IN THIS ISSUE
CELL SCIENTISTS TO WATCH
CELL SCIENCE AT A GLANCE
- Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay in humans at a glance
Summary: In humans, nonsense-mediated mRNA decay prevents the synthesis of potentially toxic proteins from mutated mRNAs, and also regulates 10% of physiological mRNAs that promote cellular adaptation to changing environments.
COMMENTARY
- Cellular structural biology as revealed by cryo-electron tomography
Summary: Visualization of macromolecules, organelles and cells by cryo-ET allows for structural analysis in a near-native environment. Recent technological advances have revealed unprecedented structural details.
SHORT REPORT
- Drosophila p120-catenin is crucial for endocytosis of the dynamic E-cadherin–Bazooka complex
Summary: In Drosophila, p120-catenin facilitates endocytosis of the dynamic E-cadherin, which is followed by its recycling. Consequently, p120-catenin regulates cell shape and promotes the ability of cells to exchange neighbours.
RESEARCH ARTICLES
- Activation of the IGF1 pathway mediates changes in cellular contractility and motility in single-suture craniosynostosis
Highlighted Article: Insulin growth factor 1 (IGF1) activation mediates changes in cellular contractility and migration in single-suture craniosynostosis (SSC) osteoblasts.
- Germline deletion of huntingtin causes male infertility and arrested spermiogenesis in mice
Summary: Conditional knockout of Htt in the male germ cells reveals that Htt might play an important role in spermatogenesis by regulating translation and DNA packaging in the testis.
- Emery–Dreifuss muscular dystrophy mutations impair TRC40-mediated targeting of emerin to the inner nuclear membrane
Highlighted Article: Emerin is a tail-anchored protein of the inner nuclear membrane. Here, post-translational membrane insertion of emerin is analyzed, revealing a prominent role for the TRC40 pathway.
- Inhibition of motor neuron death in vitro and in vivo by a p75 neurotrophin receptor intracellular domain fragment
Summary: A peptide mimetic of the p75NTR intracellular domain potentiates the survival of motor neurons in vivo by redressing the neurotrophin signaling imbalance in neurodegenerative conditions.
- Role of Securin, Separase and Cohesins in female meiosis and polar body formation in Drosophila
Highlighted Article: Although Drosophila lacks a Rec8 homologue, the Rec8-specific protease, Separase and its regulator, Securin are essential for release of cohesion.
- Myo19 is an outer mitochondrial membrane motor and effector of starvation-induced filopodia
Summary: Myo19 is an effector of starvation-induced filopodia formation and is directly anchored to the outer mitochondrial membrane.
- Cathepsin D and its newly identified transport receptor SEZ6L2 can modulate neurite outgrowth
Highlighted Article: SEZ6L2 participates in the intracellular trafficking of the hydrolase cathepsin D. In turn, proteolytic cleavage of SEZ6L2 by cathepsin D modulates the neurite outgrowth process.
- FGF2 inhibits endothelial–mesenchymal transition through microRNA-20a-mediated repression of canonical TGF-β signaling
Summary: FGF2 induces the expression of miR-20a, which targets the TGFβ receptor complex and abolishes endothelial–mesenchymal transition, a process that has a major role in fibroproliferative diseases.
- Identification of RNF168 as a PML nuclear body regulator
Summary: RNF168 was identified as a negative regulator of PML nuclear bodies, and shown to associate with PML nuclear bodies and hybrid SUMO2–ubiquitin chains.
- Interaction between MyRIP and the actin cytoskeleton regulates Weibel–Palade body trafficking and exocytosis
Summary: The role of MyRIP in restricting the movement and exocytosis of Weibel–Palade bodies in endothelial cells is mediated primarily through its actin- rather than myosin-Va-binding properties.
- WHAMY is a novel actin polymerase promoting myoblast fusion, macrophage cell motility and sensory organ development in Drosophila
Summary: Here, we characterize WHAMY, the fourth member of the Drosophila WASP family. We found that WHAMY is a novel actin polymerase.
- WDR8 is a centriolar satellite and centriole-associated protein that promotes ciliary vesicle docking during ciliogenesis
Summary: WDR8 is a centriolar and pericentriolar satellite protein. WDR8 is targeted to the centrioles by the proximal end protein Cep135. Cep135 and WDR8 are required for ciliary-vesicle docking during ciliogenesis.
- PI3K regulates endocytosis after insulin secretion by mediating signaling crosstalk between Arf6 and Rab27a
Summary: The insulin secretagogue glucose activates PI3K and induces endocytosis through promoting signaling crosstalk between Arf6 and Rab27a pathways.
CORRECTION
ARTICLES OF INTEREST IN OTHER COB JOURNALS
From Development