News from Science China Press

Shortly after transcription initiation, RNA polymerase II (Pol II) pauses near gene promoters before entering productive elongation, representing a key regulatory step in gene expression. In the recent study published in Science Bulletin, researchers from the Institute of Genetics and Developmental Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, combined acute protein degradation with genome-wide analyses to capture the immediate functions of the transcription factor GABPA in mouse embryonic stem cells. They discovered that, independently of its canonical partner GABPB, GABPA recruits the Integrator complex to promoter regions, thereby promoting productive transcription elongation. The study uncovers an unexpected role for a classical transcription factor and reveals how the Integrator complex is selectively recruited to specific genes.

A new study shows that plants communicate defensive warnings more effectively with species sharing similar volatile profiles, not necessarily close evolutionary relatives. Researchers exposed nine plant species to volatiles from invasive Phytolacca americana and found that defense priming was the dominant response. The strength of this response was better predicted by volatile similarity than by phylogenetic distance. The findings offer new insights into mechanisms of plant–plant communication.

Researchers developed a battery-free hydrogel bioelectronic patch that wirelessly monitors periodontal inflammation and releases miRNA therapy in response to disease-related enzyme activity. The device links local inflammation sensing with immune modulation, offering a new approach for integrated monitoring and treatment of periodontitis.

A recent study published in National Science Review has revealed a hidden population of high-frequency magnetohydrodynamic waves in the Sun’s polar corona. Using high-resolution Solar Orbiter observations, researchers found that these waves carry substantial energy, offering new clues to coronal heating and the acceleration of the fast solar wind.

Since the discovery of RNA splicing in the mid-1970s, splicing regulation has remained a central focus in molecular biology. Approximately 50% of human diseases are associated with splicing abnormalities. In eukaryotes, 70% to 90% of genes complete splicing during transcription, a process termed co-transcriptional splicing. However, the precise mechanisms coupling splicing with transcription remain incompletely understood. Moreover, the conceptual and functional boundaries between co-transcriptional and alternative splicing continue to confuse many researchers. Elucidating the molecular mechanisms and downstream functions of co-transcriptional splicing thus stands as a key frontier in the field.

Recently, a team led by Yajing Hao (China National Center for Bioinformation / Beijing Institute of Genomics, CAS) and Xiang-Dong Fu (Westlake University) published a review entitled "Hierarchical regulation and molecular functions of co-transcriptional splicing" in Science Bulletin. The article covers detection technologies, quantitative metrics, regulatory mechanisms, functional consequences, and disease associations, highlighting that co-transcriptional splicing is an active and hierarchically regulated hub of gene expression. The review also notes that many mechanisms remain debated, and systematic elucidation will open new opportunities for translational research.

A new Perspective in Science Bulletin explains why computational pathology must move beyond accurate algorithms. To help in real hospitals, AI tools need to be interpretable, reportable, cost-aware, and tested in routine clinical workflows.

A recent study published in National Science Review has revealed global inequalities in lake water quality through the development of GlakeWQ, the first satellite–machine learning framework enabling consistent assessment across countries. Mapping 16,409 lakes in 145 countries, the framework shows that only about two-thirds of lakes meet sustainable water quality standards, leaving approximately 1.15 billion people exposed to potential water quality-related health risks and highlighting the urgent need for equitable freshwater management.

How much load can a crumpled sheet bear, and does size matter? A new study of two-dimensional macromolecules, a class of ultrathin sheet-like materials, shows that at equal packing density smaller sheets carry higher compressive loads than larger ones. Coarse-grained simulations and compression tests on paper, aluminum foil, PDMS, and silicone rubber reveal a universal “smaller is stronger” rule rooted in denser internal ridge networks, offering a new design principle for lightweight, high-strength structural metamaterials.