivo and Wang, Bingjie and Leja, Joel and Matthee, Jorryt J and Katz, Harley and Greene, Jenny E. and Hviding, Raphael E. and Baggen, Josephine and Bezanson, Rachel and Boogaard, Leindert A. and Brammer, Gabriel and Dayal, Pratika and Van Dokkum, Pieter and Goulding, Andy D. and Hirschmann, Michaela and Maseda, Michael V. and Mcconachie, Ian and Miller, Tim B. and Nelson, Erica and Oesch, Pascal A. and Setton, David J. and Shivaei, Irene and Weibel, Andrea and Whitaker, Katherine E. and Williams, Christina C.}, issn = {1432-0746}, journal = {Astronomy & Astrophysics}, publisher = {EDP Sciences}, title = {{A remarkable ruby: Absorption in dense gas, rather than evolved stars, drives the extreme Balmer break of a little red dot at z = 3.5}}, doi = {10.1051/0004-6361/202554681}, volume = {701}, year = {2025}, } @article{20407, abstract = {We suggest a new algorithm to estimate representations of compact Lie groups from finite samples of their orbits. Different from other reported techniques, our method allows the retrieval of the precise representation type as a direct sum of irreducible representations. Moreover, the knowledge of the representation type permits the reconstruction of its orbit, which is useful for identifying the Lie group that generates the action, from a finite list of candidates. Our algorithm is general for any compact Lie group, but only instantiations for SO(2), T^d, SU(2), and SO(3) are considered. Theoretical guarantees of robustness in terms of Hausdorff and Wasserstein distances are derived. Our tools are drawn from geometric measure theory, computational geometry, and optimization on matrix manifolds. The algorithm is tested for synthetic data up to dimension 32, as well as real-life applications in image analysis, harmonic analysis, density estimation, equivariant neural networks, chemical conformational spaces, and classical mechanics systems, achieving very accurate results.}, author = {Ennes, Henrique and Tinarrage, Raphaël}, issn = {1615-3383}, journal = {Foundations of Computational Mathematics}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, title = {{LieDetect: Detection of representation orbits of compact Lie groups from point clouds}}, doi = {10.1007/s10208-025-09728-4}, year = {2025}, } @phdthesis{20415, author = {Lee, Seungho}, issn = {2663-337X}, pages = {144}, publisher = {Institute of Science and Technology Austria}, title = {{Nanoparticle-based precursors toward advanced crystalline inorganic solids}}, doi = {10.15479/AT-ISTA-20415}, year = {2025}, } @article{20424, abstract = {Homeostasis relies on a precise balance of fate choices between renewal and differentiation. Although progress has been done to characterize the dynamics of single-cell fate choices, their underlying mechanistic basis often remains unclear. Concentrating on skin epidermis as a paradigm for multilayered tissues with complex fate choices, we develop a 3D vertex-based model with proliferation in the basal layer, showing that mechanical competition for space naturally gives rise to homeostasis and neutral drift dynamics that are seen experimentally. We then explore the effect of introducing mechanical heterogeneities between cellular subpopulations. We uncover that relatively small tension heterogeneities, reflected by distinct morphological changes in single-cell shapes, can be sufficient to heavily tilt cellular dynamics towards exponential growth. We thus derive a master relationship between cell shape and long-term clonal dynamics, which we validated during basal cell carcinoma initiation in mouse epidermis. Altogether, we propose a theoretical framework to link mechanical forces, quantitative cellular morphologies and cellular fate outcomes in complex tissues.}, author = {Sahu, Preeti and Monteiro-Ferreira, Sara and Canato, Sara and Soares, Raquel Maia and Sánchez-Danés, Adriana and Hannezo, Edouard B}, issn = {2041-1723}, journal = {Nature Communications}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, title = {{Mechanical control of cell fate decisions in the skin epidermis}}, doi = {10.1038/s41467-025-62882-9}, volume = {16}, year = {2025}, } @article{20425, abstract = {Ultraviolet (UV) radiation from accreting black holes ionizes the intergalactic gas around early quasars, carving out highly ionized bubbles in their surroundings. Any changes in a quasar’s luminosity are therefore predicted to produce outward-propagating ionization gradients, affecting the Lyα absorption opacity near the quasar’s systemic redshift. This “proximity effect” is well-documented in rest-UV quasar spectra but only provides a one-dimensional probe along our line of sight. Here we present deep spectroscopic observations with the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) of galaxies in the background of a superluminous quasar at zQSO ≈ 6.3, which reveal the quasar’s “light echo” with Lyα tomography in the transverse direction. This transverse proximity effect is detected for the first time toward multiple galaxy sightlines, allowing us to map the extent and geometry of the quasar’s ionization cone. We obtain constraints on the orientation and inclination of the cone, as well as an upper limit on the obscured solid angle fraction of fobsc < 91%. Additionally, we find a timescale of the quasar’s UV radiation of tqso = 10^5.6+0.1-0.3 yr, which is significantly shorter than would be required to build up the central supermassive black hole (SMBH) with conventional growth models, but is consistent with independent measurements of the quasars’ duty cycle. Our inferred obscured fraction disfavors a scenario where short quasar lifetimes can be explained exclusively by geometric obscuration, and instead supports the idea that radiatively inefficient accretion or growth in initially heavily enshrouded cocoons plays a pivotal role in early SMBH growth. Our results pave the way for novel studies of quasars’ ionizing geometries and radiative histories at early cosmic times.}, author = {Eilers, Anna Christina and Yue, Minghao and Matthee, Jorryt J and Hennawi, Joseph F. and Davies, Frederick B. and Simcoe, Robert A. and Teague, Richard and Bordoloi, Rongmon and Brammer, Gabriel and Kang, Yi and Kashino, Daichi and Mackenzie, Ruari and Naidu, Rohan P. and Navarrete, Benjamín}, issn = {2041-8213}, journal = {The Astrophysical Journal Letters}, number = {2}, publisher = {IOP Publishing}, title = {{The light echo of a high-redshift quasar mapped with Lyα tomography}}, doi = {10.3847/2041-8213/ae057a}, volume = {991}, year = {2025}, } @article{20426, abstract = {SnTe has attracted significant research interest as a lead-free alternative to PbTe; however, its intrinsically high hole concentration results in an undesirably low Seebeck coefficient and elevated electronic thermal conductivity, thus significantly limiting its thermoelectric (TE) performance. Herein, we present a cost-effective, binary thiol-amine-mediated colloidal synthesis method to synthesize Bi-doped SnTe nanoparticles, eliminating the use of tri-n-octylphosphine-based precursors. The introduction of an electron-rich Bi dopant reduces the hole concentration and increases the Seebeck coefficient. Furthermore, post-synthetic surface treatment with chalcogenidocadmate complexes promotes atomic interdiffusion during annealing and consolidation, leading to compositional redistribution and modulation of the electronic band structure. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations reveal that co-modification via Bi doping and CdSe-derived chalcogen incorporation reduces the energy offset at the valence band maxima from 0.30 eV to 0.10 eV, thereby enhancing valence band degeneracy. The synergistic structural and electronic band structure modulations produce an SnTe-based material with a record high power factor of 2.1 mW m–1 K–2 at 900 K, a maximum TE figure of merit (zT) of 1.2, and a promising theoretical conversion efficiency of 8.3%. This study reports a versatile and scalable colloidal synthesis strategy that integrates hierarchical structural modulation with electronic band engineering, offering a synergistic route to significantly enhance the TE performance.}, author = {Meng, Weite and Xu, Lixiang and Lu, Shaoqing and Li, Mingquan and Li, Mengyao and Zhang, Yu and Wang, Qingyue and Wang, Wen Jun and Huo, Siqi and Bañares, Miguel A. and Martin-Gonzalez, Marisol and Ibáñez, Maria and Cabot, Andreu and Hong, Min and Liu, Yu and Lim, Khak Ho}, issn = {1936-086X}, journal = {ACS Nano}, number = {38}, pages = {34395--34407}, publisher = {American Chemical Society}, title = {{Thiol-Amine complexes for the synthesis and surface engineering of SnTe nanomaterials toward high thermoelectric performance}}, doi = {10.1021/acsnano.5c12627}, volume = {19}, year = {2025}, } @article{20427, abstract = {Animal cells migrating up chemotactic gradients often show speed oscillations. A new study describes a molecular circuit that switches zebrafish germ cells between phases of straight runs, tumbling and directional reorientation.}, author = {Li, Ziqiang and Sixt, Michael K}, issn = {1879-0445}, journal = {Current Biology}, number = {18}, pages = {R890--R892}, publisher = {Elsevier}, title = {{Cell migration: How animal cells run and tumble}}, doi = {10.1016/j.cub.2025.08.016}, volume = {35}, year = {2025}, } @article{20428, author = {Noël, Timothy and Pieber, Bartholomäus}, issn = {1860-5397}, journal = {Beilstein Journal of Organic Chemistry}, pages = {1645--1647}, publisher = {Beilstein Institut}, title = {{Photocatalysis and photochemistry in organic synthesis}}, doi = {10.3762/bjoc.21.128}, volume = {21}, year = {2025}, } @article{20429, abstract = {Plant–plant interactions are key to understanding ecosystem services and shaping restoration strategies, as they can produce either negative or positive effects, determining species establishment and growth. Recognizing these interactions during early-life stages provides valuable insights for restoration in human-disturbed areas. One promising approach is nucleation planting, which establishes small clusters of native species in strategically selected sites, being particularly useful in sites with large herbivores. In southern Patagonia, livestock production has historically been the main economic activity, severely impacting extensive areas of Nothofagus antarctica forest through grazing and intentional burning to increase forage. In this context, nucleation planting with Berberis microphylla, a non-palatable shrub, could foster forest recovery in degraded sites. To evaluate this, we conducted an experiment testing the response of trees to varying shrub number, while also assessing intraspecific effects in both species. We measured survival, biomass, and functional traits. Results showed that the combination of four shrubs surrounding a single tree maintained tree survival at levels comparable to trees growing alone, while seedlings exhibited conspecific negative plant number dependence. Additionally, B. microphylla increased its below- to above-ground biomass ratio under higher plant number, indicating resource reallocation and niche differentiation through spatial separation of root systems.}, author = {Bustamante, Gimena Noemí and Arena, Miriam Elisabet and Selzer, Luciano and Ruggirello, Matthew and Rodríguez, Paula and Pedrazzani, Samuele and Navarro-Cano, Jose Antonio and Soler Schaller, Rosina Matilde}, issn = {1573-5052}, journal = {Plant Ecology}, pages = {1301--1313}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, title = {{Biotic interactions between trees and colonizing shrubs: Implications for active restoration in southern Patagonian forests}}, doi = {10.1007/s11258-025-01568-0}, volume = {226}, year = {2025}, } @article{20430, abstract = {Protein design has focused on the design of ground states, ensuring that they are sufficiently low energy to be highly populated1. Designing the kinetics and dynamics of a system requires, in addition, the design of excited states that are traversed in transitions from one low-lying state to another2,3. This is a challenging task because such states must be sufficiently strained to be poorly populated, but not so strained that they are not populated at all, and because protein design methods have focused on generating near-ideal structures4,5,6,7. Here we describe a general approach for designing systems that use an induced-fit power stroke8 to generate a structurally frustrated9 and strained excited state, allosterically driving protein complex dissociation. X-ray crystallography, double electron–electron resonance spectroscopy and kinetic binding measurements show that incorporating excited states enables the design of effector-induced increases in dissociation rates as high as 5,700-fold. We highlight the power of this approach by designing rapid biosensors, kinetically controlled circuits and cytokine mimics that can be dissociated from their receptors within seconds, enabling dissection of the temporal dynamics of interleukin-2 signalling.}, author = {Broerman, Adam J. and Pollmann, Christoph and Zhao, Yang and Lichtenstein, Mauriz A. and Jackson, Mark D. and Tessmer, Maxx H. and Ryu, Won Hee and Ogishi, Masato and Abedi, Mohamad H. and Sahtoe, Danny D. and Allen, Aza and Kang, Alex and De La Cruz, Joshmyn and Brackenbrough, Evans and Sankaran, Banumathi and Bera, Asim K. and Zuckerman, Daniel M. and Stoll, Stefan and Garcia, K. Christopher and Praetorius, Florian M and Piehler, Jacob and Baker, David}, issn = {1476-4687}, journal = {Nature}, pages = {528--535}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, title = {{Design of facilitated dissociation enables timing of cytokine signalling}}, doi = {10.1038/s41586-025-09549-z}, volume = {647}, year = {2025}, } @article{20431, abstract = {Haptotaxis is the process of directed cell migration along gradients of extracellular matrix density and is central to morphogenesis, immune responses and cancer invasion. It is commonly assumed that cells respond to these gradients by migrating directionally towards the regions of highest ligand density. In contrast with this view, here we show that cells exposed to micropatterned fibronectin gradients exhibit a wide range of complex trajectories, including directed haptotactic migration up the gradient but also linear oscillations and circles with extended periods of migration down the gradient. To explain this behaviour, we developed a biophysical model of haptotactic cell migration based on a coarse-grained molecular clutch model coupled to persistent stochastic polarity dynamics. Although initial haptotactic migration is explained by the differential friction at the front and back of the cell, the observed complex trajectories over longer timescales arise from the interplay between differential friction, persistence and physical confinement. Overall, our study reveals that confinement and persistence modulate the ability of cells to sense and respond to haptotactic cues and provides a framework for understanding how cells navigate complex environments.}, author = {Fortunato, Isabela Corina and Brückner, David and Grosser, Steffen and Nautiyal, Rohit and Rossetti, Leone and Bosch-Padrós, Miquel and Trebicka, Jonel and Roca-Cusachs, Pere and Sunyer, Raimon and Hannezo, Edouard B and Trepat, Xavier}, issn = {1745-2481}, journal = {Nature Physics}, pages = {1638--1647}, publisher = {Springer Nature}, title = {{Single-cell migration along and against confined haptotactic gradients}}, doi = {10.1038/s41567-025-03015-3}, volume = {21}, year = {2025}, }