Pub Date : 2024-05-15DOI: 10.1038/s41570-024-00606-1
Avik Samanta, Lorena Baranda Pellejero, Marcos Masukawa, Andreas Walther
Cells, the fundamental units of life, orchestrate intricate functions — motility, adaptation, replication, communication, and self-organization within tissues. Originating from spatiotemporally organized structures and machinery, coupled with information processing in signalling networks, cells embody the ‘sensor–processor–actuator’ paradigm. Can we glean insights from these processes to construct primitive artificial systems with life-like properties? Using de novo design approaches, what can we uncover about the evolutionary path of life? This Review discusses the strides made in crafting synthetic cells, utilizing the powerful toolbox of structural and dynamic DNA nanoscience. We describe how DNA can serve as a versatile tool for engineering entire synthetic cells or subcellular entities, and how DNA enables complex behaviour, including motility and information processing for adaptive and interactive processes. We chart future directions for DNA-empowered synthetic cells, envisioning interactive systems wherein synthetic cells communicate within communities and with living cells. Structural and dynamic DNA nanosciences offer unique tools for engineering bottom–up synthetic cells. This Review provides a holistic overview for using DNA as a structural material, for designing functional entities, and for information-processing circuits for adaptive and interactive behaviour.
细胞是生命的基本单位,协调着错综复杂的功能--运动、适应、复制、通信和组织内的自组织。细胞源于时空组织结构和机械,加上信号网络中的信息处理,体现了 "传感器-处理器-执行器 "范式。我们能否从这些过程中获得启示,构建出具有类似生命特性的原始人工系统?利用全新设计方法,我们能揭示生命进化的路径吗?本综述讨论了利用结构和动态 DNA 纳米科学的强大工具箱在制作合成细胞方面取得的进展。我们描述了 DNA 如何作为一种多功能工具来设计整个合成细胞或亚细胞实体,以及 DNA 如何实现复杂的行为,包括自适应和互动过程中的运动和信息处理。我们描绘了 DNA 驱动合成细胞的未来发展方向,设想了合成细胞在群落内以及与活细胞进行交流的互动系统。
{"title":"DNA-empowered synthetic cells as minimalistic life forms","authors":"Avik Samanta, Lorena Baranda Pellejero, Marcos Masukawa, Andreas Walther","doi":"10.1038/s41570-024-00606-1","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41570-024-00606-1","url":null,"abstract":"Cells, the fundamental units of life, orchestrate intricate functions — motility, adaptation, replication, communication, and self-organization within tissues. Originating from spatiotemporally organized structures and machinery, coupled with information processing in signalling networks, cells embody the ‘sensor–processor–actuator’ paradigm. Can we glean insights from these processes to construct primitive artificial systems with life-like properties? Using de novo design approaches, what can we uncover about the evolutionary path of life? This Review discusses the strides made in crafting synthetic cells, utilizing the powerful toolbox of structural and dynamic DNA nanoscience. We describe how DNA can serve as a versatile tool for engineering entire synthetic cells or subcellular entities, and how DNA enables complex behaviour, including motility and information processing for adaptive and interactive processes. We chart future directions for DNA-empowered synthetic cells, envisioning interactive systems wherein synthetic cells communicate within communities and with living cells. Structural and dynamic DNA nanosciences offer unique tools for engineering bottom–up synthetic cells. This Review provides a holistic overview for using DNA as a structural material, for designing functional entities, and for information-processing circuits for adaptive and interactive behaviour.","PeriodicalId":18849,"journal":{"name":"Nature reviews. Chemistry","volume":"8 6","pages":"454-470"},"PeriodicalIF":36.3,"publicationDate":"2024-05-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140945474","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-05-13DOI: 10.1038/s41570-024-00603-4
Marlous Kamp, Stefano Sacanna, Roel P. A. Dullens
Colloid science has recently grown substantially owing to the innovative use of silane coupling agents (SCAs), especially 3-trimethoxysilylpropyl methacrylate (TPM). SCAs were previously used mainly as modifying agents, but their ability to form droplets and condense onto pre-existing structures has enabled their use as a versatile and powerful tool to create novel anisotropic colloids with increasing complexity. In this Review, we highlight the advances in complex colloid synthesis facilitated by the use of TPM and show how this has driven remarkable new applications. The focus is on TPM as the current state-of-the-art in colloid science, but we also discuss other silanes and their potential to make an impact. We outline the remarkable properties of TPM colloids and their synthesis strategies, and discuss areas of soft matter science that have benefited from TPM and other SCAs. Colloid science has developed through innovative use of silane coupling agents. We highlight the advances in complex colloid synthesis, focussing on 3-trimethoxysilylpropyl methacrylate (TPM) and related compounds. We outline the remarkable properties, unique synthesis strategies and ensuing pioneering applications of TPM colloids.
{"title":"Spearheading a new era in complex colloid synthesis with TPM and other silanes","authors":"Marlous Kamp, Stefano Sacanna, Roel P. A. Dullens","doi":"10.1038/s41570-024-00603-4","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41570-024-00603-4","url":null,"abstract":"Colloid science has recently grown substantially owing to the innovative use of silane coupling agents (SCAs), especially 3-trimethoxysilylpropyl methacrylate (TPM). SCAs were previously used mainly as modifying agents, but their ability to form droplets and condense onto pre-existing structures has enabled their use as a versatile and powerful tool to create novel anisotropic colloids with increasing complexity. In this Review, we highlight the advances in complex colloid synthesis facilitated by the use of TPM and show how this has driven remarkable new applications. The focus is on TPM as the current state-of-the-art in colloid science, but we also discuss other silanes and their potential to make an impact. We outline the remarkable properties of TPM colloids and their synthesis strategies, and discuss areas of soft matter science that have benefited from TPM and other SCAs. Colloid science has developed through innovative use of silane coupling agents. We highlight the advances in complex colloid synthesis, focussing on 3-trimethoxysilylpropyl methacrylate (TPM) and related compounds. We outline the remarkable properties, unique synthesis strategies and ensuing pioneering applications of TPM colloids.","PeriodicalId":18849,"journal":{"name":"Nature reviews. Chemistry","volume":"8 6","pages":"433-453"},"PeriodicalIF":36.3,"publicationDate":"2024-05-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140914924","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-05-09DOI: 10.1038/s41570-024-00611-4
J. Catherine Ngila, Stephanie Greed
Catherine Ngila, executive director of the African Foundation for Women and Youth in Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (AFoWYESTI), talks about her experience of academia and her hopes to promote diversity in STEM.
{"title":"Empowering women and young people in STEM","authors":"J. Catherine Ngila, Stephanie Greed","doi":"10.1038/s41570-024-00611-4","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41570-024-00611-4","url":null,"abstract":"Catherine Ngila, executive director of the African Foundation for Women and Youth in Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (AFoWYESTI), talks about her experience of academia and her hopes to promote diversity in STEM.","PeriodicalId":18849,"journal":{"name":"Nature reviews. Chemistry","volume":"8 6","pages":"402-403"},"PeriodicalIF":36.3,"publicationDate":"2024-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140896964","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-05-08DOI: 10.1038/s41570-024-00613-2
Following the success of our current journal club collaborations, we would like to encourage more groups of early-career researchers to get involved.
在目前的期刊俱乐部合作取得成功后,我们希望鼓励更多的早期研究人员团体参与进来。
{"title":"Join the club","authors":"","doi":"10.1038/s41570-024-00613-2","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41570-024-00613-2","url":null,"abstract":"Following the success of our current journal club collaborations, we would like to encourage more groups of early-career researchers to get involved.","PeriodicalId":18849,"journal":{"name":"Nature reviews. Chemistry","volume":"8 6","pages":"401-401"},"PeriodicalIF":36.3,"publicationDate":"2024-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41570-024-00613-2.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140892042","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-05-08DOI: 10.1038/s41570-024-00607-0
Rachel Meyer, Mikaela Pyrch, Ambarneil Saha
Radiation-induced redox chemistry is an important consideration for practical applications such as production and storage of nuclear fuels. Furthering our fundamental understanding of radioactive elements, here, the decay kinetics of californium in the presence of common anionic compounds is studied.
{"title":"Withstanding californium’s RADiolysis","authors":"Rachel Meyer, Mikaela Pyrch, Ambarneil Saha","doi":"10.1038/s41570-024-00607-0","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41570-024-00607-0","url":null,"abstract":"Radiation-induced redox chemistry is an important consideration for practical applications such as production and storage of nuclear fuels. Furthering our fundamental understanding of radioactive elements, here, the decay kinetics of californium in the presence of common anionic compounds is studied.","PeriodicalId":18849,"journal":{"name":"Nature reviews. Chemistry","volume":"8 6","pages":"405-405"},"PeriodicalIF":36.3,"publicationDate":"2024-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140892043","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
High-entropy materials emerged as a field of research in 2004, when the first research on high-entropy alloys was published. The scope was soon expanded from high-entropy alloys to medium-entropy alloys, as well as to ceramics, polymers and composite materials. A fundamental understanding on high-entropy materials was proposed in 2006 by the ‘four core effects’ — high-entropy, severe-lattice-distortion, sluggish-diffusion and cocktail effects — which are often used to describe and explain the mechanisms of various peculiar phenomena associated with high-entropy materials. Throughout the years, the effects have been examined rigorously, and their validity has been affirmed. This Perspective discusses the fundamental understanding of the four core effects in high-entropy materials and gives further insights to strengthen the understanding for these effects. All these clarifications are believed to be helpful in understanding low-to-high-entropy materials as well as to aid the design of materials when studying new compositions or pursuing their use in applications. The four core effects of high-entropy alloys are discussed and greater insights are presented. These clarifications are helpful in understanding materials from low entropy (simple two-component or three-component alloys) to high entropy (five components or greater), and in general materials design.
{"title":"Clarifying the four core effects of high-entropy materials","authors":"Wei-Lin Hsu, Che-Wei Tsai, An-Chou Yeh, Jien-Wei Yeh","doi":"10.1038/s41570-024-00602-5","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41570-024-00602-5","url":null,"abstract":"High-entropy materials emerged as a field of research in 2004, when the first research on high-entropy alloys was published. The scope was soon expanded from high-entropy alloys to medium-entropy alloys, as well as to ceramics, polymers and composite materials. A fundamental understanding on high-entropy materials was proposed in 2006 by the ‘four core effects’ — high-entropy, severe-lattice-distortion, sluggish-diffusion and cocktail effects — which are often used to describe and explain the mechanisms of various peculiar phenomena associated with high-entropy materials. Throughout the years, the effects have been examined rigorously, and their validity has been affirmed. This Perspective discusses the fundamental understanding of the four core effects in high-entropy materials and gives further insights to strengthen the understanding for these effects. All these clarifications are believed to be helpful in understanding low-to-high-entropy materials as well as to aid the design of materials when studying new compositions or pursuing their use in applications. The four core effects of high-entropy alloys are discussed and greater insights are presented. These clarifications are helpful in understanding materials from low entropy (simple two-component or three-component alloys) to high entropy (five components or greater), and in general materials design.","PeriodicalId":18849,"journal":{"name":"Nature reviews. Chemistry","volume":"8 6","pages":"471-485"},"PeriodicalIF":36.3,"publicationDate":"2024-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140819496","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-05-02DOI: 10.1038/s41570-024-00610-5
Appie Peterson, Jennifer N. Wacker
Effective separations underpin actinide science and technologies. Here, we provide an overview of six recently reported approaches.
有效分离是锕系元素科学和技术的基础。在此,我们概述了最近报道的六种方法。
{"title":"Six degrees of actinide separation","authors":"Appie Peterson, Jennifer N. Wacker","doi":"10.1038/s41570-024-00610-5","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41570-024-00610-5","url":null,"abstract":"Effective separations underpin actinide science and technologies. Here, we provide an overview of six recently reported approaches.","PeriodicalId":18849,"journal":{"name":"Nature reviews. Chemistry","volume":"8 6","pages":"408-409"},"PeriodicalIF":36.3,"publicationDate":"2024-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140819436","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-05-02DOI: 10.1038/s41570-024-00609-y
Fa-Jie Chen
Peptide stapling has traditionally relied on the incorporation of unnatural amino acids and symmetric stapling. A recent article targets a typically inert C–H bond within the serine side chain, offering new avenues for conformational control and side chain engineering.
{"title":"Another side of side chains","authors":"Fa-Jie Chen","doi":"10.1038/s41570-024-00609-y","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41570-024-00609-y","url":null,"abstract":"Peptide stapling has traditionally relied on the incorporation of unnatural amino acids and symmetric stapling. A recent article targets a typically inert C–H bond within the serine side chain, offering new avenues for conformational control and side chain engineering.","PeriodicalId":18849,"journal":{"name":"Nature reviews. Chemistry","volume":"8 6","pages":"406-407"},"PeriodicalIF":36.3,"publicationDate":"2024-05-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140821333","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-05-01DOI: 10.1038/s41570-024-00587-1
Wendy J. Shaw, Michelle K. Kidder, Simon R. Bare, Massimiliano Delferro, James R. Morris, Francesca M. Toma, Sanjaya D. Senanayake, Tom Autrey, Elizabeth J. Biddinger, Shannon Boettcher, Mark E. Bowden, Phillip F. Britt, Robert C. Brown, R. Morris Bullock, Jingguang G. Chen, Claus Daniel, Peter K. Dorhout, Rebecca A. Efroymson, Kelly J. Gaffney, Laura Gagliardi, Aaron S. Harper, David J. Heldebrant, Oana R. Luca, Maxim Lyubovsky, Jonathan L. Male, Daniel J. Miller, Tanya Prozorov, Robert Rallo, Rachita Rana, Robert M. Rioux, Aaron D. Sadow, Joshua A. Schaidle, Lisa A. Schulte, William A. Tarpeh, Dionisios G. Vlachos, Bryan D. Vogt, Robert S. Weber, Jenny Y. Yang, Elke Arenholz, Brett A. Helms, Wenyu Huang, James L. Jordahl, Canan Karakaya, Kourosh (Cyrus) Kian, Jotheeswari Kothandaraman, Johannes Lercher, Ping Liu, Deepika Malhotra, Karl T. Mueller, Casey P. O’Brien, Robert M. Palomino, Long Qi, José A. Rodriguez, Roger Rousseau, Jake C. Russell, Michele L. Sarazen, David S. Sholl, Emily A. Smith, Michaela Burke Stevens, Yogesh Surendranath, Christopher J. Tassone, Ba Tran, William Tumas, Krista S. Walton
Electrification to reduce or eliminate greenhouse gas emissions is essential to mitigate climate change. However, a substantial portion of our manufacturing and transportation infrastructure will be difficult to electrify and/or will continue to use carbon as a key component, including areas in aviation, heavy-duty and marine transportation, and the chemical industry. In this Roadmap, we explore how multidisciplinary approaches will enable us to close the carbon cycle and create a circular economy by defossilizing these difficult-to-electrify areas and those that will continue to need carbon. We discuss two approaches for this: developing carbon alternatives and improving our ability to reuse carbon, enabled by separations. Furthermore, we posit that co-design and use-driven fundamental science are essential to reach aggressive greenhouse gas reduction targets. To achieve net-zero carbon emissions, we must close the carbon cycle for industries that are difficult to electrify. Developing the needed science to provide carbon alternatives and non-fossil carbon will accelerate advances towards defossilization.
{"title":"A US perspective on closing the carbon cycle to defossilize difficult-to-electrify segments of our economy","authors":"Wendy J. Shaw, Michelle K. Kidder, Simon R. Bare, Massimiliano Delferro, James R. Morris, Francesca M. Toma, Sanjaya D. Senanayake, Tom Autrey, Elizabeth J. Biddinger, Shannon Boettcher, Mark E. Bowden, Phillip F. Britt, Robert C. Brown, R. Morris Bullock, Jingguang G. Chen, Claus Daniel, Peter K. Dorhout, Rebecca A. Efroymson, Kelly J. Gaffney, Laura Gagliardi, Aaron S. Harper, David J. Heldebrant, Oana R. Luca, Maxim Lyubovsky, Jonathan L. Male, Daniel J. Miller, Tanya Prozorov, Robert Rallo, Rachita Rana, Robert M. Rioux, Aaron D. Sadow, Joshua A. Schaidle, Lisa A. Schulte, William A. Tarpeh, Dionisios G. Vlachos, Bryan D. Vogt, Robert S. Weber, Jenny Y. Yang, Elke Arenholz, Brett A. Helms, Wenyu Huang, James L. Jordahl, Canan Karakaya, Kourosh (Cyrus) Kian, Jotheeswari Kothandaraman, Johannes Lercher, Ping Liu, Deepika Malhotra, Karl T. Mueller, Casey P. O’Brien, Robert M. Palomino, Long Qi, José A. Rodriguez, Roger Rousseau, Jake C. Russell, Michele L. Sarazen, David S. Sholl, Emily A. Smith, Michaela Burke Stevens, Yogesh Surendranath, Christopher J. Tassone, Ba Tran, William Tumas, Krista S. Walton","doi":"10.1038/s41570-024-00587-1","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41570-024-00587-1","url":null,"abstract":"Electrification to reduce or eliminate greenhouse gas emissions is essential to mitigate climate change. However, a substantial portion of our manufacturing and transportation infrastructure will be difficult to electrify and/or will continue to use carbon as a key component, including areas in aviation, heavy-duty and marine transportation, and the chemical industry. In this Roadmap, we explore how multidisciplinary approaches will enable us to close the carbon cycle and create a circular economy by defossilizing these difficult-to-electrify areas and those that will continue to need carbon. We discuss two approaches for this: developing carbon alternatives and improving our ability to reuse carbon, enabled by separations. Furthermore, we posit that co-design and use-driven fundamental science are essential to reach aggressive greenhouse gas reduction targets. To achieve net-zero carbon emissions, we must close the carbon cycle for industries that are difficult to electrify. Developing the needed science to provide carbon alternatives and non-fossil carbon will accelerate advances towards defossilization.","PeriodicalId":18849,"journal":{"name":"Nature reviews. Chemistry","volume":"8 5","pages":"376-400"},"PeriodicalIF":36.3,"publicationDate":"2024-05-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.nature.com/articles/s41570-024-00587-1.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140819431","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2024-04-29DOI: 10.1038/s41570-024-00604-3
Tebello Nyokong, Stephanie Greed
From high school to distinguished professor of chemistry at Rhodes University, Tebello Nyokong discusses her inspiration and ambitions to promote science in South Africa.
{"title":"The power of putting education first","authors":"Tebello Nyokong, Stephanie Greed","doi":"10.1038/s41570-024-00604-3","DOIUrl":"10.1038/s41570-024-00604-3","url":null,"abstract":"From high school to distinguished professor of chemistry at Rhodes University, Tebello Nyokong discusses her inspiration and ambitions to promote science in South Africa.","PeriodicalId":18849,"journal":{"name":"Nature reviews. Chemistry","volume":"8 5","pages":"295-296"},"PeriodicalIF":36.3,"publicationDate":"2024-04-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140814901","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"化学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}