Biofouling causes a huge economic loss to our society. This Perspective examines the biofouling process from microfouling to macrofouling, discusses a spectrum of chemical signals that induce and inhibit biofouling and argues for potential management by targeting the signaling responsible for biofilm dispersion or biofouling inhibition.

This Perspective discusses how macromolecular condensation can regulate the electrochemistry to affect biological function in living cells and provides a framework to study the electrochemical functions of biomolecular condensates.

Prokaryotic CRISPR–Cas systems are counteracted by phage-encoded anti-CRISPR elements, and how they protect themselves remains enigmatic. A study shows that CRISPR-repressed toxins defend CRISPR–Cas against anti-CRISPR proteins or RNAs by inducing abortive infection.

Arginine methylation acts as a signal for intracellular proteins to be degraded in lysosomes. We developed methylarginine targeting chimera (MrTAC), a chemical tool that induces proximity with protein arginine N-methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1) to trigger arginine methylation and thus targeted protein degradation in lysosomes.

1,3-Pr2-6-OTs GlcNAlk is a precursor uniquely targeting the essential glycosyltransferase MGAT1 to selectively tag hybrid N-glycan-modified proteins. Some hybrid-glycan tagged proteins move through a route from the Golgi to the nucleus/nucleolus.

A cysteine-reactive degrader of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) nonstructural protein 14 (nsp14) was identified, which mediates degradation through electrophile-induced global protein ubiquitylation, proteasome activation and the formation of stress granules and aggresomes.

Application of synthetic glycan (SG) preparations in gnotobiotic mice colonized with a defined bacterial community composed of members of the human gut microbiota identified a SG preparation that selectively altered the fitness of multiple bacteria.

Using directed evolution and structure-guided design, human synthetic antibodies selective to HER2 point mutants were developed. The use of the antibodies as T cell engagers killed HER2-mutant cancer cells while sparing HER2-wild-type normal cells.

The paenilamicins are hybrid nonribosomal peptide–polyketide compounds that inhibit protein synthesis. Here the authors reveal that paenilamicins bind to a unique site on the ribosome, where they interfere with the translocation of mRNA and tRNAs during elongation.

Fucosylation of host glycoproteins is revealed to sensitize cells to cholera intoxication while fucosylation of host glycolipids is protective. The glycosyltransferases encoded by B3GALT5 and B3GNT5 are identified as key regulators of this phenomenon.