Communications Chemistry, Published online: 12 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s42004-026-01936-5Photoswitchable ligands can reversibly modulate receptor activity upon light-induced isomerization, yet the impact of structural changes on efficacy is not well understood. Here, the authors use molecular dynamics simulations to investigate two azobenzene-based 5–HT2A receptor ligands with different methoxy substituent positions, revealing that ligand insertion depth into the binding pocket is a crucial determinant of efficacy.

Communications Chemistry, Published online: 11 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s42004-026-01933-8Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) is known to modulate the pathological aggregation of proteins implicated in neurodegenerative diseases, such as tau and TDP-43, but the phase behavior of the tau/TDP-43 multicomponent system remains underexplored. Here, the authors show that, depending on protein concentration and the strength of LLPS-driving interactions, tau and TDP-43 low complexity domain (LCD) can function either as scaffolds — driving condensate formation — or as clients — being passively recruited into condensates formed by the other.

Communications Chemistry, Published online: 11 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s42004-026-01925-8Crystallisation is influenced by various non-equilibrium factors such as thermal history, mechanical perturbations, and flow, however, the role of imposed mass fluxes on when crystallisation first becomes macroscopically observable remains underexplored. Here, the authors show experimentally that thermodiffusive and isothermal diffusive mass fluxes can cause aqueous potassium chloride to crystallise at lower local supersaturation ratios compared to spatially isothermal reference systems, highlighting the importance of spatially varying temperature and concentration fields for precise crystallisation control.

Communications Chemistry, Published online: 10 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s42004-026-01937-4Coacervate droplets are evolving from passive microreactors to dynamic protocell models capable of information processing and lifelike behaviors. Here, the authors review advances in controlling droplet reactivity, chemical memory, and signaling, offering insights into engineering cooperative architectures with potential applications in synthetic biology and materials science.

This Collection aims to offer insight and inspiration for nucleic acid chemistry, focusing on the structure, function, generation, modification, ...

Communications Chemistry, Published online: 09 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s42004-026-01935-6Reactive oxygen species such as hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) could have arisen through abiotic processes on the early Earth and been considered a source of oxidative stress for early life. Here, the authors reveal that RNA molecules coordinated with ferrous iron can catalyze the conversion of H2O2 into O2 and H2O under anoxic conditions, suggesting RNA-metal complexes played a crucial role in managing oxidative stress before protein enzymes evolved.

Communications Chemistry, Published online: 06 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s42004-026-01898-8Cellular penetration is a crucial property of bioactive molecules to reach intracellular targets, however, current penetration assays are limited when it comes to measuring the exact cytosolic accumulation. Here, the authors introduce a chloroalkane HaloTag azide-based membrane penetration (CHAMP) assay, a high-throughput method using azide tags and click chemistry to accurately measure cytosolic accumulation, offering a powerful tool for the development of drugs targeting intracellular pathways.

Communications Chemistry, Published online: 05 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s42004-026-01909-8Endometriosis, a chronic inflammatory condition with limited treatments, affects millions globally. Here, the authors develop ionic liquid-coated gold core polymeric nanoparticles (Au-PLGA-IL NPs) for selectively targeted neutrophil co-localization, integrating the plasmonic properties of AuNPs with PLGA’s biocompatibility, further enhanced by ionic liquids, demonstrating significant apoptosis in endometrial cells via photothermal therapy.

Communications Chemistry, Published online: 05 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s42004-026-01920-zStimuli-responsive supramolecular systems offer innovative solutions for precise nucleic acid delivery, addressing the need for spatiotemporal control. Here, the authors develop azobenzene-bridged ionizable amphiphilic Janus glycosides as light-responsive DNA carriers, demonstrating reversible photoisomerization that modulates transfection outcomes and organ targeting.

Communications Chemistry, Published online: 03 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s42004-026-01921-yRegIIIα is an antibacterial protein that forms hexametric pores on Gram-positive bacterial membranes leading to cell lysis, however, hexamers can further assemble into filaments diminishing RegIIIα activity. Here, the authors use cryo-electron microscopy to reveal the 2.2 Å structure of RegIIIα filaments, uncovering a distinct subunit orientation and key interfaces for RegIIIα assembly, proposing the inhibitory mechanism of the pro-segment of RegIIIα.

Communications Chemistry, Published online: 03 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s42004-026-01887-xHigh-entropy metal sulfides have emerged as a new class of electrocatalysts, but their synthesis often faces challenges due to their inherent complexity arising from multi-metal interactions. Here, the authors report a low-temperature hydrothermal strategy to fabricate Ce-incorporated (CoFeNiCuCe)9S8 nanoballs by leveraging Cu2⁺ as a dynamic director for controlled solution-phase synthesis.

Communications Chemistry, Published online: 03 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s42004-026-01923-wAlthough photocatalysis research has evolved towards increasingly sophisticated structural regulation and material design, the synergistic enhancement of photocatalysis by multi-component semiconductors and biochar remains underexplored. Here, the authors present a biochar-based g-C3N4/Bi2WO6/Ag3PO4 nanocomposite and apply it to the efficient removal of tetracycline, showing that it forms a double Z-scheme heterojunction that significantly reduces photogenerated carrier recombination.

Communications Chemistry, Published online: 03 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s42004-026-01926-7Boron-containing catalysts, particularly boron oxide (BOₓ) impregnated onto inorganic supports, have recently attracted attention due to their high selectivity and activity in the oxidative dehydrogenation of propane (ODHP), however, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Here, the authors observe volatile BOₓ species under ODHP conditions, showing that BOₓ dispersion and stability depend on the nature of the inorganic support, with silica supports facilitating BOₓ sublimation and propane activation at lower temperatures compared to γ-Al₂O₃ or SiO₂–Al₂O₃.

Communications Chemistry, Published online: 02 February 2026; doi:10.1038/s42004-026-01924-9Cation effects in electrocatalytic reactions have attracted considerable interest due to their role in modulating reaction kinetics and mechanisms. Here, the authors use constant-potential density functional theory and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations to study the atomic-scale synergy between Na+ ions and stepped Pt(311) surfaces in the alkaline hydrogen evolution reaction, reporting the formation of a Pt–H2O–Na+(H2O)ₓ adduct at the step edges that positions cations closer to the surface compared to Pt(111) terraces, resulting in a lower Volmer step activation energy.

Communications Chemistry, Published online: 30 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s42004-026-01911-0It is well established that a significant amount of heat produced in the Earth’s mantle is due to the decay of uranium, yet the incorporation of uranium in deep mantle phases remains poorly explored. Here, two chemically simple uranium carbonates (U2[CO3]3 and U[CO3]2) were synthesized by a reaction of UO2 with CO2 at lower mantle conditions, revealing that uranium carbonates could be host phases of uranium in carbon-rich lithologies in the Earth’s mantle.

Communications Chemistry, Published online: 30 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s42004-025-01821-7Incorporating deep eutectic solvent (DES) mixtures in dye-sensitized solar cells offers an alternative to the use of volatile organic compounds as part of their electrolyte, which limits their use to outdoor environments. Here, the authors design two carbazole-based donor–acceptor dyes that are compatible with DES-based electrolytes and demonstrate their performance under both simulated sunlight and indoor lighting, with enhanced indoor power conversion efficiency under low-light conditions.

Communications Chemistry, Published online: 30 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s42004-026-01919-6While the major sinks for isocyanic acid (HNCO), a toxic atmospheric constituent emitted by biomass burning and catalytic converters in car engines, have been considered to be heterogeneous loss processes and dry deposition in the free troposphere, the role of Criegee intermediates remains underexplored. Here, using electronic structure calculations and kinetic simulations, the authors show that HNCO is highly reactive to stabilized Criegee intermediates in the atmosphere, discussing its potential role as sinks for HNCO.

Communications Chemistry, Published online: 30 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s42004-026-01917-8Ultrafast photoinduced excited-state proton transfer (ESPT) plays a crucial role in protecting biomolecules and functional materials from photodamage, but how solute-solvent interactions influence ESPT dynamics is not fully understood. Here, the authors use ultrafast absorption spectroscopy supported by quantum chemical calculations to study ESPT in a photobase, 2- (2’-pyridyl)benzimidazole, in methanol, tracking the complete reaction pathway and reporting early-time intermolecular coherent vibrations that may mediate the ESPT process.

Communications Chemistry, Published online: 30 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s42004-026-01913-yPolydiacetylene (PDA)-based colorimetric sensors have potential for rapid visual detection. However, their broader application remains limited by issues of sensitivity, selectivity, and stability. Here, the authors review functionalization strategies to overcome existing limitations, including chemical modification with reactive groups, conjugation with specific ligands or receptors, and integration with nanomaterials.

Communications Chemistry, Published online: 30 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s42004-026-01900-3Carbon dots can serve as drug delivery systems, enhancing drug solubility, bioavailability and accumulation within tumours while reducing off target effects. Here, the authors report a quadruple-conjugated nanomodel consisting of two targeting peptides and two anticancer agents using carbon dots as nanocarriers, demonstrating its cytotoxicity in multiple high-grade glioma cell lines.

Communications Chemistry, Published online: 29 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s42004-026-01914-xProtein conformational changes are crucial for signal transduction in cells, yet tracking these changes in living cells remains challenging. Here, the authors develop BIOSCE (BIOprobe based on Steric Confinement-induced Emission) by binding a steric sensitive fluorophore (MTPABP-Cl) to a HaloTag, which uses steric confinement-induced luminescence to monitor protein conformations in living cells with millisecond resolution.

Communications Chemistry, Published online: 29 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s42004-026-01915-wRibosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs) require precise proteolytic cleavage to generate bioactive natural products, yet the diversity of serine proteases involved remains underexplored. Here, the authors identify and characterize the serine protease WprP2 from Streptomyces venezuelae NPDC049867, revealing its unique cleavage activity on precursor peptides WprA2 involved in the biosynthesis of cyclophane RiPP natural products.

Communications Chemistry, Published online: 29 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s42004-026-01916-9Accurate IC50 prediction of small molecules is crucial for advancing anticancer drug development, however, the effectiveness of deep learning methods for predicting IC50 values remains underexplored. Here, the authors benchmark five deep learning models against a mean-based baseline, revealing that while DeepCDR, DrugCell, and tCNN slightly outperform others, all models struggle with unseen compounds, underscoring the need for improved predictive accuracy.

Communications Chemistry, Published online: 29 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s42004-026-01908-9Time-resolved serial femtosecond crystallography at X-ray free-electron lasers is a powerful approach for studying macromolecular dynamics, but its widespread use is limited by high sample consumption. Here, the authors introduce a segmented-droplet mix-and-inject strategy at the European XFEL that reduces sample consumption by up to 97% while preserving the data quality required for time-resolved structural studies of the enzyme NQO1.

Communications Chemistry, Published online: 29 January 2026; doi:10.1038/s42004-026-01895-xHeterobifunctional small degrader molecules that tether endogenous E3 ubiquitin ligases are promising substrates for targeted protein degradation, however, the precise formation of the E3 ligase–target complex remains challenging and limits their application. Here, the authors introduce indirect ubiquitination of the target proteins via non-covalent interactions that bypass E3 ligases, enabling efficient protein degradation.