RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
STICKY WICKETS
FIRST PERSON
CELL SCIENTISTS TO WATCH
CELL SCIENCE AT A GLANCE
- Tumour-directed microenvironment remodelling at a glance
Summary: An outline of the processes by which epithelial tumours regulate their tumour microenvironment, and how new insights into tumour–microenvironment interactions have led to ideas on targeting it as treatments.
REVIEWS
- The journey of Ca2+ through the cell – pulsing through the network of ER membrane contact sites
Summary: Traveling through the ER, Ca2+ is transported towards membrane contact sites with mitochondria or endolysosomes, where it plays key roles in the regulation of essential organellar biology, which are reviewed here.
- Notch in mechanotransduction – from molecular mechanosensitivity to tissue mechanostasis
Summary: This Review presents evidence that Notch signaling is directly and indirectly mechanosensitive, and discusses engineered and computational approaches to help unravel its complex dynamics.
RESEARCH ARTICLES
- Sec71 separates Golgi stacks in Drosophila S2 cells
Summary: Golgi stacks are scattered in the cytoplasm of Drosophila cells. Sec71 is required for separating Golgi stacks, as its impairment, for example, through brefeldin A (BFA) treatment, produces Golgi aggregations termed BFA bodies.
- Mitochondria control mTORC1 activity-linked compartmentalization of eIF4E to regulate extracellular export of microRNAs
Summary:Mitochondrial activity and tethering with the ER are linked to compartmentalization of the translation initiation factor eIF4E to the polysomes, which controls miRNA-mediated repression and miRNA export.
- A novel mitosis-specific Cep215 domain interacts with Cep192 and phosphorylated Aurora A for organization of spindle poles
Summary: A mitosis-specific centrosome-targeting domain of Cep215 binds Cep192 and phosphorylated Aurora A to play a role in maintaining the structural integrity of spindle poles during mitosis.
- Retromer retrieves the Wilson disease protein ATP7B from endolysosomes in a copper-dependent manner
Summary: The Wilson disease protein ATP7B utilizes lysosomal exocytosis to export excess copper in hepatocytes. The retromer complex retrieves ATP7B from endolysosomes and recycles it back to the trans-Golgi network.
- Disrupting polycystin-2 EF hand Ca2+ affinity does not alter channel function or contribute to polycystic kidney disease
Summary: A refutation of a common hypothesis regarding Ca2+ control mechanisms of polycystin-2 – a primary cilia ion channel, the dysregulation of which causes autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease.
- EGFRvIII uses intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms to reduce glioma adhesion and increase migration
Summary: Constitutively active and truncated EGFR transcriptionally represses integrins via a SHC–MEK signaling axis, and communicates with neighboring cells through TNFα to promote cooperative invasion.
- TrkB deubiquitylation by USP8 regulates receptor levels and BDNF-dependent neuronal differentiation
Summary: USP8 interacts with and deubiquitylates TrkB neurotrophin receptors, regulating levels of both total and activated receptors and BDNF-dependent differentiation of hippocampal neurons.
- CD301 mediates fusion in IL-4-driven multinucleated giant cell formation
Highlighted Article: CD301, a C-type lectin domain family 10 member, is driven by IL-4 and mediates macrophage fusion for the formation of multinucleated giant cells.
- ESCRT recruitment by the S. cerevisiae inner nuclear membrane protein Heh1 is regulated by Hub1-mediated alternative splicing
Highlighted Article: Heh1-S, the inner nuclear membrane protein resulting from Hub1-mediated splicing of HEH1 pre-mRNA, contributes to nuclear envelope maintenance by preventing excessive recruitment of the ESCRT adaptor Chm7.
- The budding yeast Start repressor Whi7 differs in regulation from Whi5, emerging as a major cell cycle brake in response to stress
Highlighted Article: Cells can use the interplay between functionally redundant but differentially regulated cell-cycle repressors in order to confer new repression capabilities and to respond to specific cellular conditions.
- A piggybacking mechanism enables peroxisomal localization of the glyoxylate cycle enzyme Mdh2 in yeast
Highlighted Article: Yeast Mdh2 is dually localized to the cytosol and peroxisomes, and is targeted to peroxisomes via association with Mdh3 and a Pex5-dependent piggybacking mechanism.
- Sequential peripheral enrichment of H2A.Zac and H3K9me2 during trophoblast differentiation in human embryonic stem cells
Highlighted Article: As early as 12 hours after embryonic stem cells begin differentiating to trophoblasts, acetylated H2A.Z becomes enriched at the nuclear periphery; we find that loss of H2A.Z acetylation is followed sequentially by enrichment of dimethylated H3K9.
TOOLS AND RESOURCES
- Trackosome: a computational toolbox to study the spatiotemporal dynamics of centrosomes, nuclear envelope and cellular membrane
Summary: Development of a new image analysis toolbox called Trackosome and its use to study nuclear envelope oscillations during early mitosis and correlations between the trajectories of the centrosomes.
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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.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hestiate to contact the Editorial Office.