Subject collection: Cell Biology and Disease
- The prion protein regulates glutamate-mediated Ca2+ entry and mitochondrial Ca2+ accumulation in neurons
Summary: The cellular prion protein (PrPC) controls neuronal Ca2+ entry through ionotropic glutamate receptors and attenuates the process of Ca2+-induced Ca2+ release (CICR), which in turn limits mitochondrial Ca2+ uptake.
- Dysferlin mediates membrane tubulation and links T-tubule biogenesis to muscular dystrophy
Summary: The dysferlin protein is directly involved in the morphogenesis of the T-tubule system, suggesting a new model for the molecular pathology of dysferlin-dependent muscular dystrophy.
- The mucosal barrier at a glance
Summary: This Cell Science at a Glance article presents the current understanding of the molecular components and pathways that regulate mucosal barriers in health and disease.
- Beneficial effects of rapamycin in a Drosophila model for hereditary spastic paraplegia
Summary: We show that Drosophila lacking atl, a gene associated with hereditary spastic paraplegia, exhibit muscle degeneration and other phenotypes that are each rescued by administering the Tor inhibitor rapamycin.
- Tissue mechanics regulate brain development, homeostasis and disease
Summary: In this Commentary, the roles of cell and tissue mechanics in brain development, homeostasis and neural degeneration, as well as in brain cancer, are reviewed.
- Tenascin-C at a glance
Summary: Tenascin-C is an extracellular matrix molecule that shapes cell behavior in developing and traumatized tissues, and has a great potential in disease diagnosis and tissue repair.
- An unrecognized function for COPII components in recruiting the viral replication protein BMV 1a to the perinuclear ER
Summary: Erv14 interacts with brome mosaic virus protein 1a, whose perinuclear ER localization requires Erv14 and the COPII coat components Sec24, Sec13 and Sec31, in contrast to their canonical roles in protein ER exit.
- PrP-containing aggresomes are cytosolic components of an ER quality control mechanism
Summary: Prion protein (PrP)-containing cytosolic aggresomes are components of a quality-control mechanism of the ER. PrP molecules that fail to enter the ER will not be deposited in pre-existing aggresomes.
- Gα12 is required for renal cystogenesis induced by Pkd1 inactivation
Summary: Deletion of the gene encoding the G-protein subunit Gα12 prevents mouse kidneys from developing the kidney cysts induced by Pkd1 inactivation, which indicates that Gα12 signaling is crucial for renal cystogenesis.
- Cancer metabolism at a glance
Summary: This article indicates metabolic pathways essential for cancer growth and survival, with an emphasis on anticancer therapies that are associated with such metabolic vulnerabilities.