News & Comment

Researchers roll up their sleeves for the work ahead in the noncoding RNA field.

Nanopore direct RNA sequencing (DRS) reads continuous native RNA strands. Early adopters have used this technology to document nucleotide modifications and 3′ polyadenosine tails on RNA strands without added chemistry steps. Individual strands ranging in length from 70 to 26,000 nucleotides have been sequenced. In our opinion, broader acceptance of nanopore DRS by molecular biologists and cell biologists will be accelerated by higher basecall accuracy and lower RNA input requirements.

Recent studies have revealed multifaceted roles of long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) in gene regulation, accompanying an increased understanding of lncRNA processing, localization, interacting macromolecules and structural modules. Here, progress and recently developed technological advances for understanding lncRNA biogenesis, modes of action and cellular phenotypes are highlighted, and challenges and opportunities towards higher-resolution and in vivo studies in this field are discussed.

In recent years, the number of annotated noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) and RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) has increased dramatically. The wide range of RBPs identified highlights the enormous potential for RNA in virtually all aspects of cell biology, from transcriptional regulation to metabolic control. Yet, there is a growing gap between what is possible and what has been demonstrated to be functionally important. Here we highlight recent methodological developments in the study of RNA–protein interactions, discuss the challenges and opportunities for exploring their functional roles, and provide our perspectives on what is needed to bridge the gap in this rapidly expanding field.

The research community focused on noncoding RNAs keeps growing. Skepticism about the field has some history.

Researchers explore the unique and puzzling photostability of DNA FluoroCubes. Moreover, they improve the probes’ performance and highlight their diverse applicability.

Jumping across silos is a tough sport. But practitioners find joy in leaving comfort zones.

Different nucleotides and derivatives can be read out by MspA-PBA, an engineered nanopore.

A method to develop gastrulating embryoids from stem cells ex utero.

The NeuroCAAS platform simplifies data analysis in the neuroscience space for users and enhances reproducibility.

plexDIA increases throughput of proteomics analysis with low sample amounts.

Parhyale hawaiensis comes from tropical intertidal shores and mangroves. In research, it is used to explore topics ranging from embryonic development and regeneration, to tidal rhythms and environmental pollution.

Researchers describe Retro-Cascorder, a tool that employs prokaryotic retrons and CRISPR integrases to write transcriptional events into the genome of Escherichia coli.

Your name is on the door to your new lab. Life is getting exciting and turbulent.

As pandemic restrictions ease and we at Nature Methods begin to travel again, we muse about the highs and lows of in-person and virtual meetings and imagine the future of scientific conferences.

The EQIPD framework for rigor in animal experiments aims to unify current recommendations based on evidence behind their rationale and was prospectively tested for feasibility in multicenter animal experiments.

As new technology enables researchers to find and characterize less-common post-translational modifications that drive gene expression and cellular metabolism, the movement to catalog the entire human proteome gains momentum

Light microscopy enables researchers to observe cellular mechanisms with high spatial and temporal resolution. However, the increasing complexity of current imaging technologies, coupled with financial constraints of potential users, hampers the general accessibility and potential reach of cutting-edge microscopy. Open microscopy can address this issue by making well-designed and well-documented hardware and software solutions openly available to a broad audience. In this Comment, we provide a definition of open microscopy and present recent projects in the field. We discuss current and future challenges of open microscopy and their implications for funders, policymakers, researchers and scientists. We believe that open microscopy requires a holistic approach. Sample preparation, designing and building of hardware components, writing software, data acquisition and data interpretation must go hand in hand to enable interdisciplinary and reproducible science to the benefit of society.