Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) are emerging environmental pollutants, yet their behavior in the atmosphere remains poorly understood. Using an innovative method capable of detecting plastic particles as small as 200 nanometers, we quantified MPs and NPs in aerosols, dry and wet deposition, and resuspension in two Chinese megacities, Guangzhou and Xi’an. Airborne concentrations reached 1.8 × 105 MPs per cubic meter and 5.0 × 104 NPs per cubic meter in Guangzhou and 1.4 × 105 MPs per cubic meter and 3.0 × 104 NPs per cubic meter in Xi’an. Estimates revealed a variation of two to five orders of magnitude in MP and NP fluxes across major atmospheric compartments, dominated by road dust resuspension and rainfall-driven wet precipitation. Plastic particles were more heterogeneously mixed in deposition samples than in aerosols and resuspension, indicating enhanced aggregation and removal. These results provide an integrated assessment of MPs and NPs in urban atmospheric processes and offer critical insights into their transformation, fate, and potential implication for climate, ecosystems, and human health.
{"title":"Abundance of microplastics and nanoplastics in urban atmosphere","authors":"Tafeng Hu, Chongchong Zhang, Yuqing Zhu, Jing Duan, Suixin Liu, Niu Jin, Yingpan Song, Feng Wu, Jianjun Li, Ting Zhang, Hongya Niu, Xuxiang Li, Hong Huang, Gary S. Casuccio, Yu Huang, Kin-Fai Ho, Junji Cao, Daizhou Zhang","doi":"10.1126/sciadv.adz7779","DOIUrl":"10.1126/sciadv.adz7779","url":null,"abstract":"<div >Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) are emerging environmental pollutants, yet their behavior in the atmosphere remains poorly understood. Using an innovative method capable of detecting plastic particles as small as 200 nanometers, we quantified MPs and NPs in aerosols, dry and wet deposition, and resuspension in two Chinese megacities, Guangzhou and Xi’an. Airborne concentrations reached 1.8 × 10<sup>5</sup> MPs per cubic meter and 5.0 × 10<sup>4</sup> NPs per cubic meter in Guangzhou and 1.4 × 10<sup>5</sup> MPs per cubic meter and 3.0 × 10<sup>4</sup> NPs per cubic meter in Xi’an. Estimates revealed a variation of two to five orders of magnitude in MP and NP fluxes across major atmospheric compartments, dominated by road dust resuspension and rainfall-driven wet precipitation. Plastic particles were more heterogeneously mixed in deposition samples than in aerosols and resuspension, indicating enhanced aggregation and removal. These results provide an integrated assessment of MPs and NPs in urban atmospheric processes and offer critical insights into their transformation, fate, and potential implication for climate, ecosystems, and human health.</div>","PeriodicalId":21609,"journal":{"name":"Science Advances","volume":"12 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":12.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145908248","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Kevin O. Tamadonfar, Roger D. Klein, Edward D. B. Lopatto, Maxwell I. Zimmerman, Philippe N. Azimzadeh, Denise A. Sanick, Justin R. Porter, Jesus Bazan Villicana, Jerome S. Pinkner, Bo Huey Chiang, Nathaniel C. Gualberto, Karen W. Dodson, Michael L. Patnode, George M. H. Birchenough, Gregory R. Bowman, Scott J. Hultgren
The Yeh chaperone-usher pathway (CUP) pilus adhesin is encoded in one-half of all Escherichia coli. Yet little is known about its structure and function in E. coli persistence and pathogenesis. Structural investigations reveal that the adhesin receptor binding domains (RBDs) of YehD and its relative YhlD both share a canonical β-rich core and an α-helical flap motif that is hinged at the distal end of the core. This flap was observed in both open and closed conformations using molecular dynamics simulations. The closed conformation is dependent on a hydrophobic patch of amino acids on the distal end of the flap. Functionally, YehDRBD is able to bind pectin, a polysaccharide ubiquitous in plant material. Mutations that interrupt the closed conformation increase the affinity of the protein to pectin, suggesting that the flap contributes mechanistically to pectin binding. Furthermore, in vivo, the pilus contributes to gastrointestinal (GI) tract colonization in the absence of the type 1 pilus. Hence, we report the ability of YehD to bind pectin representing a possible colonization mechanism of the GI tract via a structurally distinct CUP adhesin.
{"title":"The Yeh pilus adhesin is equipped with an α-helical flap motif, which contributes to pectin adherence","authors":"Kevin O. Tamadonfar, Roger D. Klein, Edward D. B. Lopatto, Maxwell I. Zimmerman, Philippe N. Azimzadeh, Denise A. Sanick, Justin R. Porter, Jesus Bazan Villicana, Jerome S. Pinkner, Bo Huey Chiang, Nathaniel C. Gualberto, Karen W. Dodson, Michael L. Patnode, George M. H. Birchenough, Gregory R. Bowman, Scott J. Hultgren","doi":"10.1126/sciadv.adz1301","DOIUrl":"10.1126/sciadv.adz1301","url":null,"abstract":"<div >The Yeh chaperone-usher pathway (CUP) pilus adhesin is encoded in one-half of all <i>Escherichia coli</i>. Yet little is known about its structure and function in <i>E. coli</i> persistence and pathogenesis. Structural investigations reveal that the adhesin receptor binding domains (RBDs) of YehD and its relative YhlD both share a canonical β-rich core and an α-helical flap motif that is hinged at the distal end of the core. This flap was observed in both open and closed conformations using molecular dynamics simulations. The closed conformation is dependent on a hydrophobic patch of amino acids on the distal end of the flap. Functionally, YehD<sub>RBD</sub> is able to bind pectin, a polysaccharide ubiquitous in plant material. Mutations that interrupt the closed conformation increase the affinity of the protein to pectin, suggesting that the flap contributes mechanistically to pectin binding. Furthermore, in vivo, the pilus contributes to gastrointestinal (GI) tract colonization in the absence of the type 1 pilus. Hence, we report the ability of YehD to bind pectin representing a possible colonization mechanism of the GI tract via a structurally distinct CUP adhesin.</div>","PeriodicalId":21609,"journal":{"name":"Science Advances","volume":"12 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":12.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145908206","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Membrane fission is an energy-consuming process, critical for all domains of life. Prototypical fission machineries use local energy input such as nucleoside triphosphate hydrolysis to constrict and cut membranes. However, some membrane fission reactions paradoxically rely on protein scaffolds that by themselves stabilize rather than cut membranes. It turns out these proteins do not work alone; they use nonlocal energy input that generates a membrane tension gradient. Such a gradient mobilizes membrane flow that in turn tends to relax the membrane tension gradient. By interfering with membrane flow, the protein scaffold causes the membrane tension to increase unchecked to the point of mechanical failure, membrane fission. This friction-driven scission (FDS) mechanism is generic, conserved from bacteria to humans, and only requires two ingredients: a membrane tension generating process and a protein scaffold that hinders the associated membrane flow. Because both are often present in cells, it is likely that FDS contributes to membrane fission more frequently than previously appreciated.
{"title":"Friction-driven scission: How nonlocal mechanisms contribute to membrane fission across domains of life","authors":"Ane Landajuela, Carolina Gomis Perez, Patricia Bassereau, Andrew Callan-Jones, Erdem Karatekin","doi":"10.1126/sciadv.adz7607","DOIUrl":"10.1126/sciadv.adz7607","url":null,"abstract":"<div >Membrane fission is an energy-consuming process, critical for all domains of life. Prototypical fission machineries use local energy input such as nucleoside triphosphate hydrolysis to constrict and cut membranes. However, some membrane fission reactions paradoxically rely on protein scaffolds that by themselves stabilize rather than cut membranes. It turns out these proteins do not work alone; they use nonlocal energy input that generates a membrane tension gradient. Such a gradient mobilizes membrane flow that in turn tends to relax the membrane tension gradient. By interfering with membrane flow, the protein scaffold causes the membrane tension to increase unchecked to the point of mechanical failure, membrane fission. This friction-driven scission (FDS) mechanism is generic, conserved from bacteria to humans, and only requires two ingredients: a membrane tension generating process and a protein scaffold that hinders the associated membrane flow. Because both are often present in cells, it is likely that FDS contributes to membrane fission more frequently than previously appreciated.</div>","PeriodicalId":21609,"journal":{"name":"Science Advances","volume":"12 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":12.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145908239","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Janni Yuval, Ian Langmore, Dmitrii Kochkov, Stephan Hoyer
General circulation models (GCMs) struggle to accurately simulate precipitation, particularly extremes and the diurnal cycle, which are crucial for both human activities and natural processes. Although hybrid models combining machine learning and physics offer a promising avenue to improve the simulation of precipitation, they have yet to outperform existing GCMs. Here, we present a hybrid model built on the differentiable NeuralGCM framework. This differentiability facilitates direct training on satellite-based precipitation observations, unlike previous attempts at hybrid models that relied on high-resolution simulations as training data. Our model runs at 2.8° resolution and, in the context of climate, demonstrates substantial improvements over existing GCMs, the ERA5 reanalysis, and a global cloud-resolving model in simulating precipitation. In the context of mid-range precipitation forecasting, it outperforms the ECMWF ensemble. This advance paves the way for more reliable simulations of current climate and demonstrates how training on observations can be used to improve GCMs.
{"title":"Neural general circulation models for modeling precipitation","authors":"Janni Yuval, Ian Langmore, Dmitrii Kochkov, Stephan Hoyer","doi":"10.1126/sciadv.adv6891","DOIUrl":"10.1126/sciadv.adv6891","url":null,"abstract":"<div >General circulation models (GCMs) struggle to accurately simulate precipitation, particularly extremes and the diurnal cycle, which are crucial for both human activities and natural processes. Although hybrid models combining machine learning and physics offer a promising avenue to improve the simulation of precipitation, they have yet to outperform existing GCMs. Here, we present a hybrid model built on the differentiable NeuralGCM framework. This differentiability facilitates direct training on satellite-based precipitation observations, unlike previous attempts at hybrid models that relied on high-resolution simulations as training data. Our model runs at 2.8° resolution and, in the context of climate, demonstrates substantial improvements over existing GCMs, the ERA5 reanalysis, and a global cloud-resolving model in simulating precipitation. In the context of mid-range precipitation forecasting, it outperforms the ECMWF ensemble. This advance paves the way for more reliable simulations of current climate and demonstrates how training on observations can be used to improve GCMs.</div>","PeriodicalId":21609,"journal":{"name":"Science Advances","volume":"12 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":12.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145908240","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Human intelligence arises from the interplay between a compliant morphology and a cognitive system that is capable of adaptive learning. Soft robots exhibit similar mechanical compliance, but they still need learning capabilities that can be generalized across tasks and adapted to unknown conditions. We present a neuron-inspired control framework that couples a paired offline-online decomposition with a learned contraction metric. Offline “structural synapses” encode task-agnostic features, while online “plastic synapses” are configuration-specific parameters updated by error-gated rules consistent with long-term potentiation and depression. The contraction metric serves as a homeostatic constraint, providing a stability guarantee. We validate our approach on cable-driven and shape-memory-alloy soft arms across trajectory tracking, pick-and-place, and whole-body shaping tasks. Compared with baseline methods, our approach reduces tracking error by 44 to 55% and maintains more than 92% shape accuracy under perturbations, including varying payloads, dynamic airflow, and actuator failures. These results establish a general controller that adapts to diverse soft arms, tasks, and perturbations.
{"title":"A general soft robotic controller inspired by neuronal structural and plastic synapses that adapts to diverse arms, tasks, and perturbations","authors":"Zhiqiang Tang, Liying Tian, Wenci Xin, Qianqian Wang, Daniela Rus, Cecilia Laschi","doi":"10.1126/sciadv.aea3712","DOIUrl":"10.1126/sciadv.aea3712","url":null,"abstract":"<div >Human intelligence arises from the interplay between a compliant morphology and a cognitive system that is capable of adaptive learning. Soft robots exhibit similar mechanical compliance, but they still need learning capabilities that can be generalized across tasks and adapted to unknown conditions. We present a neuron-inspired control framework that couples a paired offline-online decomposition with a learned contraction metric. Offline “structural synapses” encode task-agnostic features, while online “plastic synapses” are configuration-specific parameters updated by error-gated rules consistent with long-term potentiation and depression. The contraction metric serves as a homeostatic constraint, providing a stability guarantee. We validate our approach on cable-driven and shape-memory-alloy soft arms across trajectory tracking, pick-and-place, and whole-body shaping tasks. Compared with baseline methods, our approach reduces tracking error by 44 to 55% and maintains more than 92% shape accuracy under perturbations, including varying payloads, dynamic airflow, and actuator failures. These results establish a general controller that adapts to diverse soft arms, tasks, and perturbations.</div>","PeriodicalId":21609,"journal":{"name":"Science Advances","volume":"12 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":12.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145908243","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Transverse tubules (T-tubules) are invaginations of the muscle plasma membrane that facilitate rapid transmission of action potentials, ensuring synchronized muscle contraction. Despite their essential role in muscle physiology, the mechanisms underlying T-tubule formation remain elusive. Here, we identify LUBEL/RNF31, a ubiquitin E3 ligase responsible for linear (M1-linked) ubiquitination, as a key regulator of T-tubule biogenesis in Drosophila. Loss of LUBEL leads to Amphiphysin (Amph)–positive membrane sheets instead of tubular networks. The ubiquitin ligase activity of LUBEL and direct interaction with Amph, a BAR domain protein involved in membrane tubulation, are crucial for proper T-tubule morphology. LUBEL and M1-linked ubiquitin chains assemble into puncta on membranes through multivalent interactions, facilitating Amph-mediated tubulation. Notably, the Amph-LUBEL/RNF31 interaction is evolutionarily conserved across species, underscoring a fundamental role for linear ubiquitination in membrane remodeling. Our findings uncover an unexpected function of linear ubiquitination in membrane deformation driven by BAR proteins.
{"title":"Linear ubiquitination triggers Amph-mediated T-tubule biogenesis","authors":"Kohei Kawaguchi, Yutaro Hama, Harunori Yoshikawa, Kohei Nishino, Kazuki Morimoto, Tsuyoshi Nakamura, Michiko Koizumi, Yuriko Sakamaki, Kota Abe, Soichiro Kakuta, Koichiro Ichimura, Fumiyo Ikeda, Hidetaka Kosako, Naonobu Fujita","doi":"10.1126/sciadv.ady4934","DOIUrl":"10.1126/sciadv.ady4934","url":null,"abstract":"<div >Transverse tubules (T-tubules) are invaginations of the muscle plasma membrane that facilitate rapid transmission of action potentials, ensuring synchronized muscle contraction. Despite their essential role in muscle physiology, the mechanisms underlying T-tubule formation remain elusive. Here, we identify LUBEL/RNF31, a ubiquitin E3 ligase responsible for linear (M1-linked) ubiquitination, as a key regulator of T-tubule biogenesis in <i>Drosophila</i>. Loss of LUBEL leads to Amphiphysin (Amph)–positive membrane sheets instead of tubular networks. The ubiquitin ligase activity of LUBEL and direct interaction with Amph, a BAR domain protein involved in membrane tubulation, are crucial for proper T-tubule morphology. LUBEL and M1-linked ubiquitin chains assemble into puncta on membranes through multivalent interactions, facilitating Amph-mediated tubulation. Notably, the Amph-LUBEL/RNF31 interaction is evolutionarily conserved across species, underscoring a fundamental role for linear ubiquitination in membrane remodeling. Our findings uncover an unexpected function of linear ubiquitination in membrane deformation driven by BAR proteins.</div>","PeriodicalId":21609,"journal":{"name":"Science Advances","volume":"12 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":12.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145908246","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yan Gong, Jiaqiang Zhong, Yuan Ren, Yilong Zhang, Daizhong Liu, Yiping Ao, Qijun Yao, Wen Zhang, Wei Miao, Zhenhui Lin, Wenying Duan, Dong Liu, Kangmin Zhou, Jie Liu, Zheng Wang, Junda Jin, Kun Zhang, Feng Wu, Jinpeng Li, Boliang Liu, Xuan Zhang, Zhengheng Luo, Jiameng Wang, Huiqian Hao, Xingming Lu, Shaoming Xie, Jia Quan, Yanjie Liu, Jingtao Liang, Xianjin Deng, Jun Jiang, Li Li, Liang Guo, Tuo Ji, Peng Jiang, Yi Zhang, Chenggang Shu, Sudeep Neupane, Ruiqing Mao, Shengcai Shi, Jing Li
The cycling of carbon between its ionized, atomic, and molecular phases shapes the chemical compositions and physical conditions of the interstellar medium (ISM). However, ground-based studies of the full carbon cycle have been limited by atmospheric absorption. Dome A, the most promising site for submillimeter astronomy, has long resisted successful submillimeter astronomical observations. Using the 60-centimeter Antarctic Terahertz Explorer, we present the first successful CO (4-3) and [CI] () mapping observations of two archetypal triggered massive star-formation regions at Dome A. These data, together with archival [CII], provide the first complete characterization of all three carbon phases in these environments. We find elevated C0/CO abundance ratios in high-extinction regions, plausibly driven by deep penetration of intense radiation fields from massive stars into a clumpy ISM. These findings mark a major milestone for submillimeter astronomy at Dome A and offer valuable insights into the impact of massive star feedback on the surrounding ISM.
{"title":"First submillimeter lights from Dome A: Tracing the carbon cycle in the feedback of massive stars","authors":"Yan Gong, Jiaqiang Zhong, Yuan Ren, Yilong Zhang, Daizhong Liu, Yiping Ao, Qijun Yao, Wen Zhang, Wei Miao, Zhenhui Lin, Wenying Duan, Dong Liu, Kangmin Zhou, Jie Liu, Zheng Wang, Junda Jin, Kun Zhang, Feng Wu, Jinpeng Li, Boliang Liu, Xuan Zhang, Zhengheng Luo, Jiameng Wang, Huiqian Hao, Xingming Lu, Shaoming Xie, Jia Quan, Yanjie Liu, Jingtao Liang, Xianjin Deng, Jun Jiang, Li Li, Liang Guo, Tuo Ji, Peng Jiang, Yi Zhang, Chenggang Shu, Sudeep Neupane, Ruiqing Mao, Shengcai Shi, Jing Li","doi":"10.1126/sciadv.aea9433","DOIUrl":"10.1126/sciadv.aea9433","url":null,"abstract":"<div >The cycling of carbon between its ionized, atomic, and molecular phases shapes the chemical compositions and physical conditions of the interstellar medium (ISM). However, ground-based studies of the full carbon cycle have been limited by atmospheric absorption. Dome A, the most promising site for submillimeter astronomy, has long resisted successful submillimeter astronomical observations. Using the 60-centimeter Antarctic Terahertz Explorer, we present the first successful CO (4-3) and [CI] (<span><math><mmultiscripts><msub><mi>P</mi><mn>1</mn></msub><mprescripts></mprescripts><none></none><mn>3</mn></mmultiscripts><mo>−</mo><mmultiscripts><msub><mi>P</mi><mn>0</mn></msub><mprescripts></mprescripts><none></none><mn>3</mn></mmultiscripts></math></span>) mapping observations of two archetypal triggered massive star-formation regions at Dome A. These data, together with archival [CII], provide the first complete characterization of all three carbon phases in these environments. We find elevated C<sup>0</sup>/CO abundance ratios in high-extinction regions, plausibly driven by deep penetration of intense radiation fields from massive stars into a clumpy ISM. These findings mark a major milestone for submillimeter astronomy at Dome A and offer valuable insights into the impact of massive star feedback on the surrounding ISM.</div>","PeriodicalId":21609,"journal":{"name":"Science Advances","volume":"12 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":12.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145908247","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Airway basal stem cells (BCs) are recognized as resident stem cells responsible for reconstituting epithelial barriers and differentiating into multiple epithelial cell types following severe lung injury. However, the mechanism that the injured lung microenvironment uses to modulate BC-mediated lung repair remains unclear. Here, we showed that the profibrotic transforming growth factor–β (TGF-β) gradient from the injured lung immune microenvironment can be sensed by BCs. Targeted degradation of Smad2/3 in human BCs via proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) disrupted TGF-β signaling, causing cell hyperplasia and barrier function loss after being transplanted into the alveolar area. Genetic ablation of the TGF-β receptor or Smad4 in mouse BCs impaired multilineage differentiation and suppressed migration to the alveolar injury site. These data indicated that TGF-β signaling is essential for BC-mediated lung repair. Moreover, we genetically engineered human BCs to release antifibrotic bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP7) in response to microenvironmental TGF-β stimulation. Transplantation of this iBMP7-BC enhanced lung repair and reduced fibrosis. Collectively, this study delineates how TGF-β governs BC behavior and provides a microenvironment-responsive cell therapeutic strategy for pulmonary fibrosis.
{"title":"Control of airway basal stem cell–mediated lung repair by TGF-β signaling","authors":"Tingting Zou, Shiyu Zhang, Mingzhe Liu, Qiaoyu Chen, Siyu Wang, Lingyun Niu, Ye-Guang Chen, Ting Zhang, Wei Zuo","doi":"10.1126/sciadv.adz1519","DOIUrl":"10.1126/sciadv.adz1519","url":null,"abstract":"<div >Airway basal stem cells (BCs) are recognized as resident stem cells responsible for reconstituting epithelial barriers and differentiating into multiple epithelial cell types following severe lung injury. However, the mechanism that the injured lung microenvironment uses to modulate BC-mediated lung repair remains unclear. Here, we showed that the profibrotic transforming growth factor–β (TGF-β) gradient from the injured lung immune microenvironment can be sensed by BCs. Targeted degradation of Smad2/3 in human BCs via proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) disrupted TGF-β signaling, causing cell hyperplasia and barrier function loss after being transplanted into the alveolar area. Genetic ablation of the TGF-β receptor or <i>Smad4</i> in mouse BCs impaired multilineage differentiation and suppressed migration to the alveolar injury site. These data indicated that TGF-β signaling is essential for BC-mediated lung repair. Moreover, we genetically engineered human BCs to release antifibrotic bone morphogenetic protein 7 (BMP7) in response to microenvironmental TGF-β stimulation. Transplantation of this iBMP7-BC enhanced lung repair and reduced fibrosis. Collectively, this study delineates how TGF-β governs BC behavior and provides a microenvironment-responsive cell therapeutic strategy for pulmonary fibrosis.</div>","PeriodicalId":21609,"journal":{"name":"Science Advances","volume":"12 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":12.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145908195","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Rayanne Vitali, Claire M. Belcher, Benjamin J.W. Mills, Andrew J. Watson
Atmospheric oxygen concentrations have remained remarkably stable over the past ~400 million years (Myr), suggesting the presence of robust regulatory mechanisms. Because of its sensitivity to oxygen, wildfire was traditionally assumed to control oxygen levels by limiting terrestrial vegetation; however, this feedback is nullified by high moisture levels in tropical ecosystems. Using vegetation modeling, we show that where oxygen-fire effects are dampened by high moisture, photorespiration becomes more effective through increased temperatures. Together, these processes interact to drive an 86% reduction in modeled global biomass when oxygen levels reach 35%. This coregulation imposes substantially tighter control of atmospheric oxygen than wildfire alone, providing previously unknown insights into the spatial and interactive feedbacks that may explain the remarkable stability of oxygen levels since the evolution of forests.
{"title":"Combined effects of photorespiration and fire strongly regulate atmospheric oxygen levels","authors":"Rayanne Vitali, Claire M. Belcher, Benjamin J.W. Mills, Andrew J. Watson","doi":"10.1126/sciadv.ady0542","DOIUrl":"10.1126/sciadv.ady0542","url":null,"abstract":"<div >Atmospheric oxygen concentrations have remained remarkably stable over the past ~400 million years (Myr), suggesting the presence of robust regulatory mechanisms. Because of its sensitivity to oxygen, wildfire was traditionally assumed to control oxygen levels by limiting terrestrial vegetation; however, this feedback is nullified by high moisture levels in tropical ecosystems. Using vegetation modeling, we show that where oxygen-fire effects are dampened by high moisture, photorespiration becomes more effective through increased temperatures. Together, these processes interact to drive an 86% reduction in modeled global biomass when oxygen levels reach 35%. This coregulation imposes substantially tighter control of atmospheric oxygen than wildfire alone, providing previously unknown insights into the spatial and interactive feedbacks that may explain the remarkable stability of oxygen levels since the evolution of forests.</div>","PeriodicalId":21609,"journal":{"name":"Science Advances","volume":"12 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":12.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145908207","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Wall-climbing robots (WCRs) using numerous attachment/grasping mechanisms replace humans in executing repetitive or challenging tasks in space-confined, high-risk, or radioactive environments, garnering substantial research interest. Nevertheless, their application remains limited to environment- and surface-specific scenarios. To this end, we present a contact-adaptable, peeling-resistant, and cross-medium WCR integrated with gecko- and octopus-inspired self-adaptive rigid-soft hybrid tracks. The hollow mushroom-shaped adhesive microstructures (HMSAMSs) on the robot tracks simultaneously couple the adhesive structural morphologies of gecko and octopus as well as inherit their functions. These microstructures demonstrate superior normal and tangential adhesion forces and adhesion-to-preload ratios in dry and underwater environments, endowing the WCR with stable cross-medium performance. Furthermore, we construct discrete HMSAMS patches and rigid-soft components in robot track, respectively mimicking biological adhesion’s mechanical decoupling and bone-muscle functions, which effectively prevent interface crack propagation, improve peeling threshold, and enhance contact adaptability. The WCR with aforementioned advantages substantially adapts to diverse material surfaces in complex multimedia environments, accelerating its universal application.
{"title":"Bioinspired cross-medium wall-climbing robot with high-performance adhesion and contact adaptability","authors":"Haoran Liu, Hongmiao Tian, Zexi Zheng, Huiming Liu, Hechuan Ma, Zhihao Deng, Duorui Wang, Jinyu Zhang, Xiangming Li, Xiaoliang Chen, Chunhui Wang, Xiaoming Chen, Qiguang He, Jinyou Shao","doi":"10.1126/sciadv.aea8014","DOIUrl":"10.1126/sciadv.aea8014","url":null,"abstract":"<div >Wall-climbing robots (WCRs) using numerous attachment/grasping mechanisms replace humans in executing repetitive or challenging tasks in space-confined, high-risk, or radioactive environments, garnering substantial research interest. Nevertheless, their application remains limited to environment- and surface-specific scenarios. To this end, we present a contact-adaptable, peeling-resistant, and cross-medium WCR integrated with gecko- and octopus-inspired self-adaptive rigid-soft hybrid tracks. The hollow mushroom-shaped adhesive microstructures (HMSAMSs) on the robot tracks simultaneously couple the adhesive structural morphologies of gecko and octopus as well as inherit their functions. These microstructures demonstrate superior normal and tangential adhesion forces and adhesion-to-preload ratios in dry and underwater environments, endowing the WCR with stable cross-medium performance. Furthermore, we construct discrete HMSAMS patches and rigid-soft components in robot track, respectively mimicking biological adhesion’s mechanical decoupling and bone-muscle functions, which effectively prevent interface crack propagation, improve peeling threshold, and enhance contact adaptability. The WCR with aforementioned advantages substantially adapts to diverse material surfaces in complex multimedia environments, accelerating its universal application.</div>","PeriodicalId":21609,"journal":{"name":"Science Advances","volume":"12 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":12.5,"publicationDate":"2026-01-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145908208","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
扫码关注我们
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号