Peptides and DNA both display characteristic self-assembly motifs which underpin the spectacularly varied and functional nanostructures of biology. Ea…

Peptides and DNA both display characteristic self-assembly motifs which underpin the spectacularly varied and functional nanostructures of biology. Each of these has been harnessed by chemists to develop peptide and DNA nanotechnologies separately, but in nature different biomolecules interact both directly and indirectly in support of the larger cell and organism. Peptide-oligonucleotide conjugates (POCs) have now emerged as building blocks in nanotechnology. We review recent advances in the self-assembly of POCs, through the lens of increasingly developed complexity. While the simplest systems result in orthogonal or hierarchical self-assembly, more advanced examples introduce complementary or competitive aspects, and those closest to nature feature emergent properties. Complex, dynamic nanosystems such as these give us new insights into how life builds structures from biomolecules.

Through mechanistic understanding, transition metal catalysis has evolved into a key component of the organic chemists’ toolbox. Improvements in ligand design continue to push the boundaries of applications beyond targeted synthesis. This Forum contextualizes how mechanistic insight has influenced recent developments in transition metal-based molecular sensing.

The asymmetric partial reduction (APR) of substituted pyridines represents a direct and versatile strategy to access chiral dihydropyridines (DHPs) and tetrahydropyridines (THPs), which are present in many natural products and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs). However, this methodology remains significantly underdeveloped when compared with the numerous exhaustive asymmetric reductions of pyridines to fully saturated piperidines, and is currently still limited to the synthesis of THPs. In this opinion, we highlight the benefits, challenges, and current scope of asymmetric partial pyridine reductions, emphasizing prospective future directions to address significant gaps in the current literature.

Mass spectrometry (MS)-based spatial proteomics combines molecular profiling with histological context, allowing proteins and peptides to be mapped within tissues. Evolving from early immunostaining to advanced mass spectrometry imaging (MSI), multiplex immuno-MSI, and spatially resolved proteomics, this field now addresses significant challenges in biology and medicine. In this review, we outline various approaches and methodologies from foundational methods to recent advances including matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) immunohistochemistry (IHC) and spatially resolved large-scale proteomics. Examples from oncology and neuroscience illustrate the growing impact of spatial proteomics, while emerging directions such as single-cell and subcellular workflows, tissue-expansion strategies, and integrated multi-omics foreshadow a future of comprehensive tissue atlases at unprecedented resolution.

Ribonucleoprotein complexes are key players in driving natural cellular condensates. Recent studies have further shown that RNA itself, via highly modular and programmable self-assembly and multivalent interactions, can also function as scaffold for engineering synthetic condensates. These synthetic RNA-driven condensates exhibit unique molecular and material properties in compartmentalization, target selectivity, switchability, and spatial controllability, together with potential functions as chemical and/or genetically encodable tools in reaction control, biosensing, RNA network regulation, origin of life and artificial cell studies, and therapeutics. Here, we describe the molecular features, design principles, and physical and material properties of these emerging RNA-driven synthetic condensates, as well as the potential applications and current trends in the field.

Pyridine, as a privileged scaffold in drug discovery, requires complex modifications involving multiple chemical bonds and atoms for conversion into alternative heterocyclic systems – transformations that remain inaccessible to current single-atom skeletal editing methods. Recently, a versatile pyridine skeletal remodeling strategy has been developed to enable endo-to-exocyclic nitrogen atom transposition. This operationally simple protocol proceeds efficiently under ambient conditions [room temperature (rt), air] with standard stirring, enabling rapid scaffold diversification.

Nontraditional organic chromophores have gained significant attention as promising alternatives to conventional π-conjugated luminescent materials. These innovative nontraditional systems circumvent the intrinsic limitations of traditional chromophores by leveraging supramolecular interactions (e.g., hydrogen bonding, π–π stacking) to achieve tunable photoluminescence through precisely engineered through-space charge transfer (TSCT) and clusteroluminogenic assemblies. Their unique combination of structural flexibility, intrinsic biocompatibility, and stimulus-responsive characteristics presents transformative potential across diverse applications of optoelectronic devices, chemical sensing platforms, and biomedical engineering. However, practical implementation at scale remains constrained by insufficient solution-processability and inadequate mechanical robustness. Emerging strategies integrating these nontraditional chromophores with gel-based matrices demonstrate particular promise in addressing technological bottlenecks. This review will examine recent breakthroughs in gel soft materials incorporating nontraditional organic chromophores.

Cells regulate responses to external stimuli and control cell fate through reversible modifications on proteins, DNA, and RNA typically introduced by enzymes. Next to these well-known enzymatically installed modifications, covalent modifications can also occur on the same biomolecules through spontaneous reaction with small molecules taken up from external sources or generated endogenously (e.g., byproducts of metabolic processes). These so-called non-enzymatic covalent modifications (NECMs) have been mainly studied on proteins and DNA, but their biological role on RNA remains mostly underexplored. This review surveys identified and predicted RNA NECMs, explores their impact on RNA structure, stability, and function, and examines their link to diseases. Finally, we discuss regulatory mechanisms of non-enzymatically modified RNAs and their potential significance in cellular dynamics.

It is befuddling that the gender gap continues to grow in STEM. Women pursuing chemistry face many challenges, like lack of recognition for their work. Our goal as a scientific community is aimed towards creating a more inclusive scientific community, especially considering the many important contributions women have had in the field of chemistry.

Membrane proteins (MPs) are vital to many biological processes, making their atomic-level structures essential for drug discovery. Detergent micelles are commonly used in MP research, from extraction, purification, and structure determination. Recently, detergents featuring small pendant groups positioned at the hydrophilic–hydrophobic interface of the micelle have emerged as promising membrane mimetics. This review highlights recent developments in pendant-bearing detergents and explores the roles of pendant groups in MP stabilization. Hydrophobic or hydrophilic pendants enhance alkyl chain packing within micelle interiors through distinct mechanisms. Additionally, reactive pendants enable in situ structural modification of detergents. Pendant-bearing detergents represent valuable tools for MP structural studies and their rational design would pave the way for next-generation detergents to advance MP research.

   Investigadores del Instituto Interuniversitario de Investigación de Reconocimiento...

Hybrid photocatalysts comprised of nanomaterials and enzymes are promising materials for efficient solar fuel generation, but their multicomponent nature makes optimisation challenging. Combining experiments with modelling has now unravelled the individual electron transfer (ET) and hole transfer (HT) processes to show that controlling interfacial charge transfer is decisive for overall performance.

Structural complexity in nature emerges from simple building blocks, yielding robust and multifunctional materials. In response to the growing demand for programmable, time-sensitive materials, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged as ideal platforms for engineering complexity across multiple scales and environments. Their modularity allows the incorporation of multivariate metal nodes and organic linkers based on their topology, creating tailored pore environments and spatially varied functionalities. This review categorizes MOFs into three strategic approaches to structural complexity: metal node defect engineering, multivariate linker design, and hierarchical pore engineering. These approaches are highlighted for their broad application potential and offer valuable insights for the future design of complex, functional materials.

Ni-photochemical C–N couplings have emerged as a powerful synthetic tool. However, limitations in catalyst stability continue to constrain applicability. This Forum highlights how the field has evolved from reliance on Ir photocatalysts toward more sustainable initiation methods and how recent ligand designs are beginning to address longstanding deactivation pathways.

Brosch and colleagues recently identified the reaction sites for CO and H2 formation in operando within the catalyst layer (CL) of microfluidic gas diffusion electrodes (GDEs) during operation. This report highlights the critical role of the triple-phase boundary (TPB) in CO formation and provides guidelines for designing GDEs optimized for efficient CO2 reduction.

Precise synthesis of S-doped nanocarbons, including carbon nanobelts and multiply helical structures, showcases the power of sulfur fluorine annulative substitution (SFAS) in constructing complex aromatic frameworks. This approach enables atomically precise control over fused nanocarbons, which exhibit unique optoelectronic and supramolecular properties, thus opening new avenues for advanced functional materials.

Aliphatic diamines lie at the core of relevant compounds such as natural products, drugs, chiral ligands, and polymers. To date, great attention has been paid to 1,2-diamines because they can be easily prepared by alkene diamination reactions. Though efficient, this approach is intrinsically restricted to the formation of 1,2-disubstituted products. To overcome this limitation, a modular strategy was developed for regioselective simultaneous amination of two C(sp3)–H bonds for a direct versatile access to valuable 1,n-diamines.

Surface organometallic chemistry (SOMC) has become an indispensable strategy for the formation of well-defined coordination fragments on the surfaces of solid-state materials, chiefly oxides. SOMC leverages controlled reactivity between rigorously pretreated supporting material and judiciously selected molecular precursors. The nature of the support is critical because its chemical properties determine the types and number of surface sites formed in the SOMC process. Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) have recently gained traction as supporting materials for SOMC due to their high-surface areas, crystalline structure, and presence of inorganic building blocks that mimic metal oxides. This review aims to situate MOFs in the context of SOMC, highlight selected developments in using MOFs as supporting materials, and identify future research directions in this developing field.

The curious nature of β-boryl radicals has intrigued organic chemists since the late 1990s. However, it was not until more recently that chemists started to utilize the power of this phenomenon in chemical synthesis. Recently, a team led by the Brown group out of Indiana University has realized a boron-enabled cycloisomerization reaction for the synthesis of borylated cyclopropanes. This approach takes advantage of a 1,2-boron shift involving a triplet state intermediate.