To cause tuberculosis, the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis must obtain nutrients from host cells. This is facilitated at least in part by protein complexes known as transporters. The structure of one such transporter reveals how its constituent subunits assemble into a large complex that enables lipids to be transported into the bacterium.

Axolotls — aquatic salamanders with an exceptional regenerative ability — rapidly increase their production of proteins in response to wounds. An axolotl-specific evolutionary divergence in a key protein called mTOR might drive this protein response and thus the regenerative potential of these amphibians, with possible implications for improving healing in mammals.

An imaging technique that uses a neural-network model to obtain physical information from infrared radiation improves on existing techniques in low-visibility situations, and could be deployed immediately in autonomous vehicles.

Molecules have been developed that switch a transcription factor from being a repressor of gene expression to an activator — and thereby able to kill cancer cells. The findings offer a fresh strategy for designing anticancer drugs.