RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
STICKY WICKET
FIRST PERSON
CELL SCIENTISTS TO WATCH
CELL SCIENCE AT A GLANCE
- Microtubule minus-end regulation at a glance
Summary: In this Cell Science at a Glance article and the accompanying poster, we review the current knowledge on the dynamics, organization and regulation of microtubule minus ends.
REVIEW
- Molecular mechanisms of chemotropism and cell fusion in unicellular fungi
Summary: A summary of the current knowledge on chemoattractant gradient detection in yeast, which occurs at a motile polarity patch. It further describes the stabilization and hyperpolarization process underlying cell fusion.
SHORT REPORT
- Heterotypic contact inhibition of locomotion can drive cell sorting between epithelial and mesenchymal cell populations
Summary: Active cell repulsion, driven by ephrin and ERK signalling, is required for fibrosarcoma cells to segregate from epithelial cells in culture.
RESEARCH ARTICLES
- Shear stress-induced nuclear shrinkage through activation of Piezo1 channels in epithelial cells
Summary: Fluid shear stress causes nuclear shrinkage through a Ca2+-dependent signaling pathway, and the Piezo1 channel is a key element for transmitting the shear force input to nuclei.
- GGA2 and RAB13 promote activity-dependent β1-integrin recycling
Highlighted Article: Characterization of a new endosomal complex, comprising GGA2 and RAB13, that promotes recycling of endocytosed active β1-integrin to the plasma membrane, to support the migration of breast cancer cells.
- Identification and characterization of the land-plant-specific microtubule nucleation factor MACET4
Highlighted Article: The embryophyte-specific protein MACET4 is a cell cycle-regulated protein that localizes to the phragmoplast distal zones and nucleates microtubules in vitro.
- DLC3 suppresses MT1-MMP-dependent matrix degradation by controlling RhoB and actin remodeling at endosomal membranes
Summary: Loss of the RhoGAP protein DLC3, a putative tumor suppressor, enhances fast recycling of the metalloproteinase MT1-MMP and cellular matrix-degrading activity.
- β1 integrin is a sensor of blood flow direction
Summary: By using flow systems, magnetic tweezers and knockout mice, we show that β1 integrin is activated by unidirectional hemodynamic shear force leading to Ca2+ signalling and cell alignment, but it is not activated by bidirectional force.
- LRRK1 phosphorylation of Rab7 at S72 links trafficking of EGFR-containing endosomes to its effector RILP
Summary: LRRK1 phosphorylates Rab7 at S72. This increases the association of Rab7 with its effector RILP, resulting in enhanced minus-end transport of EGFR-containing endosomes through a dynein-dependent mechanism.
- GemC1 governs multiciliogenesis through direct interaction with and transcriptional regulation of p73
Highlighted Article: GemC1 within the trimeric GemC1–E2F5–p73 complex regulates transcriptional activation of p73 and modifies the chromatin organization of the p73 locus in order to generate multiciliated cells.
- DnaJB6 is a RanGTP-regulated protein required for microtubule organization during mitosis
Summary: DnaJB6 is a novel RanGTP-regulated protein that appears to play an important role in dynein-dependent spindle organization and spindle assembly.
- The cancer-associated meprin β variant G32R provides an additional activation site and promotes cancer cell invasion
Summary: A single amino acid change renders meprin β more active at the cell surface and reduces its ADAM17-mediated shedding.
- Peroxisomes control mitochondrial dynamics and the mitochondrion-dependent apoptosis pathway
Summary: Peroxisomes regulate mitochondrial morphology through a Drp1-dependent mechanism and suppress the execution of stress-induced mitochondrion-dependent apoptosis.
- Migration through physical constraints is enabled by MAPK-induced cell softening via actin cytoskeleton re-organization
Highlighted Article: Selection for tumour cells that efficiently pass through narrow diameter microporous membranes reveals a prominent role for MAPK signalling in regulating cell elasticity.
- STIM1-dependent membrane insertion of heteromeric TRPC1–TRPC4 channels in response to muscarinic receptor stimulation
Summary: Muscarinic receptor stimulation in adrenal medullary cells induces excitation and catecholamine secretion, in part due to insertion of TRPC1–TRPC4 channels into the cell membrane.
TOOLS AND RESOURCES
- Targeting specificity of nuclear-encoded organelle proteins with a self-assembling split-fluorescent protein toolkit
Summary: Optimization of the self-assembling split-GFP system and the assessment of protein-targeting specificity to endosymbiotic organelles in plant cells, utilizing a Golden Gate-based vector toolkit.
- Proximity-dependent biotinylation mediated by TurboID to identify protein–protein interaction networks in yeast
Summary: This work describes a simple and effective assay to screen for protein-protein interactions in yeast by using proximity-dependent biotinylation.