RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
JCS PRIZE
FIRST PERSON
CELL SCIENCE AT A GLANCE
- The myofibroblast at a glance
Summary: Myofibroblasts repair injured tissues by producing and contracting collagen scars but they also promote fibrosis. Here, we describe how to facilitate the design of informed anti-fibrotic therapies.
HYPOTHESIS
- Exploring the interdependence between self-organization and functional morphology in cellular systems
Summary: In order to execute a specific function, cells often acquire a particular shape. Here, we explore the mechanisms driving these morphological changes.
REVIEW
- The osteoclast cytoskeleton – current understanding and therapeutic perspectives for osteoporosis
Summary: Osteoclasts are an amazing model to study interactions between cytoskeleton components; their role in osteoclast bone resorption activity can also open opportunities for the treatments against osteoporosis, as reviewed here.
SHORT REPORTS
- A non-catalytic function of PI3Kγ drives smooth muscle cell proliferation after arterial damage
Highlighted Article: PI3Kγ regulates VSMC proliferation independently of its kinase activity by controlling cAMP levels through PDE4D.
- Cep57 and Cep57l1 function redundantly to recruit the Cep63–Cep152 complex for centriole biogenesis
Summary: Cep57 and its paralog Cep57l1 redundantly act as a molecular scaffold to recruit the Cep63–Cep152 complex to the proximal end of centrioles for centriole duplication.
RESEARCH ARTICLES
- TPC2-mediated Ca2+ signaling is required for axon extension in caudal primary motor neurons in zebrafish embryos
Summary: Characterization of two-pore channel type 2 (TPC2)-mediated Ca2+ release and ADP-ribosyl cyclase 1-like (ARC1-like) activity during axon extension of caudal primary motor neurons (CaPs) in zebrafish embryos.
- EGFR activation attenuates the mechanical threshold for integrin tension and focal adhesion formation
Summary: EGFR regulates integrin tension and focal adhesion spatial organization and tunes the mechanical threshold for cell spreading and adhesion.
- A trimeric metazoan Rab7 GEF complex is crucial for endocytosis and scavenger function
Summary: Bulli forms a trimeric complex with Mon1–Ccz1 and is crucial for endosomal maturation in nephrocytes.
- Perinuclear mitochondrial clustering, increased ROS levels, and HIF1 are required for the activation of HSF1 by heat stress
Highlighted Article: Mitochondrial positioning, ROS levels and the hypoxia response pathway are involved in the activation of the HSF1-mediated heat shock response pathway in mammals.
- Trypanosomes have divergent kinesin-2 proteins that function differentially in flagellum biosynthesis and cell viability
Summary: Kinesin-2 proteins in Trypanosoma brucei perform a conserved role in flagellum biosynthesis and also have a specialized localization, emphasizing the evolutionary flexibility of kinesin function in trypanosomes.
- Proteomic analysis reveals the direct recruitment of intrinsically disordered regions to stress granules in S. cerevisiae
Summary: Mass spectrometry analysis reveals a large cohort of novel yeast stress granule proteins with intrinsic disordered regions that are sufficient for recruitment to the membraneless stress granule compartment.
- Clathrin regulates Wnt/β-catenin signaling by affecting Golgi to plasma membrane transport of transmembrane proteins
Highlighted Article: The exocytic function of clathrin controls the abundance of the Wnt signaling component β-catenin through LRP5/6 and cadherin molecules.
- Ciliary proteins specify the cell inflammatory response by tuning NFκB signalling, independently of primary cilia
Summary: Ciliary proteins, acting independently of the ciliary axoneme, regulate the dynamics of cytosolic NFκB, but not other signalling pathways, defining an important subset of the inflammatory response.
- Bidirectional transfer of homeoprotein EN2 across the plasma membrane requires PIP2
Highlighted Article: We demonstrate that intercellular transfer of Engrailed homeoprotein involves direct translocation events across the plasma membrane and identify pivotal roles of PIP2 and cholesterol in these processes.
- Cofilin is required for polarization of tension in stress fiber networks during migration
Summary: Mechanical polarization is established in stress fiber networks during migration through cofilin disassembling actin to facilitate the formation of highly prestressed stress fibers needed to break tensional symmetry.
- Drosophila Wash and the Wash regulatory complex function in nuclear envelope budding
Highlighted Article: Wash, the Wash regulatory complex, capping protein and Arp2/3 are identified as new components of nuclear envelope buds used for nuclear pore complex-independent export of large macromolecule complexes from the nucleus.
- The molecular chaperone Hsp90 regulates heterochromatin assembly through stabilizing multiple complexes in fission yeast
Summary: The molecular chaperone Hsp90 is involved in heterochromatic gene silencing and heterochromatin formation by facilitating stability and integrity of RNAi-dependent and -independent effectors in S. pombe.
- Vacuolins and myosin VII are required for phagocytic uptake and phagosomal membrane recycling in Dictyostelium discoideum
Summary: Dictyostelium discoideum vacuolins are the functional homologs of flotillins and function in phagocytic uptake and membrane recycling together with myosin VII and talin A, as well as in phagolysosome biogenesis.
- Snail induces epithelial cell extrusion by regulating RhoA contractile signalling and cell–matrix adhesion
Summary: Snail expression induces epithelial cell extrusion through transcriptional control of RhoA contractile signalling and cell–matrix adhesion that may act as a prelude to a metastatic event.
- The DISC1–Girdin complex – a missing link in signaling to the T cell cytoskeleton
Summary: DISC1, which is important for neuronal synapse formation, and Girdin, which is involved in cytoskeletal reorganization, play essential roles in actin accumulation and cytoskeletal reorganization at the T cell immunological synapse.
- A cellular model of albumin endocytosis uncovers a link between membrane and nuclear proteins
Summary: A cellular assay to evaluate albumin endocytosis reveals a novel link between a nuclear protein and a membrane receptor complex.
- The Mre11-Rad50-Nbs1 complex mediates the robust recruitment of Polo to DNA lesions during mitosis in Drosophila
Summary: The kinetics of the DNA damage sensor Mre11 and the mitotic proteins Polo, BubR1, Bub3 at DNA lesions during mitosis are measured in Drosophila, revealing their order of recruitment.
This issue
JUMP TO
Other journals from The Company of Biologists
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.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hestiate to contact the Editorial Office.