IN THIS ISSUE
CELL SCIENTISTS TO WATCH
CELL SCIENCE AT A GLANCE
- Corneal epithelial stem cells and their niche at a glance
Summary: We summarise the role of the niche microenvironment in regulating corneal epithelial stem cells during homeostasis, repair and disease.
RESEARCH ARTICLES
- Derlin-1 promotes ubiquitylation and degradation of the epithelial Na+ channel, ENaC
Summary: Derlin-1 binds to ENaC and promotes its ubiquitylation and degradation via ER-related degradation. The E3 ligase HUWE1 is required and adds K11-linked ubiquitin chains to ENaC prompting its degradation.
- Caveolae provide a specialized membrane environment for respiratory syncytial virus assembly
Highlighted Article: The assembly of respiratory syncytial virus occurs in caveolar membranes and caveolar coat components are incorporated into the viral envelope.
- The Arabidopsis homolog of Scc4/MAU2 is essential for embryogenesis
Summary: The cohesin-loading complex is evolutionarily conserved across kingdoms. In plants, subunits of the complex are crucial for determining the distribution of auxin maxima and cell fate during embryogenesis.
- A RhoG-mediated signaling pathway that modulates invadopodia dynamics in breast cancer cells
Highlighted Article: We describe a novel signaling pathway involving SGEF, RhoG and paxillin phosphorylation, which functions in the regulation of invadopodia disassembly in breast cancer cells.
- The Aurora-A–Twist1 axis promotes highly aggressive phenotypes in pancreatic carcinoma
Summary: We show that the AURKA–Twist1 axis regulates EMT, xenograft growth and drug resistance in pancreatic cancer. This is the first mechanism linking AURKA activity with tumor metastasis through Twist1.
- The Rap1–cofilin-1 pathway coordinates actin reorganization and MTOC polarization at the B cell immune synapse
Highlighted Article: Consistent with its role as a central regulator of cell polarity, we show that the Rap1 GTPase controls polarization of the microtubule network towards the B cell immune synapse.
- The T cell IFT20 interactome reveals new players in immune synapse assembly
Summary: An unbiased mass spectrometry-based analysis of the interactors of the intraflagellar transport protein IFT20 in T cells revealed new vesicular traffic-related regulators of immune synapse assembly.
- Selective transport of neurotransmitters and modulators by distinct volume-regulated LRRC8 anion channels
Highlighted Article: The ability of volume-regulated heteromeric VRAC channels to conduct organic compounds, including the neurotransmitters glutamate and GABA, depends on LRRC8D and LRRC8E subunits, and suggests new roles in transcellular signal transduction.
- Independent mechanisms recruit the cohesin loader protein NIPBL to sites of DNA damage
Summary: Accumulation of NIPBL, the cohesin loader, at different types of DNA lesions occurs through independent mechanisms. This finding enhances our understanding of the highly dynamic roles for NIPBL in genome stability.
- Endocytic turnover of Rab8 controls cell polarization
Highlighted Article: GRAF1 mediates inactivation and endocytic removal of Rab8 from cell surface protrusions, thereby facilitating dynamic adjustment of the polarity axis.
- miR-450a-5p within rat adipose tissue exosome-like vesicles promotes adipogenic differentiation by targeting WISP2
Summary: Exosome-like vesicles derived from adipose tissue promote adipogenesis through miR-450a-5p by targeting WISP2. This suggests that exosome-like vesicles can be involved in cell-to-cell communication during adipocyte differentiation.
- Ypk1 and Ypk2 kinases maintain Rho1 at the plasma membrane by flippase-dependent lipid remodeling after membrane stresses
Summary: Yeast resists plasma membrane stress by maintaining the cortical localization of Rho GTPase through lipid remodeling mediated by Ypk kinase and flippase.
- Giant FAZ10 is required for flagellum attachment zone stabilization and furrow positioning in Trypanosoma brucei
Summary: Functional characterization of the T. brucei giant protein FAZ10 reveals it has roles in flagellar attachment, nucleus and kinetoplast positioning and, uniquely for a FAZ protein, a direct role in cytokinesis.
CORRECTIONS
ARTICLES OF INTEREST IN OUR OTHER JOURNALS
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ASCBǀEMBO 2019 Special Collection
We're at ASCB - visit booth 1000 to meet the JCS team!
Enjoy a collection of articles published in Journal of Cell Science by a range of speakers at the ASCBǀEMBO 2019 Meeting. Featuring articles from the labs of JCS Editorial Advisory Board members, all articles in the collection are free to access.
Early-bird meeting deadline - 20 December
Don’t miss the early-bird application deadline for the 2020 JCS meeting on Host-Pathogen interface! Taking place 17-20 May 2020 at Wotton House, Surrey, UK, the meeting will bring together experts working at the interface between cell biology and pathogens. Places are limited, so apply to attend now.
Cell Scientist to Watch – Elizabeth Hinde
From physics and chemistry to art and back again, Elizabeth Hinde is currently based at the University of Melbourne. Her research focuses on fluorescence microscopy methods to quantify live-cell nuclear organisation and the role chromatin dynamics play in maintaining genome function. Read the full interview to find out more.
Have you heard about our Travelling Fellowships?
Early-career researchers can apply for up to £2,500 to offset the cost of travel and expenses to make collaborative visits to other labs around the world. Read about Huw’s experience in Beijing, where he spent time with the world leaders in the development of super-resolution microscopy, the Li lab at the Chinese Academy of Sciences.
Articles of interest in our sister journals
Casein kinase 1α decreases β-catenin levels at adherens junctions to facilitate wound closure in Drosophila larvae
Chang-Ru Tsai, Michael J. Galko
Development
Spherical spindle shape promotes perpendicular cortical orientation by preventing isometric cortical pulling on both spindle poles during C. elegans female meiosis
Elizabeth Vargas, Karen P. McNally, Daniel B. Cortes, Michelle T. Panzica, Brennan M. Danlasky, Qianyan Li, Amy Shaub Maddox, Francis J. McNally
Development