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Glycinergic synapses play a central role in motor control and pain processing in the central nervous system. Here, authors present cryo-EM structures of the full-length glycine receptors (GlyRs) reconstituted into lipid nanodiscs in the unliganded, glycine-bound and allosteric modulator-bound conformations and reveal global conformational changes underlying GlyR channel gating and modulation.

Serotonin receptors (5-HT3R) belong to the pentameric ligand-gated ion channel superfamily and mediate excitatory postsynaptic signaling. Here the authors present the high-resolution cryo-EM structure of 5-HT3AR bound with the competitive antagonist granisetron and further validate the granisetron-binding mode with electrophysiology measurements and MD simulations.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can trigger secondary airway bacterial infections. Here, by proteomics and metagenomics analyses of samples from Kenyan children, the authors report that RSV associates with Streptococcus burden and a local upper airway response with direct antibacterial properties.

Serotonin receptor (5-HT3AR), a pentameric ligand-gated ion channel, regulates numerous gastrointestinal functions. Here the authors provide a cryo-electron microscopic structure from the full-length 5-HT3AR in the apo-state which corresponds to a resting conformation of the channel.

Abstract Yield-phenology relation is a critical issue affecting rainfed maize field productivity in semiarid east African Plateau (EAP). We first introduced Chinese ridge-furrow mulching (RFM) system to EAP, using three maize cultivars with early-, mid- and late-maturing traits as test materials. A two-year field experiment was conducted in a semiarid farm of Kenya from 2012 to 2013. Three treatments were designed: alternative ridge and furrow with transparent plastic mulching (FT), with black plastic mulching (FB) and without mulching (CK). We found that FT and FB significantly increased soil moisture and accelerated crop maturity across two growing seasons. Leaf area and shoot biomass were increased by 30.2% and 67.5% in FT, 35.2% and 73.5% in FB, respectively, compared with CK. Grain yield, water use efficiency and economic output were increased by 55.6%, 57.5% and 26.7% in FT, and 50.8%, 53.3% and 19.8% in FB, respectively. Optimal yield and economic benefit were observed in late-maturing cultivar due to increased topsoil temperature in FT in 2012 (cool), and in early-maturing cultivar owing to cooling effect in FB in 2013 (warm). Our study suggested RFM system, combined with crop phenology selection, be a promising strategy to boost maize productivity and profitability in semiarid EAP.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.