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Dining on a world of chitin

August 6, 2025

Dining on a world of chitin

More than a billion tons of chitin are produced on earth each year, rich in fixed nitrogen and carbon, but it is hard to degrade and use. Anne van der Meij, Justin Nodwell and colleagues reveal that the soil bacterium Streptomyces venezuelae thrives on chitin from insect exoskeletons, using a potent mix of chitinases and a dedicated chitobiose importer.

Image credit: pbio.3003292

PLOS Biologue

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PLOS BIOLOGUE

08/07/2025

Research Article

An arginine switch for β-arrestin

β-arrestins regulate GPCR signaling and trafficking, and adopt multiple conformational states, leading to different functional outcomes, depending on their specific interaction pattern with receptors. Jeong Seok Ji, Yaejin Yun, Tomasz Maciej Stepniewski, Jana Selent, Hyung Ho Lee and co-workers show how receptor CXCR7 induces stepwise conformational changes in β-arrestin 2, uncovering an arginine switch mechanism that leads to its activation.

Image credit: pbio.3003312

An arginine switch for β-arrestin

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Current Issue July 2025

08/07/2025

Research Article

Comparing attributes

When choosing between options with multiple attributes, the orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) is thought to integrate across those attributes, aiding in value comparisons. Aster Perkins and Erin Rich show in monkeys that OFC neurons dynamically encode comparisons between attributes of the same type, rather than integrating values. Don't miss the accompanying Primer by Benjamin Hayden.

Image credit: pbio.3003281

Comparing attributes

08/07/2025

Research Article

Division of labor in the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex

The lateral prefrontal cortex is involved in executive functions, but whether distinct anatomical subregions play different functional roles is not clear. Claudio Basile, Marzio Gerbella, Leonardo Fogassi, Stefano Rozzi and co-authors show that, in the monkey ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, caudal VLPF areas specialize in visual input processing, while middle areas support context-based behavioral planning.

Image credit: pbio.3003041

Division of labor in the ventrolateral prefrontal cortex

08/05/2025

Research Article

Controling oviposition in locusts

Female locusts have highly extensible abdominal intersegmental membranes that facilitate deep oviposition into the soil, and represent an iconic sexual dimorphism. Xiaoming Zhao, Qian Ma, Ti Shao, Pan Jia, Sheng Li, Jianzhen Zhang and colleagues reveal that the Tra/Dsx-JHBP pathway regulates the expression pattern of two female-specific proteins that induce this oviposition behavior.

Controling oviposition in locusts

Image credit: pbio.3003321

08/05/2025

Short Reports

Learning communication from chimp mothers

The influence of social versus genetic factors on communication in non-human hominids is not well understood. Joseph Mine, Simon Townsend and co-workers show that, in line with their central caretaking role, chimpanzees exhibit presumed social influences on communication behavior from their mothers, but not fathers.

Learning communication from chimp mothers

Image credit: Ronan Donovan

08/04/2025

Research Article

DNA demethylation and retinal development

TET enzymes remove DNA methylation markers, but the role of this process in retinal development is not clear. Ismael Hernández-Núñez, Alaina Urman, Brian Clark and co-authors reveal that these enzymes are required for photoreceptor cells to initiate the genetic program to become rods instead of cones, and for maturation of the mouse retina.

DNA demethylation and retinal development

Image credit: pbio.3003332

08/01/2025

Perspective

Science and trust

What happens when the greatest strengths of science – openness, humility, self-criticism and self-correction – are exploited for political gain? Brian Nosek calls for scientists to affirm the genuine application of those strengths as the source of its trustworthiness.

Science and trust

Image credit: Pixabay user Geralt

07/29/2025

Editorial

Unveiling cancer crosstalk

Cancer evolves through dynamic exchanges with its environment. This Editorial by Yibin Kang introduces a new Collection of articles that explore this tumor–environment crosstalk across temporal and spatial scales.

Unveiling cancer crosstalk

Image credit: Yujiao Han & Yibin Kang

07/28/2025

Perspective

Omics, tumor biology and patient care

Large-scale omics datasets from tumor samples are becoming ever easier to generate and analyze. This Perspective article looks at how multiomics data be leveraged to help patients in the clinic.

Omics, tumor biology and patient care

Image credit: PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay

07/24/2025

Perspective

Tumor microenvironment and cancer therapeutics

This Perspective argues that better preclinical models, understanding of stromal heterogeneity and integration of tumor microenvironment assessments into drug development are needed to improve treatment efficacy.

Tumor microenvironment and cancer therapeutics

Image credit: pbio.3003276

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