OpenAccess

In ultrarelativistic heavy ion collisions at the LHC, each nucleus acts a sources of high-energy real photons that can scatter off the opposing nucleus in ultraperipheral photonuclear (γ+A) collisions. Hard scattering processes initiated by the photons in such collisions provide a novel method for probing nuclear parton distributions in a kinematic region not easily accessible to other measurements. [...]

This study investigates various cracking mechanisms and their prevalence in fusion processing of steel-copper multi-materials using operando X-ray diffraction and imaging during laser powder-bed fusion (LPBF) of 316L-CuCrZr multi-material. During this investigation, three main types of cracking were identified: (i) solidification cracking, (ii) metal-induced embrittlement (MIE), and (iii) liquation cracking. [...]

Transcription factors carry long intrinsically disordered regions often containing multiple activation domains. Despite numerous recent high-throughput identifications and characterizations of activation domains, the interplay between sequence motifs, activation domains, and regulator binding in intrinsically disordered transcription factor regions remains unresolved. [...]

In structured RNAs, helical elements are often capped by apical loops that are integral structural elements, ranging from 3 to >20 nts of size on average, and display a highly heterogeneous energy landscape profile, rendering structural characterization particularly challenging. We here provide a characterization of the SARS-CoV-2 Delta s2m element containing a highly dynamic nonaloop using an integrative approach of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), and molecular dynamics simulations (MD). [...]

Nedd4-2 E3 ligase regulates Na+ homeostasis by ubiquitinating various channels and membrane transporters, including the epithelial sodium channel ENaC. In turn, Nedd4-2 dysregulation leads to various conditions, including electrolytic imbalance, respiratory distress, hypertension, and kidney diseases. [...]

Biological small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) is a versatile and powerful technique for investigating the structural and biophysical properties of biologically and pharmaceutically relevant macromolecules and nanoparticles. SAXS offers detailed insights into macromolecular composition, size, shape and internal structure, while addressing key aspects such as oligomeric state, stability, molecular interactions, and conformational flexibility. [...]

Using small angle X-ray scattering measurements, structural coherencies in lipid nanoparticle (LNP) formulations comprising messenger RNA (mRNA) were elucidated in response to pH changes and as a function of RNA to lipid ratio. Formulations were assembled using selected ionizable lipids with well-known activity from previous experiments, with otherwise identical composition. [...]

The performance of organic solar cells (OSCs) strongly depends on the phase separation and crystalline properties within the active layer. However, the lack of deep understanding of morphological evolution, particularly regarding spinodal decomposition and crystallization mechanisms, presents substantial challenges in achieving precise morphological control [...]

Acetylhistidine has been detected in human blood, but its origin and function are not known. It is formed when the acetyl group of acetyl-CoA is transferred to the α-amino group of histidine. [...]

Microbial rhodopsins are omnipresent on Earth; however, the vast majority of them remain uncharacterized. Here, we describe a rhodopsin group found in microorganisms from cold environments, such as glaciers, denoted as CryoRhodopsins (CryoRs). [...]