Nature 22 January 2009 Volume 458 Number 7228 pp357-504

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Volume 457 Number 7228 pp357-504		Advertisement
About the cover Nature Podcast	In this issue Editorials Research Highlights Journal Club News News Features Correspondence Essay Books and Arts News and Views Insight Articles Letters Corrigendum Naturejobs Futures Also this week Authors Editor's summary AOP	Where does your information come from? Eugene Garfield is Founder of the Institute for Scientific Information, now part of Thomson Reuters. He used a converted chicken coop as the base for his creation of the citation index that would cover the complete spectrum of human scientific knowledge. Now, millions of users across the globe have seamless access to a vast array of multidisciplinary information. Find out more at intelligentinformationforlife.com/eugene Sign up for e-alerts Recommend to your library Web feed Japanese table of contents Available online only Subscribe
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EDITORIALS		Top
China's wind-power potential p357 The nation can lead the world in wind energy — but its policies need to be more coherent. doi:10.1038/457357a Full Text | PDF
Dismal no more p357 Europe's Joint Research Centre should be empowered to stimulate other EU institutions. doi:10.1038/457357b Full Text | PDF
Choosing a world p358 Titan is a slightly more appealing lunar target than Europa for the next outer-planets mission. doi:10.1038/457358a Full Text | PDF
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS		Top
Crystal growth: Getting their morph on p360 doi:10.1038/457360a Full Text | PDF
Nanomaterials: Squid suckers scrutinized p360 doi:10.1038/457360b Full Text | PDF
Quantum logic: Blockade boost p360 doi:10.1038/457360c Full Text | PDF
Palaeontology: Herd of hearing p360 doi:10.1038/457360d Full Text | PDF
Neurology: Serotonin and social anxiety p360 doi:10.1038/457360e Full Text | PDF
Planetary science: Martian methane p360 doi:10.1038/457360f Full Text | PDF
Entomology: Hammers of the wasps p361 doi:10.1038/457361a Full Text | PDF
Neurobiology: Scent slides away p361 doi:10.1038/457361b Full Text | PDF
Climate: De-fogged p361 doi:10.1038/457361c Full Text | PDF
Evolution: Run rabbit run p361 doi:10.1038/457361d Full Text | PDF
JOURNAL CLUB		Top
Journal club p361 Paul Knoepfler doi:10.1038/457361e Full Text | PDF
NEWS Top Not so sunny after all p362 Manufacturers in the solar-energy industry are downsizing and scaling back their once-ambitious plans. Katharine Sanderson reports. Katharine Sanderson doi:10.1038/457362a Full Text | PDF Translational research in Berlin hits a roadblock p362 Accusations of funding mismanagement prompt collaboration to break up. Alison Abbott doi:10.1038/457362b Full Text | PDF Cash boost for US science p364 Researchers in line for $13-billion windfall. Jeff Tollefson, Meredith Wadman and Rich Monastersky doi:10.1038/457364a Full Text | PDF Ebola outbreak has experts rooting for answers p364 Virus subtype suspected in Philippine swine. David Cyranoski doi:10.1038/457364b Full Text | PDF Graphic detail: Prices plummet on carbon market p365 Falling oil prices slash value of greenhouse gas emission allowances. Quirin Schiermeier doi:10.1038/457365a Full Text | PDF Which moon to shoot for? p366 Planetary scientists have a rare chance to pick the destination for their next big mission. But will it be Titan or Europa? Eric Hand reports. Eric Hand doi:10.1038/457366a Full Text | PDF A fly by any other name p368 Drosophila experts argue over reclassification proposal. Rex Dalton doi:10.1038/457368a Full Text | PDF No bull: genes for better milk p369 Service ups dairy farmers' chance of choosing the best bulls. Rex Dalton doi:10.1038/457369a Full Text | PDF Plan to grow more cannabis for research turned down p371 doi:10.1038/457371a Full Text | PDF FDA to regulate the use of transgenic animals p371 doi:10.1038/457371b Full Text | PDF Polio eradication battle is bolstered by $630 million p371 doi:10.1038/457371c Full Text | PDF Democrats hasten action on climate legislation p371 doi:10.1038/457371d Full Text | PDF Billion-dollar neutron facility gets thumbs up p371 doi:10.1038/457371e Full Text | PDF Europe set to clamp down on pesticide use p371 doi:10.1038/457371f Full Text | PDF Nature JOBS of the week Tenure-Track Faculty Positions - Keck School of Medicine University of Southern California Los Angeles, CA Postdoc for Ultrasound System Development & Imaging Helmholtz Zentrum Munchen Munich, Bavaria 85764 Germany BBSRC CASE PhD Studentship University of Manchester Manchester M13 9PT United Kingdom Programme Leader Istituto Agrario di San Michele All'Adige San Michele all'Adige Italy Research Fellow / Comparative Genomics Istituto Agrario di San Michele All'Adige San Michele all'Adige Italy Postdoctoral Opportunities John Innes Centre Norwich United Kingdom Post-Doctoral Position Barcelona Supercomputing Center Barcelona Spain Director National Heart Lung and Blood Institute Bethesda, MD 20892-1670 United States Assistant Professor Stanford University School of Medicine Stanford, CA 94305-5124 United States Chief Stanford University Stanford, CA 94305 United States More Science jobs from Nature EVENT Symposium on Biological Complexity: Processes of Aging 08.-10.01.09 CA, US More science events from
NEWS FEATURES		Top
Renewable energy: Beijing's windy bet p372 After spurning wind power, China has swung around and embraced this clean energy. But the nation's love affair with wind may be spinning out of control, finds David Cyranoski. doi:10.1038/457372a Full Text | PDF
Social networking: Crisis communication p376 Messages appear on Internet-based social networks within minutes of disasters occurring. Lea Winerman investigates how to harness this trend to create official community-response grids. doi:10.1038/457376a Full Text | PDF
CORRESPONDENCE		Top
Scientists stand by decision to join Mbeki's AIDS panel p379 Salim S. Abdool Karim, Hoosen M. Coovadia and Malegapuru W. Makgoba doi:10.1038/457379a Full Text | PDF
When winning a Nobel Prize seems to run in the family p379 Jay M. Pasachoff doi:10.1038/457379b Full Text | PDF
Ecologists should join astronomers to oppose light pollution p379 Josef Settele doi:10.1038/457379c Full Text | PDF
Lindauer's genius showed evolution in a simple experiment p379 William L. Abler doi:10.1038/457379d Full Text | PDF
Culture clash in Chinese university: a response p379 Keming Cui doi:10.1038/457379e Full Text | PDF
ESSAY		Top
Being Human: Kinship: Race relations p380 Our notions of family, population and race may need revising in the age of personal genomics, argues Aravinda Chakravarti. Aravinda Chakravarti doi:10.1038/457380a Full Text | PDF
BOOKS AND ARTS		Top
Evolution's challenge to genetics p382 Do conjoined twins and two-legged goats suggest a minor role for genetics in evolution? The evidence is not strong enough to upset the orthodox view, argues Jerry A. Coyne. Jerry A. Coyne reviews Freaks of Nature: What Anomalies Tell Us About Development and Evolution by Mark S. Blumberg doi:10.1038/457382a Full Text | PDF
The future is now p383 Arran Frood reviews Human Futures: Art in an Age of Uncertainty The Science of Heroes: The Real-Life Possibilities Behind the Hit TV Show by Yvonne Carts-Powell doi:10.1038/457383a Full Text | PDF
Is there life on Europa? p384 Kevin P. Hand reviews Unmasking Europa: The Search for Life on Jupiter's Ocean Moon by Richard Greenberg doi:10.1038/457384a Full Text | PDF
Scripting scientists' lives p385 Jascha Hoffman reviews Leave a Light On doi:10.1038/457385a Full Text | PDF
NEWS AND VIEWS		Top
Neuroscience: Pre-emptive blood flow p387 Electrical signalling among brain cells summons the local delivery of extra blood — the basis of functional brain imaging. Yet sometimes, blood is sent in anticipation of neural events that never take place. David A. Leopold doi:10.1038/457387a Full Text | PDF See also: Editor's summary
Astrophysics: Galaxies in from the cold p388 Computer simulations of the cosmos suggest that cold streams of gas could underlie the unexpectedly high star-formation activity of many massive galaxies found to exist a few billion years after the Big Bang. Reinhard Genzel doi:10.1038/457388a Full Text | PDF See also: Editor's summary
Structural biology: Actin in a twist p389 How monomers of the cytoskeletal protein actin join to form the stable polymers crucial to muscle contraction and cellular motility has been a long-standing question. A state-of-the-art approach provides an answer. Kenneth C. Holmes doi:10.1038/457389a Full Text | PDF See also: Editor's summary
50 & 100 years ago p390 doi:10.1038/457390a Full Text | PDF
Climate change: Shifts in season p391 It's cold in winter and hot in summer. But the latest analysis illustrates the need to put observational data at the forefront of attempts to achieve a more detailed understanding of the annual temperature cycle. David J. Thomson doi:10.1038/457391a Full Text | PDF See also: Editor's summary
Molecular biology: Concealed enzyme coordination p392 Coordination between subunits is crucial for the proper functioning of multi-component molecular machines. A single-molecule study now allows glimpses into the mechanism used by subunits of one such machine. Elio A. Abbondanzieri and Xiaowei Zhuang doi:10.1038/457392a Full Text | PDF See also: Editor's summary
Obituary: Daniel Carleton Gajdusek (1923–2008) p394 The most outlandish and peripatetic of microbe hunters. Jaap Goudsmit doi:10.1038/457394a Full Text | PDF
Produced with support from: Insight: RNA silencing FREE ACCESS RNA silencing p395 Angela K. Eggleston doi:10.1038/457395a Full Text | PDF On the road to reading the RNA-interference code p396 Haruhiko Siomi and Mikiko C. Siomi doi:10.1038/nature07754 Abstract | Full Text | PDF A three-dimensional view of the molecular machinery of RNA interference p405 Martin Jinek and Jennifer A. Doudna doi:10.1038/nature07755 Abstract | Full Text | PDF Small RNAs in transcriptional gene silencing and genome defence p413 Danesh Moazed doi:10.1038/nature07756 Abstract | Full Text | PDF Viral and cellular messenger RNA targets of viral microRNAs p421 Bryan R. Cullen doi:10.1038/nature07757 Abstract | Full Text | PDF The promises and pitfalls of RNA-interference-based therapeutics p426 Daniela Castanotto and John J. Rossi doi:10.1038/nature07758 Abstract | Full Text | PDF
ARTICLES		Top
Changes in the phase of the annual cycle of surface temperature p435 Variations in the seasonal cycle of temperatures at the Earth's surface are spatially mapped on both land and sea, and trends in the recent past (1954–2007) are compared with those occurring earlier (1900–1954). Assuming that the earlier part of the temperature record is dominated by natural variations, the recent trends seem highly anomalous: temperatures on land show a shift to earlier seasons by 1.7 days, and the amplitude of the cycle has decreased in this period. A. R. Stine, P. Huybers & I. Y. Fung doi:10.1038/nature07675 Abstract | Full Text | PDF See also: Editor's summary | News and Views by Thomson
The nature of the globular- to fibrous-actin transition p441 Actin exists in two forms in cells. Monomeric globular actin (G-actin) polymerizes to form filamentous actin (F-actin), which drives several processes such as cell motility. This paper presents a high resolution structure of F-actin and describes the differences between the conformations of the two forms of actin. Toshiro Oda, Mitsusada Iwasa, Tomoki Aihara, Yuichiro Maéda & Akihiro Narita doi:10.1038/nature07685 Abstract | Full Text | PDF See also: Editor's summary | News and Views by Holmes
Intersubunit coordination in a homomeric ring ATPase p446 A ring ATPase from a bacteriophage, ϕ29, helps load the dsDNA genome into the viral shell. It is shown that this motor packages the DNA in 10 base pair (bp) bursts, which are composed of four individual 2.5 bp steps, each representing hydrolysis of a single ATP. Such a non-integral step size is unexpected, and raises intriguing mechanistic questions about ATP hydrolysis within rings. Jeffrey R. Moffitt et al. doi:10.1038/nature07637 Abstract | Full Text | PDF See also: Editor's summary | News and Views by Abbondanzieri Zhuang
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Nature Insight RNA silencing This Nature Insight is a collection of topical reviews on several rapidly moving areas of RNA silencing. The processing events that give rise to the small RNAs and the structures of the protein complexes that give them regulatory function are discussed. Other reviews explore biological aspects of how small viral RNAs affect virus viability and host cell response, and how small RNAs regulate the formation and maintenance of silenced chromatin. Finally, the progress of oligonucleotide therapies that exploit RNA silencing pathways is summarized. Access the Insight free online. Produced with support from Roche and Alnylam Pharmaceuticals
LETTERS		Top
Cold streams in early massive hot haloes as the main mode of galaxy formation p451 Massive galaxies in the young universe (ten billion years ago) formed stars at surprising intensities. Although this is commonly attributed to violent mergers, the properties of many of these galaxies are incompatible with mergers. This paper reports that they are 'stream-fed galaxies', growing via steady, narrow, cold gas streams. Unlike destructive mergers, the smoother flows are likely to keep the rotating disc configuration intact. A. Dekel, Y. Birnboim, G. Engel, J. Freundlich, T. Goerdt, M. Mumcuoglu, E. Neistein, C. Pichon, R. Teyssier & E. Zinger doi:10.1038/nature07648 Abstract | Full Text | PDF See also: Editor's summary | News and Views by Genzel
High-Q surface-plasmon-polariton whispering-gallery microcavity p455 This paper demonstrates a high-Q microcavity for surface plasmons that is fabricated by coating the surface of high-Q silica microresonator with a thin layer of noble metal. This structure enables room-temperature operation with a Q-factor of around 1380 in the near infrared for surface plasmon modes. The work also includes a coupling scheme where a tapered optical fibre is in near-contact with the cavity, which provides a convenient way for selectively exciting and probing confined plasmon modes. Bumki Min, Eric Ostby, Volker Sorger, Erick Ulin-Avila, Lan Yang, Xiang Zhang & Kerry Vahala doi:10.1038/nature07627 Abstract | Full Text | PDF See also: Editor's summary
Warming of the Antarctic ice-sheet surface since the 1957 International Geophysical Year p459 The Antarctic Peninsula is known to be warming rapidly, but the overall pattern of climate change for the full Antarctic continent has been uncertain. This work finds that the entire continent is warming at a rate of 0.12 ± 0.07 °C per decade, with stronger warming in winter and spring and over West Antarctica. Eric J. Steig, David P. Schneider, Scott D. Rutherford, Michael E. Mann, Josefino C. Comiso & Drew T. Shindell doi:10.1038/nature07669 Abstract | Full Text | PDF See also: Editor's summary
A simple model of bipartite cooperation for ecological and organizational networks p463 Networks of co-operative interactions occur in both ecological and socio-economic situations, with plant pollination by animals and interactions between manufacturing and contracting companies being respective examples. This work proposes a parsimonious model for co-operative networks that predicts the specific properties of real ecological and socio-economic networks, demonstrating that similar principles of co-operation might underlie both situations. Serguei Saavedra, Felix Reed-Tsochas and Brian Uzzi doi:10.1038/nature07532 First paragraph | Full Text | PDF See also: Editor's summary
Ferritin is used for iron storage in bloom-forming marine pennate diatoms p467 Natural or artificial oceanic iron supplementation induces blooms that are dominated by pennate diatoms. It is shown that these diatoms contain the iron storage protein ferritin, which may explain their success in iron-limited waters. Adrian Marchetti et al. doi:10.1038/nature07539 First paragraph | Full Text | PDF See also: Editor's summary
Discovery of a sexual cycle in the opportunistic fungal pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus p471 Aspergillus fumigatus is an opportunistic human pathogen in immunocompromised individuals and is associated with severe asthma and sinusitis, and has only been known to reproduce asexually. This paper now shows that it can reproduce sexually, for which isolates of complementary mating type are required. Céline M. O’Gorman, Hubert T. Fuller and Paul S. Dyer doi:10.1038/nature07528 First paragraph | Full Text | PDF See also: Editor's summary
Anticipatory haemodynamic signals in sensory cortex not predicted by local neuronal activity p475 Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) of brain activity relies on the assumption that increases in local blood flow in the brain are directly correlated with the neuronal activity in that brain region. Using simultaneous direct recording and fMRI in monkeys, this study demonstrates that this is not the whole story; some of the fMRI signal does correspond to actual brain activity, but there is also increased blood flow in less active regions of the brain in anticipation of their employment in the near future. Yevgeniy B. Sirotin & Aniruddha Das doi:10.1038/nature07664 Abstract | Full Text | PDF See also: Editor's summary | News and Views by Leopold
A core gut microbiome in obese and lean twins p480 The human microbiota has been implicated in many health-related issues. In this study, the microbiota composition of monozygotic and dizygotic twins and their mothers is examined. Although a core microbiome could not be defined on a phylogenetic level, the data suggests that core functions are conserved. Peter J. Turnbaugh et al. doi:10.1038/nature07540 First paragraph | Full Text | PDF See also: Editor's summary
Protein kinase R reveals an evolutionary model for defeating viral mimicry p485 This paper documents the evolutionary interaction between the innate immunity gene protein kinase R (PKR), its substrate elF2α, and its poxvirus mimic K3L. It is concluded that the rapid evolution of the PKR gene may be due to viral mimicry. Nels C. Elde, Stephanie J. Child, Adam P. Geballe and Harmit S. Malik doi:10.1038/nature07529 First paragraph | Full Text | PDF See also: Editor's summary
Endochondral ossification is required for haematopoietic stem-cell niche formation p490 This paper describes an in vivo assay of haematopoietic stem cell (HSC) niche formation. A population of progenitor cells is sorted from fetal bones, and when transplanted under the adult mouse kidney capsule, the cells recruit host-derived blood vessels, produce donor-derived ectopic bones, and generate a marrow cavity populated by host-derived long-term reconstituting haematopoeitic stem cells. Charles K. F. Chan et al. doi:10.1038/nature07547 First paragraph | Full Text | PDF See also: Editor's summary
Pulsed contractions of an actin–myosin network drive apical constriction p495 During gastrulation in Drosophila embryo, there is apical constriction of ventral cells, which results in formation of a ventral furrow and invagination of the mesoderm. This study reports a mechanism for this process and shows that apical constriction of ventral cells is pulsed. These pulses are powered by the actin–myosin contractions and are dependent on the expression of a transcription factor, Snail, whereas the constricted state is stabilized by the transcription factor Twist. Adam C. Martin, Matthias Kaschube and Eric F. Wieschaus doi:10.1038/nature07522 First paragraph | Full Text | PDF See also: Editor's summary
Corrigendum		Top
Major gradients in putatively nitrifying and non-nitrifying Archaea in the deep North Atlantic p500 Hélène Agogué, Maaike Brink, Julie Dinasquet & Gerhard J. Herndl doi:10.1038/nature07735 Full Text | PDF
Naturejobs		Top
Prospects A day in the life p501 Welcoming a new crop of Postdoc Journal keepers. Gene Russo doi:10.1038/nj7228-501a Full Text | PDF
Linda Birnbaum, director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina p502 Toxicologist takes on role of NIEHS director. Virginia Gewin doi:10.1038/nj7228-502a Full Text | PDF
Research assistants join a union p502 New York sees a rare feat. Karen Kaplan doi:10.1038/nj7228-502b Full Text | PDF
A pregnant pause p502 A return to the lab. Julia Boughner doi:10.1038/nj7228-502c Full Text | PDF
FUTURES		Top
Replacement p504 Welcome back. Shelly Li doi:10.1038/457504a Full Text | PDF
ADVANCE ONLINE PUBLICATION		Top
21 January 2009
Cdc14 inhibits transcription by RNA polymerase I during anaphase Andrés Clemente-Blanco et al. doi:10.1038/nature07652 First paragraph | Full Text | PDF
AIM2 activates the inflammasome and cell death in response to cytoplasmic DNA Teresa Fernandes-Alnemri et al. doi:10.1038/nature07710 First paragraph | Full Text | PDF
A micro-architecture for binocular disparity and ocular dominance in visual cortex Prakash Kara and Jamie D. Boyd doi:10.1038/nature07721 First paragraph | Full Text | PDF
AIM2 recognizes cytosolic dsDNA and forms a caspase-1-activating inflammasome with ASC Veit Hornung et al. doi:10.1038/nature07725 First paragraph | Full Text | PDF
A high-mobility electron-transporting polymer for printed transistors He Yan et al. doi:10.1038/nature07727 Abstract | Full Text | PDF
18 January 2009
Intracortical circuits of pyramidal neurons reflect their long-range axonal targets Solange P. Brown and Shaul Hestrin doi:10.1038/nature07658 First paragraph | Full Text | PDF
Dendritic encoding of sensory stimuli controlled by deep cortical interneurons Masanori Murayama et al. doi:10.1038/nature07663 First paragraph | Full Text | PDF
The subcellular organization of neocortical excitatory connections Leopoldo Petreanu, Tianyi Mao, Scott M. Sternson and Karel Svoboda doi:10.1038/nature07709 First paragraph | Full Text | PDF
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