Nature Structural & Molecular Biology Nature Structural and Molecular Biology reflects the growing integration of structural and molecular studies. The journal places a strong emphasis on understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying biological processes. Specific areas include (but are not limited to) DNA replication, repair and recombination; chromatin structure and remodeling; transcription; translation; folding, processing, transport and degradation of proteins and RNA; signal transduction and membrane processes.
- MTCH2 promotes BAX and BAK self-assembly and apoptotic pore growth
por Hector Flores-Romero en abril 29, 2026 a las 12:00 amNature Structural & Molecular Biology, Published online: 29 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41594-026-01805-8The authors show that MTCH2 promotes BAX and BAK oligomerization independently of its insertase activity, supporting its role in shaping the mitochondrial lipid environment that enables efficient pore expansion, mitochondrial DNA release and inflammatory signaling.
- TMPRSS2-mediated coronavirus spike activation and inhibitionpor Matthew McCallum en abril 28, 2026 a las 12:00 am
Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, Published online: 28 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41594-026-01801-yHere, the authors elucidate TMPRSS2 protease recognition of the SARS-CoV-2 spike S2′ cleavage site, revealing the molecular basis of activation of membrane fusion, and show that antibodies recognizing the S2′ site or TMPRSS2 block viral entry by interfering with TMPRSS2 access.
- Structural insight into how RAD51 paralog exchange regulates RAD51 filament formationpor Yashpal Rawal en abril 22, 2026 a las 12:00 am
Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, Published online: 22 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41594-026-01796-6Rawal, Kwon and colleaugues obtain cryo-electron microscopy structures and biochemical analyses that reveal how RAD51 paralog exchange remodels distinct complexes with different functions to regulate DNA repair by promoting RAD51 filament formation.
- Ligand binding modes of the bitter taste receptor T2R14 and T2R46por Qiuxiang Tan en abril 20, 2026 a las 12:00 am
Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, Published online: 20 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41594-026-01786-8Tan, Yu, Han et al. show how human bitter taste receptors recognize diverse ligands by determining several T2R structures. The study presents distinct binding modes and an intrinsic activation mechanism.
- Structural insights into coffee bitter taste perception by TAS2R43 receptorpor Yoojoong Kim en abril 20, 2026 a las 12:00 am
Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, Published online: 20 April 2026; doi:10.1038/s41594-026-01776-wKim et al. revealed how taste receptor type 2 member 43, a bitter taste receptor that detects coffee-derived compounds, recognizes bitter tastants through cryo-electron microscopy structures of ligand-bound complexes, supported by biochemical and computational analyses, providing a structural framework for coffee bitter taste signaling.