IN THIS ISSUE
STICKY WICKET
CELL SCIENTISTS TO WATCH
MEETING REPORT
CELL SCIENCE AT A GLANCE
- Cellular functions of WASP family proteins at a glance
Summary: This article provides insight into new functions of WASP family proteins from regulating the biogenesis of autophagosomes to recently identified roles in the nucleus.
REVIEW
- Emerging roles of mechanical forces in chromatin regulation
Summary: This Review discusses the mechanisms by which the nucleus, and chromatin in particular, respond to changes in the mechanical microenvironment of the cell, resulting in architectural and transcriptional alterations, and thereby facilitating cellular adaption.
RESEARCH ARTICLES
- TRAPPC13 modulates autophagy and the response to Golgi stress
Highlighted Article: Depletion of the mammalian TRAPPIII complex member TRAPPC13 makes cells resistant to Golgi stressors, diminishes Brefeldin A (BFA)-induced autophagy flux, and reduces Rab1a activity in response to BFA.
- Mechanisms mitigating problems associated with multiple kinetochores on one microtubule in early mitosis
Summary: Given that eukaryotic cells carry multiple chromosomes, multiple kinetochores could occasionally interact with a single microtubule. We identify problems associated with this situation and find mechanisms mitigating these problems.
- Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound promotes cell motility through vinculin-controlled Rac1 GTPase activity
Highlighted Article: LIPUS is a therapeutic intervention used to promote healing. We show that the mechanical signal is sensed by the FA protein vinculin to trigger intracellular signalling events, promoting cell motility.
- TRPC1 is a differential regulator of hypoxia-mediated events and Akt signalling in PTEN-deficient breast cancer cells
Summary: TRPC1 Ca2+ channels mediate hypoxia-associated cellular events via hypoxia-inducible factor 1-alpha (HIF1α)-dependent and -independent pathways in PTEN-deficient breast cancer cells.
- Localisation of Nup153 and SENP1 to nuclear pore complexes is required for 53BP1-mediated DNA double-strand break repair
Highlighted Article: Nup153, previously shown to be required for nuclear import of 53BP1, is also required for sumoylation of 53BP1, acting by displacing the SUMO protease SENP1, contributing to efficient DNA double-strand break repair.
- Redox regulation of the yeast voltage-gated Ca2+ channel homolog Cch1p by glutathionylation of specific cysteine residues
Summary: Cch1p, the yeast homolog of the pore-forming subunit α1 of mammalian VGCCs, is regulated by redox-dependent glutathionylation and deglutathionylation (mediated by Gtt1p, and Grx1p and Trx2p, respectively) of cysteine residues.
- Loss of β-PIX inhibits focal adhesion disassembly and promotes keratinocyte motility via myosin light chain activation
Highlighted Article: Unexpectedly, β-PIX loss in keratinocytes increases the migration speed of single cells and promotes collective cell migration during wound repair by promoting actomyosin fiber contraction.
- Secreted tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase restricts trans-synaptic signaling to coordinate synaptogenesis
Summary: At neuromuscular synapses, secreted Timp limits extracellular proteolytic activity to restrict BMP signaling from the muscle to the motor neuron. This mechanism controls synaptic architecture, function and locomotor behavior.
- Control of mitochondrial homeostasis by endocytic regulatory proteins
Highlighted Article: Mitochondrial homeostasis is maintained by fusion and fission, and is essential for healthy cells. We identify a novel endocytic protein, EHD1, that, together with its interaction partner rabankyrin-5, indirectly regulates mitochondrial fission.
- Caspase-9 has a nonapoptotic function in Xenopus embryonic primitive blood formation
Summary: Fluorescent transgenic reporter constructs detecting caspase activity were designed and integrated in Xenopus embryos, revealing an unexpected nonapoptotic function for the initiator caspase-9 in primitive blood formation.
- ARHGAP42 is activated by Src-mediated tyrosine phosphorylation to promote cell motility
Summary: ARHGAP42 is activated by Src-mediated Tyr-376 phosphorylation to inhibit RhoA, and promote focal adhesion dynamics and cell motility.
- Extracellular polyphosphate signals through Ras and Akt to prime Dictyostelium discoideum cells for development
Summary: Polyphosphate is present in all eukaryotes, but little is known about its function. Here, we describe how Dictyostelium uses polyphosphate as a signal to initiate development.
- Arf6 and Rab22 mediate T cell conjugate formation by regulating clathrin-independent endosomal membrane trafficking
Summary: Clathrin-independent endocytosis occurs in T cells and, together with activities of Arf6 and Rab22, can influence the ability of T cells to form a cell–cell conjugate with antigen-presenting cells.
- Reconstitution of the oocyte nucleolus in mice through a single nucleolar protein, NPM2
Summary: The oocyte nucleolus is successfully reconstituted by NPM2 protein, and serves as a key platform to organize pericentromeric heterochromatin in order to correctly segregate parental chromosomes.
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2020 at The Company of Biologists
Despite the challenges of 2020, we were able to bring a number of long-term projects and new ventures to fruition. While we look forward to a new year, join us as we reflect on the triumphs of the last 12 months.
Mole – The Corona Files
"This is not going to go away, 'like a miracle.' We have to do magic. And I know we can."
Mole continues to offer his wise words to researchers on how to manage during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cell scientist to watch – Christine Faulkner
In an interview, Christine Faulkner talks about where her interest in plant science began, how she found the transition between Australia and the UK, and shares her thoughts on virtual conferences.
Read & Publish participation extends worldwide
“The clear advantages are rapid and efficient exposure and easy access to my article around the world. I believe it is great to have this publishing option in fast-growing fields in biomedical research.”
Dr Jaceques Behmoaras (Imperial College London) shares his experience of publishing Open Access as part of our growing Read & Publish initiative. We now have over 60 institutions in 12 countries taking part – find out more and view our full list of participating institutions.
JCS and COVID-19
For more information on measures Journal of Cell Science is taking to support the community during the COVID-19 pandemic, please see here.
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