Reviews & Analysis

This PrimeView illustrates some of the key translational applications of metagenomics studies.

Metagenomics describes the analysis of genetic information in a microbial community to provide taxonomic or functional information on the constituent microorganisms. This Primer describes suitable sample types, sampling handling and processing workflows for metagenomics, and gives a detailed discussion of the various analysis techniques to generate meaningful information from metagenomic data.

This PrimeView highlights the various approaches for fabricating the active layer of metal halide perovskite-based solar cells.

Metal halide perovskite solar cells are emerging as next-generation photovoltaics, offering an alternative to silicon-based cells. This Primer gives an overview of how to fabricate the photoactive layer, electrodes and charge transport layers in perovskite solar cells, including assembly into devices and scale-up for future commercial viability.

This PrimeView highlights some of the applications and products of atom transfer radical polymerization.

Atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) is a technique that employs the transfer of a halogen or pseudohalogen group between a catalyst and a monomeric or polymeric radical to generate and elongate polymers, respectively. In this Primer, Harrisson et al. describe considerations for ATRP, its available initiators, catalysts and mechanisms, the range of structures that can be generated and techniques for assessing the ATRP product, concluding with an overview of upcoming developments in the field.

This PrimeView highlights the impact of various tissues on the attentuation of low-frequency focused ultrasound signals, affecting the final intensity of signal that reaches the brain.

Low-intensity focused ultrasound offers non-invasive neuromodulation, targeting deep brain structures with adjustable parameters. In this Primer, Legon and Strohman discuss mechanisms and safety considerations and highlight findings from clinical applications, emphasizing its potential as a tool in neuroscience and therapeutic interventions.

This PrimeView highlights the interplay between writers, readers and erasers of mRNA methylation proteins and how these are targeted for therapeutic purposes.

N⁶-methyladenosine (m⁶A) is an mRNA modification influencing gene expression. Advanced methodologies for mapping m⁶A enhance understanding of its dynamic roles and interactions. In this Primer, Moshitch-Moshkovitz et al. discuss various detection tools and analysis techniques facilitating insights into RNA epitranscriptomics.

This PrimeView highlights how to measure X-ray absorption as a function of energy.

X-ray absorption spectroscopy is an element-specific and orbital-specific technique that can probe local atomic and electronic structures, without the need for long-range order. This Primer discusses the background principles, experimental methods and data analysis processes used in X-ray absorption spectroscopy to derive oxidation states, coordination and bond lengths of solids, liquids and gases.

This PrimeView highlights the future impacts of extreme ultraviolet lithography on semiconductor devices.

Extreme ultraviolet (EUV) lithography is used to fabricate features with nanometre-scale resolution. This Primer explores how EUV lithography can be applied to manufacture semiconductor devices, explaining lithographic tools, photoresists and potential future developments.

This PrimeView highlights the utility of uniform manifold approximation and projection in dimension reduction for data visualization, hypothesis generation and highlighting patterns in complex data.

Uniform manifold approximation and projection is a dimensionality reduction technique used to visualize and understand high-dimensional data. In this Primer, Healy and McInnes outline the use of the uniform manifold approximation and projection algorithm and its application to diverse data.

This PrimeView highlights the challenges and opportunities in using fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM), including strategies for improving acquisition speeds and dead-times.

Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy can offer insights into biological processes such as metabolic imaging, protein–protein interactions and live-cell intracellular dynamics. In this Primer, Torrado et al. discuss methods for measuring fluorescence lifetimes, including time-tagging and phase-modulation shift methods, along with fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy setup variations.

This PrimeView highlights the design and construction of artificial metalloenzymes for use in enzymatic reactions.

Artificial metalloenzymes harness metal cofactors that are not naturally found in enzymes and embed these in specifically selected or designed protein scaffolds. In this Primer, Vornholt et al. describe the best practices for designing and engineering artificial metalloenzymes.