Vγ9Vδ2 T cells, the major circulating human γδ T cell subset, respond to infections and tumors by recognizing phosphoantigens (pAgs) via transmembrane…

Human γδ T cells recognize pathogens and tumors through butyrophilin-mediated phosphoantigen sensing. However, the assembly of butyrophilin multimers and their mechanism of TCR engagement have remained unclear. Zhang et al. reveal cryo-EM structures showing that butyrophilin multimers grip the Vγ9Vδ2 TCR using a plier-like mechanism, enabling MHC-independent immune responses that are distinct from αβ T cell strategies.

Protein homo-oligomerization widely generates symmetric assemblies for encapsulation and scaffolding. Conversely, natural RNA quaternary structures appear limited, with known RNA-only multimers predom...

A DNA transposon, or ‘jumping gene’, controls its amplification within a genome through a competition between the enzyme multimers that are responsible for its mobility.

Cytokines are essential mediators of immune functions and regulate many other biological processes, ranging from fetal development to ageing. Dysregulation of cytokine responses can substantially increase the risk of disease and so their activity requires tight control. The formation of cytokine homodimers, heterodimers and multimers has evolved as a versatile mechanism to regulate cytokine biology, in which multimerization can enable or attenuate their activity, diversify signalling outcomes and drive signalling bias. Here, we discuss the structure–function implications of cytokine multimerization for type I cytokines (for example, the IL-6 and IL-12 cytokine families), type II cytokines (for example, the IL-10 and interferon families), cytokines that signal through immunoglobulin-family receptors (for example, the IL-1 and M-CSF families) and also for the IL-17, TNF and TGFβ cytokine families. We highlight the influence of multimerization on cytokine activity and receptor engage

RNA-binding protein TDP-43 contains a region forming a dynamic α-helical multimer that accounts for its functional role, evolutionary conservation, and disruption in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, mak...

We present a comparative analysis review of traditional and cutting-edge technologies for clinical profiling of antigen-specific T cells, highlighting their principles, applications, benefits and limi...

Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, Published online: 06 August 2025; doi:10.1038/s41594-025-01650-1The authors resolve high-resolution structures of complex multimeric RNA-only assemblies, redefining our understanding of non-coding RNA architecture and expanding the landscape of naturally evolved RNA nanostructures.

The authors resolve high-resolution structures of complex multimeric RNA-only assemblies, redefining our understanding of non-coding RNA architecture and expanding the landscape of naturally evolved R...