This week’s articles address the biochemistry of PKA activation, neuronal signaling that controls whether worms are awake or asleep, and how gut microbial metabolism modifies the effects of nutrients, drugs, and toxins on the host.
BIOCHEMISTRY
PKA-activation mechanism revised
Smith et al. reveal how cyclic AMP–dependent protein kinase A really works.
NEUROSCIENCE
Neuronal basis of lethargy in worms
Nichols et al. performed brain imaging in nematode mutants to reveal how a brain switches between alert wakefulness and sleep.
MICROBIOTA
One person's meat is another's poison
A review from Koppel et al. explains that molecular understanding of microbial xenobiotic metabolism will enable personalized nutrition, toxicology, and medicine.
