DNA bridges, thin DNA connections that link daughter cells after division, threaten genome integrity and can trigger catastrophic chromosome rearrangements. A new study proposes that ESCRT-III proteins form protective assemblies around fragile ultrafine DNA bridges, revealing an unexpected role for these membrane-remodeling complexes in genome protection.

Human Argonaute2 (AGO2) binds siRNAs to target complementary mRNAs. Although guided–target complementary is required for slicing, there is a wide range of slicing efficacy. A study now shows the precise role guide–target geometry has in slicing efficacy.

This Review discusses how long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) control transcription activation by RNA polymerase II, including how they are produced at active enhancers or chromatin-domain boundaries and accumulate in biomolecular condensates.

Here, the author describes advances in understanding structures and post-translational modifications of amyloid fibrils through various techniques and the degree to which they recapitulate physiology and pathology, to better guide method selection when designing therapeutic or diagnostic interventions.

Proteome-wide prediction and structural modeling of disordered protein interaction interfaces advance characterization of disease-associated variants in disordered protein regions.

Wilhelm, Pluhackova and colleagues show how ligand binding, receptor phosphorylation and membrane interactions, including PIP₂, drive the assembly of human β₂-adrenergic receptor–β-arrestin complexes, providing insight into structural mechanisms regulating GPCR signaling.

Vignane et al. show that age-related protein oxidation disrupts normal brain protein organization, promoting harmful condensates and aggregation linked to neurodegeneration, whereas hydrogen sulfide-driven persulfidation counteracts these effects.

Li et al. present cryo-EM structures of the ATR–ATRIP complex bound to the ATR-activating domains of TOPBP1 and ETAA1; these reveal distinct binding modes and allosteric mechanism of activation for TOPBP1 and ETAA1.

Liu, Cai and colleagues show that the human TOM–TIM22 supercomplex acts a translocation unit that directly couples mitochondrial carrier import across the outer and inner membranes, in contrast to the independent function of the complexes in yeast.

Hu et al. identify the secretory phospholipase PLA2G2F as an endoplasmic reticulum-resident ferroptosis suppressor in bladder cancer and provide evidence that PLA2G2F acts on ether-linked phospholipids containing polyunsaturated fatty acids, reducing the pool of these peroxidation-prone phospholipids.

NINJ1 is a crucial mediator of plasma membrane rupture during lytic cell death. Recent mechanistic studies have shed light on how this enigmatic protein executes its membrane-shattering function, but many mysteries remain unresolved. Here we discuss emerging structural insights into NINJ1 function, along with knowledge gaps and open questions.

Technical Reports are among the different types of primary research papers Nature Structural & Molecular Biology publishes. In this issue, we discuss why we find the format valuable and highlight some of the most exciting Technical Reports we have published.