Catálogo de publicaciones - revistas

<jats:title>Predicting catalyst selectivity</jats:title> <jats:p> Asymmetric catalysis is widely used in chemical research and manufacturing to access just one of two possible mirror-image products. Nonetheless, the process of tuning catalyst structure to optimize selectivity is still largely empirical. Zahrt <jats:italic>et al.</jats:italic> present a framework for more efficient, predictive optimization. As a proof of principle, they focused on a known coupling reaction of imines and thiols catalyzed by chiral phosphoric acid compounds. By modeling multiple conformations of more than 800 prospective catalysts, and then training machine-learning algorithms on a subset of experimental results, they achieved highly accurate predictions of enantioselectivities. </jats:p> <jats:p> <jats:italic>Science</jats:italic> , this issue p. <jats:related-article xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" ext-link-type="doi" related-article-type="in-this-issue" xlink:href="10.1126/science.aau5631">eaau5631</jats:related-article> </jats:p>

<jats:title>Synthetic innovation in drug development</jats:title> <jats:p> Chemical synthesis plays a key role in pharmaceutical research and development. Campos <jats:italic>et al.</jats:italic> review some of the advantages that have come from recent innovations in synthetic methods. In particular, they highlight small-molecule catalysts stimulated by visible light, enzymes engineered for versatility beyond their intrinsic function, and bio-orthogonal reactions to selectively modify proteins for conjugation. High-throughput techniques are also poised to accelerate methods optimization from small-scale discovery to large-scale production, and complementary machine-learning approaches are just coming into focus. </jats:p> <jats:p> <jats:italic>Science</jats:italic> , this issue p. <jats:related-article xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" ext-link-type="doi" related-article-type="in-this-issue" xlink:href="10.1126/science.aat0805">eaat0805</jats:related-article> </jats:p>

<jats:title>Combining expansion and the lattice light sheet</jats:title> <jats:p> Optical and electron microscopy have made tremendous inroads into understanding the complexity of the brain. Gao <jats:italic>et al.</jats:italic> introduce an approach for high-resolution tracing of neurons, their subassemblies, and their molecular constituents over large volumes. They applied their method, which combines expansion microscopy and lattice light-sheet microscopy, to the mouse cortical column and the entire <jats:italic>Drosophila</jats:italic> brain. The approach can be performed at speeds that should enable high-throughput comparative studies of neural development, circuit stereotypy, and structural correlations to neural activity or behavior. </jats:p> <jats:p> <jats:italic>Science</jats:italic> , this issue p. <jats:related-article xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" ext-link-type="doi" related-article-type="in-this-issue" xlink:href="10.1126/science.aau8302">eaau8302</jats:related-article> </jats:p>

<jats:title>CRISPRa corrects haploinsufficient obesity</jats:title> <jats:p> Loss-of-function mutation in one gene copy, termed haploinsufficiency, can lead to insufficient protein levels and result in human disease. Matharu <jats:italic>et al.</jats:italic> tested whether a CRISPR-based activation system (CRISPRa) could rescue a haploinsufficient phenotype by increasing the gene expression levels of the existing normal copy (see the Perspective by Montefiori and Nobrega). By delivering this system into the mouse hypothalamus using adeno-associated virus, they rescued the obesity phenotype caused by haploinsufficiency of either of two genes known to promote obesity when mutated in mice and humans. These results highlight the translational potential of the CRISPR activation system to treat haploinsufficient disease. </jats:p> <jats:p> <jats:italic>Science</jats:italic> , this issue p. <jats:related-article xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" ext-link-type="doi" related-article-type="in-this-issue" xlink:href="10.1126/science.aau0629">eaau0629</jats:related-article> ; see also p. <jats:related-article xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" ext-link-type="doi" issue="6424" page="231" related-article-type="in-this-issue" vol="363" xlink:href="10.1126/science.aaw0635">231</jats:related-article> </jats:p>

<jats:title>The cerebellum and reward-driven behavior</jats:title> <jats:p> Damage to the cerebellum manifests itself in various forms of cognitive impairment and abnormal social behavior. However, the exact role the cerebellum plays in these conditions is far from clear. Working in mice, Carta <jats:italic>et al.</jats:italic> found direct projections from the deep cerebellar nuclei to the brain's reward center, a region called the ventral tegmental area (see the Perspective by D'Angelo). These direct projections allowed the cerebellum to play a role in showing a social preference. Intriguingly, this pathway was not prosocial on its own. Cerebellar inputs into the ventral tegmental area were more active during social exploration. Depolarization of ventral tegmental area neurons thus represents a similar reward stimulus as social interaction for mice. </jats:p> <jats:p> <jats:italic>Science</jats:italic> , this issue p. <jats:related-article xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" ext-link-type="doi" related-article-type="in-this-issue" xlink:href="10.1126/science.aav0581">eaav0581</jats:related-article> ; see also p. <jats:related-article xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink" ext-link-type="doi" issue="6424" page="229" related-article-type="in-this-issue" vol="363" xlink:href="10.1126/science.aaw2571">229</jats:related-article> </jats:p>

<jats:p>A vocal minority in the United States is intent on stopping federal funding for research using human fetal tissue, citing stem cell–based or other alternatives as adequate. This view is scientifically inaccurate. It ignores the current limitations of stem cell research and disregards the value of fetal tissue research in finding therapies for incurable diseases. If there is to be continued rapid progress in treating cancer, birth defects, heart disease, and infectious diseases, then we need fetal tissue research.</jats:p>

<jats:p>A roundup of weekly science policy and related news.</jats:p>

<jats:p>NEON science head quits, advisers fired after Battelle replaces two top managers.</jats:p>

<jats:p>Cell lineage studies of comb jellies and other creatures may suggest a single ancient origin of the nervous system.</jats:p>

<jats:p>Armed conflict and political tensions stoke rumors and misinformation about Ebola.</jats:p>