T. Ikuta

Activation of the urotensin-II receptor by anti-COVID-19 drug remdesivir induces cardiomyocyte dysfunction

This study identifies remdesivir as a selective agonist of the urotensin-II receptor, linking its cardiotoxicity to receptor activation and genetic variants.

Massive occurrence of benthic plastic debris at the abyssal seafloor beneath the Kuroshio Extension, the North West Pacific

The paper quantifies plastic debris on the abyssal seafloor beneath the Kuroshio Extension, finding high densities of single-use plastics, indicating the Northwest Pacific deep-sea basin is a major plastic reservoir.

Crystal structure of schizorhodopsin reveals mechanism of inward proton pumping

The paper reports the crystal structure of schizorhodopsin, revealing its mechanism of inward proton pumping and differences from xenorhodopsins.

Structural insights into the mechanism of rhodopsin phosphodiesterase

This study presents the structural and functional analysis of Rh-PDE from Salpingoeca rosetta, revealing its photoactivation mechanism and expanding the definition of rhodopsins.

Isolation of an archaeon at the prokaryote-eukaryote interface

The paper isolates an Asgard archaeon and proposes a symbiosis model for eukaryogenesis based on its morphology and metabolism.