For the first time in the world, the molecular structure of the motor component that powers the gliding apparatus of Mycoplasma mobile, one of the few mycoplasma bacteria that can move, has been revealed by an Osaka Metropolitan University-led research team using cryo-electron microscopy.

A team of researchers from the School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong (HKU), addressed these questions in a recent paper in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), USA, by compiling information on nearly 15,000 funded projects focused on species conservation. Professor Benoit GUÉNARD, the lead author of the study, noted that, “Our first conclusion is that funding for species conservation research remains extremely limited with only US$ 1.93 billion allocated over 25 years in the projects we assessed.”

Researchers from Osaka University found that TEX38 and ZDHHC19 co-localize on the plasma membrane of spermatids and mediate S-palmitoylation of ARRDC5, a crucial protein for spermatogenesis. Disrupting either TEX38 or ZDHHC19 inhibited cytoplasm removal from the sperm head, resulting in deformed sperm and infertility in a male mouse model.

DNA repair proteins act like the body’s editors, constantly finding and reversing damage to our genetic code. Researchers have long struggled to understand how cancer cells hijack one of these proteins—called polymerase theta (Pol-theta)—for their own survival. But scientists at Scripps Research have now captured the first detailed images of Pol-theta in action, revealing the molecular processes responsible for a range of cancers.

Antibiotic resistance is a global concern that threatens our ability to prevent and treat bacterial infections in humans and animals. To better monitor the emergence and spread of resistance, researchers at the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology developed a CRISPR-enriched metagenomics method for the enhanced surveillance of antibiotic resistance genes, ARGs, in wastewater.

Researchers at the University of Calgary are suggesting a more comprehensive approach for identifying at-risk wildlife populations — such as caribou — based on individual movement patterns. The paper, published on Feb. 20 in the journal Biological Conservation, uses a long-term dataset of caribou wearing GPS collars across Western Canada. It identifies six distinct behavioural groups that would each deserve their own conservation actions.

A recent review in Engineering explores multi-photon 3D nanoprinting. This technology, with its unique 3D processing and nanoscale resolution, has wide applications in fields like optics and biology. However, it faces challenges such as slow processing speed and material limitations. The article also looks at potential solutions and future development directions, offering insights into the future of this technology in manufacturing.