Structural Biology Planet

Dehydrin proteins are generally induced in response to low temperature stress. PicW2 is a dehydrin protein and its expression is associated with cold hardiness. To understand the low temperature tolerance mechanism, prokaryotically expressed PicW2 protein was purified using chitosan affinity chromatography and gel filtration, crystallized using the vapour-diffusion method. Finally, we got the crystallographic information and analysed the result of X-ray diffraction.

The Staphylococcus epidermidis lipase (SeLip, GehC) can be used in flavour-compound production via esterification in aqueous solution. This study reports the crystallization and crystallographic analysis of recombinant GehC (rGehC; Lys303–Lys688) with a molecular weight of 43 kDa. rGehC was crystallized at 293 K using PEG 10 000 as a precipitant, and a 99.9% complete native data set was collected from a cooled crystal at 77 K to a resolution of 1.9 Å with an overall Rmerge value of 7.3%. The crystals were orthorhombic and belonged to space group P212121, with unit-cell parameters a = 42.07, b = 59.31, c = 171.30 Å, α = β = γ = 90°. Solvent-content calculations suggest that there is likely to be one lipase subunit in the asymmetric unit.

Customers put off electric cars … by electric-car sales staff

Customers put off electric cars … by electric-car sales staff, Published online: 21 May 2018; doi:10.1038/d41586-018-05218-6

Electric cars are gaining ground fast but face fossil-fuel favouritism in the showroom.

The brain waves that make frogs pitch perfect

The brain waves that make frogs pitch perfect, Published online: 21 May 2018; doi:10.1038/d41586-018-05237-3

A subset of neurons helped two species to evolve distinct courting trills.

Observation of anisotropic magneto-Peltier effect in nickel

Observation of anisotropic magneto-Peltier effect in nickel, Published online: 21 May 2018; doi:10.1038/s41586-018-0143-x

A ‘magneto-Peltier effect’ produces cooling or heating in a material without junctions, by forcing a change in angle between the current and magnetization in a single ferromagnetic nickel slab.

Deep-diving Antarctic seals take climate change’s measure

Deep-diving Antarctic seals take climate change’s measure, Published online: 21 May 2018; doi:10.1038/d41586-018-05204-y

Animals equipped with special sensors collect data that could be used to sharpen climate models' projections of rising seas.

Announcement: Ebola research and Nature

Announcement: Ebola research and <i>Nature</i>, Published online: 21 May 2018; doi:10.1038/d41586-018-05230-w

Announcement: Ebola research and Nature

Sticky tape on historic artworks comes clean

Sticky tape on historic artworks comes clean, Published online: 21 May 2018; doi:10.1038/d41586-018-05238-2

Solvent nanodroplets allow safe removal of old adhesive.

The Galaxy’s full glory revealed

The Galaxy’s full glory revealed, Published online: 21 May 2018; doi:10.1038/d41586-018-05229-3

Effort to measure the Milky Way’s disk yields a surprise.