Evolution
- RACK1 evolved species-specific multifunctionality in translational control through sequence plasticity within a loop domain
Highlighted Article: Sequence divergence within a poorly understood loop domain of RACK1 functions to control two distinct aspects of translation in different species.
- Understanding eukaryotic chromosome segregation from a comparative biology perspective
Summary: This Review discusses eukaryotic chromosome segregation in the light of biological diversity, covering a number of experimental approaches used in comparative biology studies.
- The triple helix of collagens – an ancient protein structure that enabled animal multicellularity and tissue evolution
Summary: The triple helix is a protein structure of fundamental importance in building the extracellular matrix that enabled animal multicellularity and tissue evolution.
- Lineage-specific proteins essential for endocytosis in trypanosomes
Summary: Endocytosis is a vital process in most cells, and here we identify important proteins required for this process in trypanosomes. Significantly, these are unique and not present in animals, fungi or plants.
- The changing view of eukaryogenesis – fossils, cells, lineages and how they all come together
Summary: Eukaryogenesis, the emergence of eukaryotic cells, represents a pivotal evolutionary event. Advances in paleogeology, phylogenetics, cell biology and microbial diversity provide new insights into aspects of eukaryogenesis.
- LINCing the eukaryotic tree of life – towards a broad evolutionary comparison of nucleocytoplasmic bridging complexes
Summary: A broad evolutionary comparison of eukaryotic nucleocytoplasmic bridging complexes suggests that they might have evolved from protein complexes involved in attaching centrosomes to the nuclear envelope.
- Divergence of structural strategies for homophilic E-cadherin binding among bilaterians
Summary: Atomic force microscopy imaging revealed that Drosophila E-cadherin has a tightly folded globular structure with multiple domains that contain determinants of homophilic binding.
- Uses and abuses of macropinocytosis
Summary: This Commentary provides an evolutionary view of macropinocytosis, while discussing recent breakthroughs in understanding of underlying mechanisms and their subversion by pathogens and tumour cells.
- Evolutionarily conserved primary TNF sequences relate to its primitive functions in cell death induction
Summary: By using a series of overlapping human TNF-derived peptides, it is shown that the evolutionarily conserved primary sequences of TNF relate to its primitive role in cell death.