Nature 29 January 2009 Volume 457 Number 7229 pp511-628

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Volume 457 Number 7229 pp511-628		Advertisement
About the cover Nature Podcast	In this issue Editorials Research Highlights Journal Club News News Features Correspondence Commentary Essay Books and Arts News and Views Articles Letters Technology Features Naturejobs Futures Also this week Authors Editor's summary AOP	Genetics and Genomics of Infectious Diseases 2009 March 21-24, 2009 Ritz Carlton Millenia, Singapore This conference will engage basic and clinical scientists, including human geneticists, genome scientists, computational biologists, and experts in pathogenic microbial agents to chart the effects of genomics on questions in global infectious disease management. For more information and to register visit: www.nature.com/natureconferences/ggid2009 Sign up for e-alerts Recommend to your library Web feed Japanese table of contents Available online only Subscribe
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The French National Institute for Agricultural Research is recruiting 68 RESEARCHERS. INRA is focusing on major issues in global sustainable development: food geared towards people's needs, competitive agriculture and a preserved environment. From fundamental research to breakthroughs, INRA scientists work in dynamic, multidisciplinary teams on group projects offering professional self-fulfillment. Applications from 15th January to 27th February 2009. For more information see www.inra.fr
EDITORIALS		Top
An appeal to President Ahmadinejad p511 The conviction of two Iranian AIDS physicians violates international norms of justice and threatens to undermine collaborations between Iranian scientists and their colleagues elsewhere. doi:10.1038/457511a Full Text | PDF
Science restored p511 Obama's pledge to set US science in its rightful place requires a dose of reality from researchers. doi:10.1038/457511b Full Text | PDF
A responsibility index p512 How to evaluate a nation's scientific integrity. doi:10.1038/457512a Full Text | PDF
RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS		Top
Ecology: Waning woods p514 doi:10.1038/457514a Full Text | PDF
Environment: The case for clean air p514 doi:10.1038/457514b Full Text | PDF
Biogeography: On jaws and geography p514 doi:10.1038/457514c Full Text | PDF
Oceanography: Rogue waves p514 doi:10.1038/457514d Full Text | PDF
Analytical chemistry: A cheap nose for TNT p514 doi:10.1038/457514e Full Text | PDF
Atmospheric science: Dust devilry p514 doi:10.1038/457514f Full Text | PDF
Quantum physics: Beam Yb up p515 doi:10.1038/457515a Full Text | PDF
Behaviour: Marmo-what? p515 doi:10.1038/457515b Full Text | PDF
Animal acoustics: This whale goes to 11 p515 doi:10.1038/457515c Full Text | PDF
Geoscience: Tell-tale ooze p515 doi:10.1038/457515d Full Text | PDF
JOURNAL CLUB		Top
Journal club p515 Sue Gibson doi:10.1038/457515e Full Text | PDF
NEWS Top Stem cells ready for prime time p516 US regulatory agency gives the go-ahead for first clinical trials of a human embryonic stem-cell treatment. Meredith Wadman doi:10.1038/457516a Full Text | PDF Laser facility flickers into life p517 US nuclear-fusion project prepares to mimic the Sun Eric Hand doi:10.1038/457517a Full Text | PDF Iranian AIDS doctors' trial draws condemnation p517 Prison sentence threatens to undermine scientific cooperation. Declan Butler doi:10.1038/457517b Full Text | PDF Cutting out the chemicals p518 The international treaty drawn up to tackle ozone-destroying substances is gearing up to curb greenhouse gases. Jeff Tollefson reports. Jeff Tollefson doi:10.1038/457518a Full Text | PDF Pfizer to buy Wyeth in $68-billion deal p520 Drug giant chases stake in biologics. Heidi Ledford doi:10.1038/457520a Full Text | PDF Ocean fertilization: dead in the water? p520 Study casts doubt on iron-induced carbon sequestration. Quirin Schiermeier doi:10.1038/457520b Full Text | PDF Science adviser should show his independence, says report p521 John Beddington under fire for defending government policy. Natasha Gilbert doi:10.1038/457521a Full Text | PDF China targets top talent from overseas p522 Package aims to entice high-flyers back home. Jane Qiu doi:10.1038/457522a Full Text | PDF Obama swiftly reverses Bush orders p523 doi:10.1038/457523a Full Text | PDF Greenhouse-gas satellite heads into orbit p523 doi:10.1038/457523b Full Text | PDF Pig farmer infected with Ebola virus p523 doi:10.1038/457523c Full Text | PDF Europe's research activity lags behind its competitors' p523 doi:10.1038/457523d Full Text | PDF US agencies under scrutiny over high-risk programmes p523 doi:10.1038/457523e Full Text | PDF Tanzanian toad makes a colourful debut p523 doi:10.1038/457523f Full Text | PDF Correction p523 doi:10.1038/457523g Full Text | PDF Nature JOBS of the week Senior Research Fellow (Tenure Track Lectureship) University of Leeds Leeds, UK PhD Studentship Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia sinica Taipei City, Taiwan Computational Postdoctoral Fellow (#104) Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Cold Spring Harbor, New York Research Assistant University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine Miami, Florida (Ref. No. KR - 04) Process Engineer for Plating work related to E3Car Tyndall National Institute Cork, Ireland PhD-position in Systems biology applied to explaining tomato fruit growth and quality Wageningen UR, Plant Sciences Group, Crop Physiology Wageningen, The Netherlands Postdoctoral Research Associate King's College London London Postdoctoral Research Fellow – Analytical Chemistry University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis Nice, Côte d'Azur, France Sales Manager - Pharmaceutical Services ClinAudits LLC Kinnelon, NJ Regulatory Affairs Manager - CMC NonStop Recruitment ENGLAND Berkshire 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
Neuroscience: Making connections p524 By turning neurons technicolour, Jeff Lichtman exposed the brain's wiring. Jonah Lehrer meets the 'unapologetic cell biologist' with ambitions to map every connection in the human brain. doi:10.1038/457524a Full Text | PDF
Behavioural science: Secret signals p528 Are people's interactions driven by a primitive, non-linguistic type of communication? Mark Buchanan looks at how modern technology can reveal the basis of our powers of persuasion. doi:10.1038/457528a Full Text | PDF
CORRESPONDENCE		Top
Risks and benefits may turn out to be finely balanced p532 Simon J. Williams and Paul Martin doi:10.1038/457532a Full Text | PDF
Much ado about cognitive enhancement p532 João Ricardo Oliveira doi:10.1038/457532b Full Text | PDF
A medical view of potential adverse effects p532 Anjan Chatterjee doi:10.1038/457532c Full Text | PDF
Recall of learned information may rely on taking drug again p533 Alice M. Young and Francis C. Colpaert doi:10.1038/457533a Full Text | PDF
Patterns of drug use have varied throughout history p533 Don Burnap doi:10.1038/457533b Full Text | PDF
Careful use helps me do better research, and society benefits p533 doi:10.1038/457533c Full Text | PDF
Enhancement means a broader role for physicians p533 doi:10.1038/457533d Full Text | PDF
COMMENTARY		Top
Pruning the regulatory tree p534 For human-subjects research, maximum regulation does not mean maximum protection. Stop regulating minimal risk research, say Scott Kim, Peter Ubel and Raymond De Vries. Scott Kim, Peter Ubel and Raymond De Vries doi:10.1038/457534a Full Text | PDF
ESSAY		Top
Accelerating production of medical isotopes p536 The global problem of a safe and reliable supply of radioactive isotopes for use in critical hospital procedures can be solved with accelerators, not nuclear reactors, says Thomas Ruth. Thomas Ruth doi:10.1038/457536a Full Text | PDF
BOOKS AND ARTS		Top
Old bones unearth a new passion p538 Palaeontology in China has been invigorated by highly organized efforts to dig up bones for use in traditional Chinese medicine, explains Xu Xing. Xu Xing reviews The People's Peking Man: Popular Science and Human Identity in Twentieth-Century China by Sigrid Schmalzer doi:10.1038/457538a Full Text | PDF
Thinking outside the box p539 Melvyn Goodale reviews Supersizing the Mind: Embodiment, Action, and Cognitive Extension by Andy Clark doi:10.1038/457539a Full Text | PDF
Can robots have a conscience? p540 Peter Danielson reviews Moral Machines: Teaching Robots Right from Wrong by Wendell Wallach Colin Allen doi:10.1038/457540a Full Text | PDF
The art of laboratory design p541 Can visual arts stimulate creativity in the science laboratory? A new biochemistry building for the University of Oxford might provide the answer, finds Georgina Ferry. Georgina Ferry doi:10.1038/457541a Full Text | PDF
NEWS AND VIEWS		Top
Evolutionary genomics: A positive becomes a negative p543 Which human genes have been hotspots for positive selection? Analyses of the top candidates reveal, not genes subject to such selection, but genes that have probably been subject to biased DNA repair. Laurence D. Hurst doi:10.1038/457543a Full Text | PDF
Immunology: Natural killer cells remember p544 Cells of the adaptive immune system hold a grudge: on re-encountering a pathogen, they show a robust protective response. It seems that natural killer cells of the innate immune system might also have this ability. Sophie Ugolini and Eric Vivier doi:10.1038/457544a Full Text | PDF See also: Editor's summary
Condensed-matter physics: The pnictide code p546 Hopes are that the emergent family of iron-based superconductors, the pnictides, could act as a Rosetta stone in decoding the two-decade mystery of superconductivity observed at high temperatures. Jan Zaanen doi:10.1038/457546a Full Text | PDF See also: Editor's summary
50 & 100 years ago p546 doi:10.1038/457546b Full Text | PDF
Plant genomics: Sorghum in sequence p547 The drought tolerance of sorghum is just one of the features that make it a valuable crop plant. There is much for agronomists to learn from the complete genome sequence of this type of grass. Takuji Sasaki and Baltazar A. Antonio doi:10.1038/457547a Full Text | PDF See also: Editor's summary
Organic chemistry: Chlorine lends a helping hand p548 The development of synthetic routes to unusual and complex molecules frequently leads to surprising lessons about chemical reactivity. The first synthesis of a marine toxin provides just such a lesson. D. Karl Bedke and Christopher D. Vanderwal doi:10.1038/457548a Full Text | PDF See also: Editor's summary
Evolutionary genetics: Origins of reproductive isolation p549 A rare example of gene incompatibility between two species of budding yeast has been found. This discovery of elusive 'speciation' genes adds to other reproductive-isolation mechanisms operating in yeasts. Edward J. Louis doi:10.1038/457549a Full Text | PDF
ARTICLES		Top
The Sorghum bicolor genome and the diversification of grasses p551 Sorghum is an African grass that is grown for food, animal feed and fuel. The current paper presents an initial analysis of the ∼730 megabase genome of Sorghum bicolor. Genome analysis and its comparison with maize and rice shed light on grass genome evolution and also provide insights into the evolution of C4 photosynthesis, as well as protein coding genes and miRNAs that might contribute to sorghum's drought tolerance. Andrew H. Paterson et al. doi:10.1038/nature07723 Abstract | Full Text | PDF See also: Editor's summary | News and Views by Sasaki Antonio
Adaptive immune features of natural killer cells p557 Recent evidence has suggested the existence of immunological memory in natural killer (NK) cells. This paper confirms and extends the earlier observation, providing direct evidence that memory NK cells are more effective than naive NK cells in controlling viral infection in vivo. Joseph C. Sun, Joshua N. Beilke and Lewis L. Lanier doi:10.1038/nature07665 Abstract | Full Text | PDF See also: Editor's summary | News and Views by Ugolini Vivier
LETTERS		Top
Rapid heating of the atmosphere of an extrasolar planet p562 This paper reports 8-µm photometric observations of the planet HD 80606b during a 30-hour interval bracketing the periastron passage of its extremely eccentric 111.4 day orbit. As the planet received its strongest irradiation its 8-µm brightness temperature increased from ∼800 K to ∼1500 K over a six-hour period. The radiative time constant at the planet's 8-µm photosphere is ∼4.5 hours, as compared to 3–5 days in Earth's stratosphere. Gregory Laughlin et al. doi:10.1038/nature07649 First paragraph | Full Text | PDF See also: Editor's summary
Nearly isotropic superconductivity in (Ba,K)Fe2As2 p565 It is shown that the superconducting properties of (Ba,K)Fe2As2 are quite isotropic. Such behaviour is strikingly different from all previously known layered superconductors, and indicates that reduced dimensionality in these compounds is not a prerequisite for 'high-temperature' superconductivity. H. Q. Yuan et al. doi:10.1038/nature07676 First paragraph | Full Text | PDF See also: Editor's summary | News and Views by Zaanen
(π,π) electronic order in iron arsenide superconductors p569 Electron density waves have been observed in many families of superconductors. Recent measurements seem to show that the properties of the iron pnictides are in good agreement with band structure calculations that do not include additional ordering, implying no relation between density waves and superconductivity in those materials. It is reported that the electronic structure of Ba1-x K x Fe2As2 is in sharp disagreement with those band structure calculation, instead revealing a reconstruction characterized by a (π, π) wave vector. V. B. Zabolotnyy et al. doi:10.1038/nature07714 First paragraph | Full Text | PDF See also: Editor's summary | News and Views by Zaanen
Total synthesis of a chlorosulpholipid cytotoxin associated with seafood poisoning p573 This paper presents the total synthesis of a chlorosulpholipid cytotoxin, leading to confirmation of the proposed structure and the discovery of unanticipated reactivity of polychlorinated hydrocarbons. The concise synthetic approach should enable synthetic chemists to prepare sufficient quantities to facilitate biological studies. Christian Nilewski, Roger W. Geisser and Erick M. Carreira doi:10.1038/nature07734 First paragraph | Full Text | PDF See also: Editor's summary | News and Views by Bedke Vanderwal
Southern Ocean deep-water carbon export enhanced by natural iron fertilization p577 It is found that carbon export fluxes to the deep ocean from a highly productive, naturally iron-fertilized region of the sub-Antarctic Southern Ocean are two to three times larger than the carbon export fluxes from an adjacent high-nutrient low-chlorophyll area not fertilized by iron. These findings support the hypothesis that increased iron supply to the glacial sub-Antarctic may have directly enhanced carbon export to the deep ocean. Raymond T. Pollard et al. doi:10.1038/nature07716 First paragraph | Full Text | PDF See also: Editor's summary
Detoxification of sulphidic African shelf waters by blooming chemolithotrophs p581 Eutrophication of coastal waters can cause sulphide blooms, which are toxic to marine life. It is shown that these blooms can be rapidly detoxified by sulphide-oxidizing bacteria. This finding suggests that sulphide blooms may occur more frequently than previously appreciated and that the responsible bacterial groups are important to protect coastal ecosystems. Gaute Lavik et al. doi:10.1038/nature07588 First paragraph | Full Text | PDF See also: Editor's summary
Allergenicity resulting from functional mimicry of a Toll-like receptor complex protein p585 The common dust mite allergen Der p 2 is shown to replace MD-2 as the lipopolysaccharide-binding component and facilitates signalling through TLR4. It is suggested that Der p 2 tends to be targeted by adaptive immune responses because of its auto-adjuvant properties. Aurelien Trompette et al. doi:10.1038/nature07548 First paragraph | Full Text | PDF See also: Editor's summary
WNT11 acts as a directional cue to organize the elongation of early muscle fibres p589 This paper shows that during early myogenesis, Wnt11 plays an essential role in the oriented elongation of the myocytes. In addition, Wnt11 mediates this effect through the evolutionary conserved planar cell polarity pathway (PCP), which is downstream of the Wnt/β-catenin-dependent pathway. It is also shown that localized ectopic source of Wnt11 can change the orientation of myocytes, indicating that Wnt11 acts as a directional cue in this process. Jérôme Gros, Olivier Serralbo and Christophe Marcelle doi:10.1038/nature07564 First paragraph | Full Text | PDF See also: Editor's summary
Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli EtpA mediates adhesion between flagella and host cells p594 Adhesion to host cells is essential for virulence of many bacterial pathogens, including pathogenic Escherichia coli. An adhesion mechanism that relies on the secreted protein EtpA is now presented. EtpA attaches to both the bacterial flagella tip and the host cell, providing an adherence mechanism that is important for E. coli pathogenesis and may be present in many other pathogens that possess EtpA homologues. Koushik Roy et al. doi:10.1038/nature07568 First paragraph | Full Text | PDF See also: Editor's summary
Frequent somatic mutations of GNAQ in uveal melanoma and blue naevi p599 Mutations in BRAF and NRAS that lead to constitutive activation of MAP kinase signalling have been found at high frequencies in many melanomas. However, they have not been found in the uveal melanomas and blue nevi subtypes of melanoma. This paper shows that these subtypes instead show frequent activating mutations in the G protein α-subunit GNAQ, also leading to the activation of the MAP kinase pathway. Catherine D. Van Raamsdonk et al. doi:10.1038/nature07586 First paragraph | Full Text | PDF See also: Editor's summary
Prominin 1 marks intestinal stem cells that are susceptible to neoplastic transformation p603 It is shown that the cell surface protein prominin 1 (also known as CD133) marks stem cells in the mouse intestine. Using lineage-tracing experiments, it is shown that intestinal tumours can originate in these cells when the Wnt signalling pathway is aberrantly activated. Liqin Zhu et al. doi:10.1038/nature07589 First paragraph | Full Text | PDF See also: Editor's summary
Crypt stem cells as the cells-of-origin of intestinal cancer p608 Intestinal tumours can originate from Lgr5+ intestinal stem cells after genetic activation of the Wnt signalling pathway. Nick Barker et al. doi:10.1038/nature07602 First paragraph | Full Text | PDF See also: Editor's summary
RAD6–RAD18–RAD5-pathway-dependent tolerance to chronic low-dose ultraviolet light p612 It is shown that type of repair pathway, known as postreplication repair, permits cells to replicate their DNA when it is damaged, thereby avoiding the activation of a cellular response that would inhibit proliferation. Takashi Hishida, Yoshino Kubota, Antony M. Carr and Hiroshi Iwasaki doi:10.1038/nature07580 First paragraph | Full Text | PDF See also: Editor's summary
TECHNOLOGY FEATURES		Top
Glycobiology: A spoonful of sugar p617 Carbohydrates are important in many biological processes, but the full extent of their distribution and function remains unclear. Advances in technology are now reveal those secrets. Nathan Blow reports. Nathan Blow doi:10.1038/457617a Full Text | PDF
Glycobiology: Surface sensing p618 doi:10.1038/457618a Full Text | PDF
Glycobiology: Table of suppliers p621 doi:10.1038/457621a Full Text | PDF
Naturejobs		Top
Prospects Prospects p623 Paul Smaglik doi:10.1038/nj7229-623a Full Text | PDF
Special Report Show us the money p624 The government's assessment of UK colleges and universities sets up a waiting game for new funds and recruitment. Karen Kaplan reports. Karen Kaplan doi:10.1038/nj7229-624a Full Text | PDF
Alan Lewis, president and chief executive, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, New York p626 Virginia Gewin doi:10.1038/nj7229-626a Full Text | PDF
Age versus talent in India p626 K. S. Jayaraman doi:10.1038/nj7229-626b Full Text | PDF
Zen science p626 Joanne Isaac doi:10.1038/nj7229-626c Full Text | PDF
FUTURES		Top
One less concern p628 The improbable dream. Victor Thijssen doi:10.1038/457628a Full Text | PDF
ADVANCE ONLINE PUBLICATION		Top
28 January 2009
Organ regeneration does not require a functional stem cell niche in plants Giovanni Sena et al. doi:10.1038/nature07597 First paragraph | Full Text | PDF
Complete but curtailed T-cell response to very low-affinity antigen Dietmar Zehn, Sarah Y. Lee and Michael J. Bevan doi:10.1038/nature07657 First paragraph | Full Text | PDF
The haemangioblast generates haematopoietic cells through a haemogenic endothelium stage Christophe Lancrin et al. doi:10.1038/nature07679 First paragraph | Full Text | PDF
Human occludin is a hepatitis C virus entry factor required for infection of mouse cells Alexander Ploss et al. doi:10.1038/nature07684 First paragraph | Full Text | PDF
Ionic high-pressure form of elemental boron Artem R. Oganov et al. doi:10.1038/nature07736 First paragraph | Full Text | PDF
25 January 2009
Coenzyme recognition and gene regulation by a flavin mononucleotide riboswitch Alexander Serganov, Lili Huang and Dinshaw J. Patel doi:10.1038/nature07642 First paragraph | Full Text | PDF
Bidirectional promoters generate pervasive transcription in yeast Zhenyu Xu et al. doi:10.1038/nature07728 First paragraph | Full Text | PDF
Hedgehog signalling is essential for maintenance of cancer stem cells in myeloid leukaemia Chen Zhao et al. doi:10.1038/nature07737 First paragraph | Full Text | PDF
Widespread bidirectional promoters are the major source of cryptic transcripts in yeast Helen Neil et al. doi:10.1038/nature07747 First paragraph | Full Text | PDF
Post-transcriptional processing generates a diversity of 5′-modified long and short RNAs Affymetrix/Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory ENCODE Transcriptome Project doi:10.1038/nature07759 First paragraph | Full Text | PDF
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