Studied how the skeleton of the deep-sea glass sponge Euplectella aspergillum enables passive ventilation.
As reported in: Falcucci, Amati, Bella et al. (2024). Adapting to the Abyss: Passive Ventilation in the Deep-Sea Glass Sponge <i>Euplectella aspergillum</i>. Physical Review Letters. doi:10.1103/physrevlett.132.208402
Watson and colleagues introduced RFdiffusion, a generative AI method for designing new protein structures and binders.
Built / tested: designed binders
As reported in: Watson, Juergens, Bennett et al. (2023). De novo design of protein structure and function with RFdiffusion. Nature. doi:10.1038/s41586-023-06415-8
Jumper and colleagues described AlphaFold, an AI system predicting protein 3D structures with high accuracy.
Built / tested: AlphaFold software
As reported in: Jumper, Evans, Pritzel et al. (2021). Highly accurate protein structure prediction with AlphaFold. Nature. doi:10.1038/s41586-021-03819-2
Pelletier and colleagues found which genes the minimal cell needs to divide normally.
As reported in: Pelletier, Sun, Wise et al. (2021). Genetic requirements for cell division in a genomically minimal cell. Cell. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2021.03.008
Choe and colleagues reviewed transgenic fluorescent zebrafish lines and their impact on biomedical research; such lines are the origin of GloFish pets.
As reported in: Choe, Choi, Kee et al. (2021). Transgenic fluorescent zebrafish lines that have revolutionized biomedical research. Laboratory Animal Research. doi:10.1186/s42826-021-00103-2
Mitiouchkina and colleagues made plants that glow on their own using fungal genes.
Built / tested: glowing plants
As reported in: Mitiouchkina, Mishin, Somermeyer et al. (2020). Plants with genetically encoded autoluminescence. Nature Biotechnology. doi:10.1038/s41587-020-0500-9
Wang and colleagues found the nanowires are chains of cytochrome proteins with stacked hemes.
As reported in: Wang, Gu, O’Brien et al. (2019). Structure of Microbial Nanowires Reveals Stacked Hemes that Transport Electrons over Micrometers. Cell. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2019.03.029
Liu and colleagues cloned macaques (Zhong Zhong and Hua Hua) by somatic cell nuclear transfer.
Built / tested: cloned monkeys
As reported in: Liu, Cai, Wang et al. (2018). Cloning of Macaque Monkeys by Somatic Cell Nuclear Transfer. Cell. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2018.01.020
Kotlobay and colleagues decoded the genetically encodable glowing system of fungi.
As reported in: Kotlobay, Sarkisyan, Mokrushina et al. (2018). Genetically encodable bioluminescent system from fungi. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. doi:10.1073/pnas.1803615115
Arnold reviewed how directed evolution brings new chemistry to life.
As reported in: Arnold (2017). Directed Evolution: Bringing New Chemistry to Life. Angewandte Chemie International Edition. doi:10.1002/anie.201708408
Boothby and colleagues showed tardigrades use disordered proteins to survive drying out.
As reported in: Boothby, Tapia, Brozena et al. (2017). Tardigrades Use Intrinsically Disordered Proteins to Survive Desiccation. Molecular Cell. doi:10.1016/j.molcel.2017.02.018
Huang, Boyken and Baker reviewed progress in designing proteins from scratch and their possible uses.
As reported in: Huang, Boyken, Baker (2016). The coming of age of de novo protein design. Nature. doi:10.1038/nature19946
Abstract only
Hutchison and colleagues designed and built a minimal bacterial genome (JCVI-syn3.0).
As reported in: Hutchison, Chuang, Noskov et al. (2016). Design and synthesis of a minimal bacterial genome. Science. doi:10.1126/science.aad6253
Abstract only
Hashimoto and colleagues found the tardigrade protein Dsup reduced radiation damage in human cells.
As reported in: Hashimoto, Horikawa, Saito et al. (2016). Extremotolerant tardigrade genome and improved radiotolerance of human cultured cells by tardigrade-unique protein. Nature Communications. doi:10.1038/ncomms12808
Böhm and colleagues found the flytrap counts trigger-hair signals to decide when to close and start digesting prey.
As reported in: Böhm, Scherzer, Krol et al. (2016). The Venus Flytrap Dionaea muscipula Counts Prey-Induced Action Potentials to Induce Sodium Uptake. Current Biology. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2015.11.057
Motta-Mena and colleagues adapted the bacterial LOV-domain protein EL222 to turn genes on with blue light and off quickly in the dark.
Built / tested: blue-light gene switch
As reported in: Motta-Mena, Reade, Mallory et al. (2014). An optogenetic gene expression system with rapid activation and deactivation kinetics. Nature Chemical Biology. doi:10.1038/nchembio.1430
Dinakar and Bartels reviewed transcriptome, proteome and metabolome studies of resurrection plants.
As reported in: Dinakar, Bartels (2013). Desiccation tolerance in resurrection plants: new insights from transcriptome, proteome and metabolome analysis. Frontiers in Plant Science. doi:10.3389/fpls.2013.00482
Hall and colleagues engineered a small, bright luciferase from a deep-sea shrimp.
As reported in: Hall, Unch, Binkowski et al. (2012). Engineered Luciferase Reporter from a Deep Sea Shrimp Utilizing a Novel Imidazopyrazinone Substrate. ACS Chemical Biology. doi:10.1021/cb3002478
Jinek and colleagues showed Cas9 can be programmed with guide RNA to cut chosen DNA; Charpentier and Doudna won the 2020 Nobel Prize.
As reported in: Jinek, Chylinski, Fonfara et al. (2012). A Programmable Dual-RNA–Guided DNA Endonuclease in Adaptive Bacterial Immunity. Science. doi:10.1126/science.1225829
Gechev and colleagues reviewed protective sugars, proteins and antioxidants that let resurrection plants survive drying.
As reported in: Gechev, Dinakar, Benina et al. (2012). Molecular mechanisms of desiccation tolerance in resurrection plants. Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences. doi:10.1007/s00018-012-1088-0
Deisseroth summarized the origins and uses of optogenetics as Nature Methods' Method of the Year.
As reported in: Deisseroth (2010). Optogenetics. Nature Methods. doi:10.1038/nmeth.f.324
Gibson and colleagues created a bacterial cell controlled by a chemically synthesized genome (JCVI-syn1.0).
As reported in: Gibson, Glass, Lartigue et al. (2010). Creation of a Bacterial Cell Controlled by a Chemically Synthesized Genome. Science. doi:10.1126/science.1190719
Yang and colleagues showed mice lacking the H2S-making enzyme CSE had high blood pressure.
As reported in: Yang, Wu, Jiang et al. (2008). H <sub>2</sub> S as a Physiologic Vasorelaxant: Hypertension in Mice with Deletion of Cystathionine γ-Lyase. Science. doi:10.1126/science.1162667
A review of magnetotactic bacteria and the magnetite crystals (magnetosomes) they grow.
As reported in: Faivre, Schüler (2008). Magnetotactic Bacteria and Magnetosomes. Chemical Reviews. doi:10.1021/cr078258w
Abstract only
Dadachova and Casadevall reviewed how fungi survive, adapt to and possibly exploit ionizing radiation with melanin.
As reported in: Dadachova, Casadevall (2008). Ionizing radiation: how fungi cope, adapt, and exploit with the help of melanin. Current Opinion in Microbiology. doi:10.1016/j.mib.2008.09.013
Thauer and colleagues reviewed how methanogenic archaea get energy.
As reported in: Thauer, Kaster, Seedorf et al. (2008). Methanogenic archaea: ecologically relevant differences in energy conservation. Nature Reviews Microbiology. doi:10.1038/nrmicro1931
Abstract only
Jönsson and colleagues found tardigrades survived exposure to space in low Earth orbit.
As reported in: Jönsson, Rabbow, Schill et al. (2008). Tardigrades survive exposure to space in low Earth orbit. Current Biology. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2008.06.048
Hanlon reviewed how cephalopods rapidly change appearance to blend in.
As reported in: Hanlon (2007). Cephalopod dynamic camouflage. Current Biology. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2007.03.034
Dadachova and colleagues found ionizing radiation changed melanin's electronic properties and enhanced growth of melanized fungi.
As reported in: Dadachova, Bryan, Huang et al. (2007). Ionizing Radiation Changes the Electronic Properties of Melanin and Enhances the Growth of Melanized Fungi. PLoS ONE. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0000457
Reguera and colleagues showed Geobacter uses conductive filaments to pass electrons outside the cell.
As reported in: Reguera, McCarthy, Mehta et al. (2005). Extracellular electron transfer via microbial nanowires. Nature. doi:10.1038/nature03661
Abstract only
Blackstone, Morrison, and Roth found H2S put mice into a reversible suspended-animation-like state.
As reported in: Blackstone, Morrison, Roth (2005). H <sub>2</sub> S Induces a Suspended Animation-Like State in Mice. Science. doi:10.1126/science.1108581
Abstract only
Boyden and colleagues used channelrhodopsin-2 to make neurons fire with millisecond precision using light.
Built / tested: light-controlled neurons
As reported in: Boyden, Zhang, Bamberg et al. (2005). Millisecond-timescale, genetically targeted optical control of neural activity. Nature Neuroscience. doi:10.1038/nn1525
Abstract only
Forterre and colleagues showed the trap closes by a rapid snap-through of its curved leaf shape.
As reported in: Forterre, Skotheim, Dumais et al. (2005). How the Venus flytrap snaps. Nature. doi:10.1038/nature03185
Crookes and colleagues described reflectins, the unusual proteins in squid reflective tissues.
As reported in: Crookes, Ding, Huang et al. (2004). Reflectins: The Unusual Proteins of Squid Reflective Tissues. Science. doi:10.1126/science.1091288
Abstract only
Kuhlman and colleagues designed Top7, a protein with a fold not seen in nature, and confirmed its structure closely matched the design.
Built / tested: designed protein Top7
As reported in: Kuhlman, Dantas, Ireton et al. (2003). Design of a Novel Globular Protein Fold with Atomic-Level Accuracy. Science. doi:10.1126/science.1089427
Abstract only
Reviewed the roles of amorphous calcium carbonate in how organisms build minerals.
As reported in: Addadi, Raz, Weiner (2003). Taking Advantage of Disorder: Amorphous Calcium Carbonate and Its Roles in Biomineralization. Advanced Materials. doi:10.1002/adma.200300381
Abstract only
Nagel and colleagues described channelrhodopsin-2, a directly light-gated cation channel that later became the main optogenetics tool.
As reported in: Nagel, Szellas, Huhn et al. (2003). Channelrhodopsin-2, a directly light-gated cation-selective membrane channel. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. doi:10.1073/pnas.1936192100
Reviewed the origin, diversity, fine structure and biological functions of siliceous spicules and skeletons in sponges.
As reported in: Uriz, Turon, Becerro et al. (2003). Siliceous spicules and skeleton frameworks in sponges: Origin, diversity, ultrastructural patterns, and biological functions. Microscopy Research and Technique. doi:10.1002/jemt.10395
Abstract only
Autumn and colleagues showed gecko adhesion relies mainly on van der Waals forces.
As reported in: Autumn, Sitti, Liang et al. (2002). Evidence for van der Waals adhesion in gecko setae. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. doi:10.1073/pnas.192252799
Nagel and colleagues showed a light-sensitive protein from Chlamydomonas algae acts as a light-gated channel.
As reported in: Nagel, Ollig, Fuhrmann et al. (2002). Channelrhodopsin-1: A Light-Gated Proton Channel in Green Algae. Science. doi:10.1126/science.1072068
Abstract only
Shimizu-Sato and colleagues built a plant phytochrome-based system that switches gene expression on and off with red and far-red light in yeast.
Built / tested: light-switchable gene system
As reported in: Shimizu-Sato, Huq, Tepperman et al. (2002). A light-switchable gene promoter system. Nature Biotechnology. doi:10.1038/nbt734
Abstract only
Autumn and colleagues measured the adhesive force of a single gecko foot hair.
As reported in: Autumn, Liang, Hsieh et al. (2000). Adhesive force of a single gecko foot-hair. Nature. doi:10.1038/35015073
Abstract only
Wakayama and colleagues produced full-term cloned mice from cumulus cell nuclei.
Built / tested: cloned mice
As reported in: Wakayama, Perry, Zuccotti et al. (1998). Full-term development of mice from enucleated oocytes injected with cumulus cell nuclei. Nature. doi:10.1038/28615
Abstract only
Tsien reviewed how GFP forms its glowing center and how engineered colour variants became tools across biology.
As reported in: Tsien (1998). THE GREEN FLUORESCENT PROTEIN. Annual Review of Biochemistry. doi:10.1146/annurev.biochem.67.1.509
Abstract only
Wilmut and colleagues reported lambs from fetal and adult cells, including Dolly, cloned from an adult mammary cell.
Built / tested: Dolly the sheep
As reported in: Wilmut, Schnieke, McWhir et al. (1997). Viable offspring derived from fetal and adult mammalian cells. Nature. doi:10.1038/385810a0
Abstract only
Campbell and colleagues cloned sheep (Megan and Morag) by nuclear transfer from a cultured cell line.
Built / tested: cloned sheep
As reported in: Campbell, McWhir, Ritchie et al. (1996). Sheep cloned by nuclear transfer from a cultured cell line. Nature. doi:10.1038/380064a0
Abstract only
Abe and Kimura proposed hydrogen sulfide as a natural signaling molecule in the brain.
As reported in: Abe, Kimura (1996). The possible role of hydrogen sulfide as an endogenous neuromodulator. The Journal of Neuroscience. doi:10.1523/JNEUROSCI.16-03-01066.1996
Showed how specialised macromolecules stabilise amorphous calcium carbonate in biological and synthetic precipitates.
As reported in: Aizenberg, Addadi, Weiner et al. (1996). Stabilization of amorphous calcium carbonate by specialized macromolecules in biological and synthetic precipitates. Advanced Materials. doi:10.1002/adma.19960080307
Abstract only
Showed that spicules of the sponge Clathrina have a crystalline calcite core with an outer layer of amorphous calcium carbonate stabilised by macromolecules.
As reported in: Aizenberg, Addadi, Weiner et al. (1996). Stabilization of amorphous calcium carbonate by specialized macromolecules in biological and synthetic precipitates. Advanced Materials. doi:10.1002/adma.19960080307
Abstract only
Chalfie and colleagues showed GFP glows in bacteria and roundworms without any added jellyfish chemicals, making it a living marker for gene expression.
Built / tested: fluorescent reporter organisms
As reported in: Chalfie, Tu, Euskirchen et al. (1994). Green Fluorescent Protein as a Marker for Gene Expression. Science. doi:10.1126/science.8303295
Abstract only
Stemmer introduced DNA shuffling, recombining gene fragments to evolve proteins rapidly in the lab.
As reported in: Stemmer (1994). Rapid evolution of a protein in vitro by DNA shuffling. Nature. doi:10.1038/370389a0
Abstract only
Chen and Arnold used repeated rounds of random mutation to make the enzyme subtilisin work in an unusual solvent.
Built / tested: evolved subtilisin
As reported in: Chen, Arnold (1993). Tuning the activity of an enzyme for unusual environments: sequential random mutagenesis of subtilisin E for catalysis in dimethylformamide.. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. doi:10.1073/pnas.90.12.5618
Prasher and colleagues cloned and reported the primary structure (gene sequence) of Aequorea green fluorescent protein.
Built / tested: cloned GFP gene
As reported in: Prasher, Eckenrode, Ward et al. (1992). Primary structure of the Aequorea victoria green-fluorescent protein. Gene. doi:10.1016/0378-1119(92)90691-H
Abstract only
de Wet and colleagues described the firefly luciferase gene and expressed it in mammalian cells.
Built / tested: reporter assays
As reported in: de Wet, Wood, DeLuca et al. (1987). Firefly luciferase gene: structure and expression in mammalian cells.. Molecular and Cellular Biology. doi:10.1128/MCB.7.2.725
Palmer, Ferrige, and Moncada showed nitric oxide release accounts for the endothelium-derived relaxing factor.
As reported in: Palmer, Ferrige, Moncada (1987). Nitric oxide release accounts for the biological activity of endothelium-derived relaxing factor. Nature. doi:10.1038/327524a0
Abstract only
Ignarro and colleagues independently identified the relaxing factor from arteries and veins as nitric oxide.
As reported in: Ignarro, Buga, Wood et al. (1987). Endothelium-derived relaxing factor produced and released from artery and vein is nitric oxide.. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. doi:10.1073/pnas.84.24.9265
Smith displayed foreign protein pieces on the surface of virus particles, the basis of phage display used to evolve antibodies.
As reported in: Smith (1985). Filamentous Fusion Phage: Novel Expression Vectors That Display Cloned Antigens on the Virion Surface. Science. doi:10.1126/science.4001944
Abstract only
Furchgott and Zawadzki showed blood vessel relaxation needs the inner endothelial cells, which release a relaxing factor.
As reported in: Furchgott, Zawadzki (1980). The obligatory role of endothelial cells in the relaxation of arterial smooth muscle by acetylcholine. Nature. doi:10.1038/288373a0
Abstract only
Shimomura and colleagues purified aequorin, a light-emitting protein from Aequorea jellyfish; GFP was noted as a companion green protein in this work.
As reported in: Shimomura, Johnson, Saiga (1962). Extraction, Purification and Properties of Aequorin, a Bioluminescent Protein from the Luminous Hydromedusan, <i>Aequorea</i>. Journal of Cellular and Comparative Physiology. doi:10.1002/jcp.1030590302
Abstract only
Muller showed X-rays greatly increase mutation rates in fruit flies (1946 Nobel Prize).
As reported in: Muller (1927). Artificial Transmutation of the Gene. Science. doi:10.1126/science.66.1699.84
Abstract only