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.
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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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