Water oceans in large icy moons and exoplanets are isolated from the rocky interior by thick layers of high-pressure ice, which hinder the direct release of nutrients and organics derived from water-rock interaction to the ocean. Possible uptake of these bio-essential compounds into high-pressure ice phases could regulate their availability in the ocean, but this process is poorly constrained. Here, we measured partition coefficients of glycine and alanine into ices VI and VII under elevated temperature-pressure conditions using a diamond-anvil cell. We observed moderate compatibility of glycine and alanine with partition coefficients: K p ,glycine = 0.14 and 0.40 in ices VI and VII, respectively; K p ,alanine = 0.21 and 0.35 in ices VI and VII, respectively. First-principles calculations suggested that amino acids could be incorporated into high-pressure ice’s lattice via cogrowth. Compatibility of amino acids into high-pressure ices would favor their transport in large extraterrestrial oceans, opening an avenue to habitability.
All-soft electronics have emerged as a promising platform for deformable and human-centric systems, yet the development of mechanically compliant diodes remains a major challenge due to limitations in material compatibility, device architecture, and stable operation under deformation. Electrochemical approaches offer a viable route to address this challenge by enabling bulk, low-voltage charge modulation in soft materials without relying on rigid junction interfaces. Here, we report, to the best of our knowledge, the first all-soft organic electrochemical diode (OECD) based on an asymmetric active-layer geometry. The device incorporates a transfer-printed ultrathin ion-gel interface that preserves conformal coverage and the active electrochemical architecture under strain. The device achieves high rectification through polarity-dependent electrochemical potential redistribution, with a rectification ratio of up to 2.23 × 10 4 at ±1 V and stable operation under tensile strains of up to 30% and repeated mechanical deformation. This ion-gel-based architecture preserves the electrochemical asymmetry required for diode operation while maintaining structural integrity under strain. Beyond the individual device, the all-soft OECD enables deformable rectifiers and logic gates and functions as a key signal-isolation element that suppresses cross-talk in a deformable pressure-sensing array. These results establish an electrochemical diode platform that combines mechanical deformability, high rectification performance, and circuit-level compatibility, providing a pathway toward fully deformable and integrated human-centric electronic systems.
Dietary fish oil (FO) and omega-3 fatty acids are associated with cardiometabolic benefits, yet their molecular mediators remain incompletely defined. Furan fatty acids (FuFAs), a distinct lipid class enriched in FO, have emerged as potential regulators of metabolic health. Here, we identify and quantify FuFA species in prescription omega-3 formulations and natural fish oils, and synthesize structurally engineered analogs designed to isolate antioxidant activity and β-oxidation susceptibility from FuFA bioactivity. In a diet-induced obesity mouse model, both natural and synthetic FuFAs reduced fat accumulation and inflammatory markers, while 11U3-2M additionally produced significant improvement in glucose tolerance, dyslipidemia, and hepatic steatosis. The superior activity of 11U3-2M reflects the stable accumulation of its acyl-CoA conjugate that activates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) signaling and allosterically inhibits acetyl-CoA carboxylases (ACCs) to reprogram hepatic lipid metabolism. These findings position FuFAs as functional dietary lipids contributing to fish oil’s metabolic effects and define fatty acid structural determinants that govern hepatic metabolic activity.
Thioester domains (TEDs) represent a family of bacterial adhesin domains that mediate covalent anchoring to target ligands via an intramolecular thioester bond. Although the broad distribution of TEDs among Gram-positive bacteria suggests a critical functional role, the biological significance of this covalent mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we demonstrated that TED-mediated covalent anchoring is reversible and that its equilibrium is regulated by pH. Specifically, SfbI-TED from group A Streptococcus binds tightly to fibrinogen at physiological pH, whereas mild acidification to pH 6.0 induces rapid dissociation of the complex. Thermodynamic analyses indicated that this pH responsiveness is largely dictated by the intrinsic pH sensitivity of the thioester-mediated acyl transfer reaction conserved within TEDs, rather than by surface residues specific to individual TEDs. Similar pH-dependent behavior was observed in phylogenetically distinct TEDs, suggesting that pH-responsive adhesion is likely to be a broadly shared feature of TED-containing adhesins across Gram-positive bacteria.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) remains a health threat, particularly for infants, older adults, and immunocompromised individuals. Although neutralizing antibodies can help limit infection and viral replication, T cells are essential for reducing disease severity. Assessment of age-related declines in T cell function are important for vaccine evaluation. We used intracellular cytokine staining, activation-induced marker, and Meso Scale Discovery assays and single-cell multiomic profiling to evaluate RSV vaccine mRNA-1345 responses in younger and older adults. mRNA-1345 induced comparable CD4 + and CD8 + T cell responses in both cohorts, with CD4 + responses persisting for 24 months. The CD4 + response was strongly T helper 1 (T H 1)–polarized, with increased interferon-γ, interleukin-2, and tumor necrosis factor–α and minimal T H 2 cytokines. Both CD4 + and CD8 + T cells showed increased polyfunctionality that remained elevated at 2 years. Single-cell and T cell receptor repertoire analyses showed similar Pre-F–specific phenotypes, transcriptional profiles, and clonal overlap across age groups, supporting robust, durable cellular immunity after mRNA-1345 vaccination. These findings indicate shared vaccine-elicited T cell immunity in adults.
