The mutational dynamics of the <i>Arabidopsis</i> centromeres

Nature, Published online: 23 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11046-wCentromeres in Arabidopsis thaliana evolve through frequent insertions and deletions of repeat units and increased rates of point mutations driven by homology-d…

Nature, Published online: 23 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11046-w

Centromeres in Arabidopsis thaliana evolve through frequent insertions and deletions of repeat units and increased rates of point mutations driven by homology-directed repair, a mutation spectrum that is sufficient to generate and maintain large homogenized tandem-repeat blocks.

mTORC1 drives cell-autonomous astrocyte reactivity in tuberous sclerosis

Nature, Published online: 23 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11054-wReactive astrocytes emerge as a primary consequence of TSC2 loss in tuberous sclerosis complex, implicating glial dysfunction as a primary driver of pathogenesi…

Nature, Published online: 23 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11054-w

Reactive astrocytes emerge as a primary consequence of TSC2 loss in tuberous sclerosis complex, implicating glial dysfunction as a primary driver of pathogenesis and highlighting the astrocytes as potential therapeutic targets for tuberous sclerosis complex-related neuropathology.

Neuronal detection of social actions directs collective escape behaviour

Nature, Published online: 23 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11041-1Collective escape in Danionella cerebrum arises from visual detection of rapid, biologically realistic motion of other fish, with midbrain and thalamic neurons …

Nature, Published online: 23 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11041-1

Collective escape in Danionella cerebrum arises from visual detection of rapid, biologically realistic motion of other fish, with midbrain and thalamic neurons encoding social offsets that enable fish to infer danger from others’ behaviour.

Reference genomes and fossils revise bat family phylogeny and biogeography

Nature, Published online: 23 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11007-3An updated phylogeny of bats is presented, based on new genome assemblies and many ancient fossils and including all known bat families.

Nature, Published online: 23 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11007-3

An updated phylogeny of bats is presented, based on new genome assemblies and many ancient fossils and including all known bat families.

MMEJ repair of breaks at TA repeats maintains ecDNA and cancer fitness

Nature, Published online: 23 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11048-8Stability of extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) relies on microhomology-mediated end joining at fragile TA-rich sites, with FANCM suppressing break formation, suggest…

Nature, Published online: 23 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11048-8

Stability of extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) relies on microhomology-mediated end joining at fragile TA-rich sites, with FANCM suppressing break formation, suggesting that Polθ disruption may destabilize ecDNA and sensitize ecDNA-driven tumours to therapeutic intervention.

A methanogen hydrolase reveals the structure of archaeal peptidoglycan

Nature, Published online: 23 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11028-yArmA from Methanobrevibacter smithii, a dominant member of the human gut microbiome, is identified and characterized as a glycosyl hydrolase specific for cleavi…

Nature, Published online: 23 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11028-y

ArmA from Methanobrevibacter smithii, a dominant member of the human gut microbiome, is identified and characterized as a glycosyl hydrolase specific for cleaving the cell wall of methanogens, revealing an unsuspected chemical structure of archaeal peptidoglycan that includes a previously unidentified sugar.

A design approach for bitopic kinase inhibitors

Nature, Published online: 23 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11056-8Detailed analyses of ligand choice, linkage vector and linker length enabled the development of bitopic inhibitors of ABL1 and EGFR kinases, including an ABL1 i…

Nature, Published online: 23 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11056-8

Detailed analyses of ligand choice, linkage vector and linker length enabled the development of bitopic inhibitors of ABL1 and EGFR kinases, including an ABL1 inhibitor with enhanced activity against resistance mutations and reduced off-target toxicity.

Hepatocytes promote liver metastasis of pancreatic cancer by providing serine

Nature, Published online: 23 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11051-zMetastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) in the liver that lack the enzyme necessary to synthesize serine can reprogram hepatocytes to produce this am…

Nature, Published online: 23 September 2026; doi:10.1038/s41586-026-11051-z

Metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) in the liver that lack the enzyme necessary to synthesize serine can reprogram hepatocytes to produce this amino acid, thus promoting tumour growth and survival.

The human skeleton’s unique adaptations relied on gene regulatory changes

Nature, Published online: 23 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02775-zVariants in genes involved in the production of extracellular matrix molecules could have enabled the skeletal adaptations that distinguish humans from other gr…

Nature, Published online: 23 September 2026; doi:10.1038/d41586-026-02775-z

Variants in genes involved in the production of extracellular matrix molecules could have enabled the skeletal adaptations that distinguish humans from other great apes.