Breakthrough Articles
Nucleic Acids Research (NAR) is proud to showcase its Breakthrough Articles which present high-impact studies answering long-standing questions in the fields of nucleic acids research and/or open up new areas and mechanistic hypothesis for investigation. These articles are chosen by the Editors on the recommendation of Editorial Board members and referees. Articles are accompanied by a brief synopsis explaining the findings of the papers and where they fit in the broader context of nucleic acids research. They represent the very best papers published in NAR.
View the below archive of Breakthrough Articles spanning over 10 years.
2025
2024
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
Senior Executive Editors of Nucleic Acids Research
Julian Sale
MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK
Barry Stoddard
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA
View full list of Editors & Editorial Board members
Nucleic Acids Research: 50 years of research for scientists by scientists
NAR's 50 years of forming relationships with our author community has allowed the journal to continue paving the way with cutting-edge, reputable research in the nucleic acids and protein fields.
View our information for authors
Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (ARSs) are indispensable for all living organisms and their associated aminoacyl–tRNA editing domains ensure the fidelity of translation. In eukaryotes, ARSs form a multi-aminoacyl–tRNA synthetase complex (MSC), which is ...
The molecular control of epigenetic information relies on hundreds of proteins of diverse function, which cooperate in defining chromatin structure and DNA methylation landscapes. While many individual pathways have been characterized, how different ...
RNA-mediated crop protection increasingly becomes a viable alternative to agrochemicals that threaten biodiversity and human health. Pathogen-derived double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs) are processed into small interfering RNAs (siRNAs), which can then ...
The RNA-binding protein ProQ interacts with many transcripts in the bacterial cell. ProQ binding is associated with increased messenger RNA (mRNA) levels, but a mechanistic explanation for this effect has been lacking. In Salmonella Typhimurium, ...
Ribosome synthesis in bacteria is coupled with transcription of the pre-ribosomal RNA (pre-rRNA), which must fold and assemble with 20 or more ribosomal proteins. In vitro , the Escherichia coli pre-16S rRNA misfolds during transcription, delaying ...
Enzymatic DNA synthesis, using stepwise nucleotide addition catalyzed by template-independent polymerases, promises higher efficiency, quality, and sustainability than today’s industry-standard phosphoramidite-based processes. We report the directed ...
