RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
FIRST PERSON
REVIEWS
- The ubiquitin-like modifier FAT10 – much more than a proteasome-targeting signal
Summary: The determination of the structure of FAT10 has advanced our understanding of this unique ubiquitin-like modifier. Here, the latest insights about the function of non-covalent binding and conjugation to recently identified substrates are reviewed.
- Mitochondrial dynamics during spermatogenesis
Summary: Spermatogenesis in mammals is associated with developmental changes in mitochondrial structure and metabolism. Mitochondrial dynamics has emerged as a key factor regulating mammalian spermatogenesis.
SHORT REPORT
- Disease-associated keratin mutations reduce traction forces and compromise adhesion and collective migration
Summary: An epidermolysis bullosa simplex-associated keratin mutation causes defects in mechanotransduction. Keratin networks regulate traction force generation through a Rho signaling pathway upstream of cell–ECM adhesion formation and organized cell migration.
RESEARCH ARTICLES
- PP2A-B55γ counteracts Cdk1 and regulates proper spindle orientation through the cortical dynein adaptor NuMA
Summary: PP2A-B55γ orchestrates mitotic spindle behavior by dephosphorylating NuMA.
- Conserved regions of budding yeast Tim22 have a role in structural organization of the carrier translocase
Summary: The functional significance of different regions of Tim22 remains elusive. We find that conserved regions of Tim22 play distinct roles in associations with partner subunits, thereby maintaining carrier translocase integrity.
- PP2ACdc55 dephosphorylates Pds1 and inhibits spindle elongation in S. cerevisiae
Summary: PP2ACdc55-dependent Pds1 dephosphorylation leads to a dissociation of Esp1 from Pds1 causing an inhibition of spindle elongation, which plays a role in replication stress.
- Osmotic gradients induce stable dome morphogenesis on extracellular matrix
Summary: Basal hypertonic stress induces stable domes by both the swelling of extracellular matrix and aquaporin water transport.
- Chromokinesin KIF4A teams up with stathmin 1 to regulate abscission in a SUMO-dependent manner
Summary: A new mechanism of abscission regulation is identified through the dynamic interactions between KIF4A and stathmin 1 as controlled by SUMO modification of KIF4A.
- RGS4 controls secretion of von Willebrand factor to the subendothelial matrix
Summary: Changes in RGS4 expression alter levels of subendothelial, matrix-associated VWF, affecting platelet recruitment in a model of endothelial damage. This introduces a novel control over VWF function.
- H3K9me3 maintenance on a human artificial chromosome is required for segregation but not centromere epigenetic memory
Summary: Pericentric heterochromatin is dispensable for centromere epigenetic memory, but is required to stabilize centromere protein levels and accurate mitotic segregation. Pericentric heterochromatin levels can also recover after severe depletion.
- Cardiolipin is required for membrane docking of mitochondrial ribosomes and protein synthesis
Summary: Cardiolipin stabilises the interaction of the mitochondrial ribosome with the membrane to enable insertion of newly synthesised mitochondrial proteins into the inner membrane and form the respiratory chain supercomplexes.
- Vesicular and uncoated Rab1-dependent cargo carriers facilitate ER to Golgi transport
Highlighted Article: Live-cell de novo cargo trafficking has revealed that secretory cargo is capable of leaving the endoplasmic reticulum in COPII-uncoated Rab1-dependent vesicle carriers.
- Staufen1 localizes to the mitotic spindle and controls the localization of RNA populations to the spindle
Highlighted Article: The RNA-binding protein Staufen1 mediates the localization of pre-ribosomal RNAs on mitotic spindle suggesting a novel role of Staufen1 in ribosome biogenesis and nucleoli reassembly.
- Decidual glycodelin-A polarizes human monocytes into a decidual macrophage-like phenotype through Siglec-7
Summary: Glycodelin-A is one of the key factors that induces the polarization of monocytes into decidual macrophages to regulate fetomaternal tolerance and placental development.
- Endothelial protective factors BMP9 and BMP10 inhibit CCL2 release by human vascular endothelial cells
Summary: Two proteins found in the blood, BMP9 and BMP10, reduce the production of CCL2, a protein that recruits inflammatory cells to the blood vessel wall.
- FAT10 localises in dendritic cell aggresome-like induced structures and contributes to their disassembly
Summary: DALIS are cytoplasmic aggregates of ubiquitylated proteins and antigens in maturing dendritic cells. Ubiquitin-like modifier FAT10 is shown to localise to DALIS and to be involved in their disassembly.
- Gain-of-function genetic screen of the kinome reveals BRSK2 as an inhibitor of the NRF2 transcription factor
Summary: BRSK2 suppresses NRF2 signaling by inhibiting protein synthesis through mTOR downregulation.
- A heterodimeric SNX4–SNX7 SNX-BAR autophagy complex coordinates ATG9A trafficking for efficient autophagosome assembly
Summary: A heterodimeric SNX4–SNX7 SNX-BAR complex regulates mammalian autophagosome assembly through the control of ATG9 trafficking.
TOOLS AND RESOURCES
- A semi-automated machine learning-aided approach to quantitative analysis of centrosomes and microtubule organization
Summary: A quantitative image-processing and machine learning-aided approach for the semi-automated analysis of centrosome amplification and MT organization defects in breast cancer cells.
- Histone modification dynamics as revealed by multicolor immunofluorescence-based single-cell analysis
Highlighted Article: Profiling histone modification dynamics during the cell cycle, in response to lysine demethylase overexpression and upon chemical inhibitor treatments.
- GDNF drives rapid tubule morphogenesis in a novel 3D in vitro model for ADPKD
Highlighted Article: A new three-dimensional in vitro model drives tubule morphogenesis with the addition of GDNF and demonstrates methods for interrogating the initiation of ADPKD cystogenesis.