Issues
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Cover image
Cover Image
Cover: Follicle cells of a stage-10 egg chamber, showing GFP–PigsFL (green) localisation. Basal actin stress fibres are labelled with phalloidin (red), microtubules are in blue and show the cell boundaries. See article by Gemma C. Girdler et al. (pp. 121–134).
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IN THIS ISSUE
EDITORIAL
STICKY WICKET
CELL SCIENTISTS TO WATCH
CELL SCIENCE AT A GLANCE
Multifunctional Abl kinases in health and disease
Summary: We highlight the emerging roles of Abl kinases in the regulation of cellular processes in normal cells and diverse pathologies that range from cancer to microbial pathogenesis.
COMMENTARY
The kindlin family: functions, signaling properties and implications for human disease
Summary: Integrin-dependent and -independent function of kindlin isoforms and their regulation in homeostasis, disease and cancer.
RESEARCH ARTICLES
N-linked glycosylation plays a crucial role in the secretion of HMGB1
Highlighted Article: HMGB1 N-glycosylation is a prerequisite for its nucleocytoplasmic transport and extracellular secretion.
The NF-κB-modulated microRNAs miR-195 and miR-497 inhibit myoblast proliferation by targeting Igf1r, Insr and cyclin genes
Summary: miR-195 and miR-497 are negatively regulated by the myogenic factor NF-κB, and they could inhibit myoblast proliferation through targeting the Igf1r, Insr and cyclin genes.
LPS impairs oxygen utilization in epithelia by triggering degradation of the mitochondrial enzyme Alcat1
Highlighted Article: This study provides new insight into how endotoxin triggers depletion of a key mitochondrial enzyme, Alcat1, by activating an SCF ubiquitin E3 ligase complex that contains Fbxo28.
Activated microglia cause reversible apoptosis of pheochromocytoma cells, inducing their cell death by phagocytosis
Summary: NO from microglia causes reversible caspase activation and phosphatidylserine exposure by PC12 cells, resulting in their cell death by phagocytosis.
p120-catenin controls contractility along the vertical axis of epithelial lateral membranes
Highlighted Article: The distinct activities of p120 towards E-cadherin and Rho are molecularly and functionally coupled, and this in turn enables the maintenance of cell shape in the larger context of an epithelial monolayer.
The role of palmitoylation and transmembrane domain in sorting of transmembrane adaptor proteins
Summary: Palmitoylation and proximal sequences can function as secondary sorting signals for membrane proteins with suboptimal transmembrane domains.
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.
The Gas2 family protein Pigs is a microtubule +TIP that affects cytoskeleton organisation
Summary: Detailed analysis of the ability of the Drosophila cytolinker protein Pigs to modulate its cytoskeleton-interacting functions (+TIP tracking, microtubule shaft binding, actin binding and actin–microtubule crosslinking).
The Ccl1–Kin28 kinase complex regulates autophagy under nitrogen starvation
Summary: Screening of known kinases in the yeast genome revealed the Ccl1–Kin28 complex as a novel regulator of autophagy. Proteasomal turnover of Ccl1 limits autophagy during prolonged starvation.
Reciprocal regulation of alternative lineages by Rgs18 and its transcriptional repressor Gfi1b
Summary: This study demonstrates the reciprocal roles of the transcriptional repressor Gfi1b and its gene target and signaling factor Rgs18 in arbitrating the generation of the erythroid and megakaryocytic lineages.
Activation of apoptosis in NAF-1-deficient human epithelial breast cancer cells
Summary: NAF-1 is a major player in the metabolic regulation of breast cancer cells through its effects on cellular Fe ion distribution, mitochondrial metabolism and the induction of apoptosis.
BAR-SH3 sorting nexins are conserved interacting proteins of Nervous wreck that organize synapses and promote neurotransmission
Summary: A loss-of-function study of the SNX9, SNX18 and SNX33 homolog SH3PX1 in Drosophila reveals a new role in the development of presynaptic active zones and regulation of neurotransmitter release.
Reducing Lissencephaly-1 levels augments mitochondrial transport and has a protective effect in adult Drosophila neurons
Summary: Novel imaging procedures in the adult Drosophila wing reveal that Lissencephaly-1 restrains mitochondrial motion and that reducing levels of this protein protects against an age-related decline in protein homeostasis.
CDK-dependent phosphorylation of PHD1 on serine 130 alters its substrate preference in cells
Summary: CDK-mediated phosphorylation of PHD1 at serine 130 controls target specificity and confers cell cycle regulation of PHD1.
VE-cadherin facilitates BMP-induced endothelial cell permeability and signaling
Summary: We reveal the molecular mechanism by which BMP6 induces hyperpermeabilization of the endothelium. This provides first insights into the mechanism of BMP-dependent vascular integrity in normal physiology and disease.
The murine cytomegalovirus immunoevasin gp40 binds MHC class I molecules to retain them in the early secretory pathway
Summary: The murine cytomegalovirus immunoevasin gp40 effectively reduces MHC class I surface levels by binding to them and retaining them in the early secretory pathway.
TOOLS AND TECHNIQUES
Localisation-based imaging of malarial antigens during erythrocyte entry reaffirms a role for AMA1 but not MTRAP in invasion
Highlighted Article: Here we develop a high-definition imaging approach to dissect and assign function to proteins involved in the rapid process of malaria parasite invasion of the human erythrocyte.
ARTICLES OF INTEREST IN OTHER COB JOURNALS
From Development
JCS fast-track option

Have a paper that has been reviewed elsewhere? JCS is pleased to consider such manuscripts for fast-tracked decision making. Send us your manuscript together with the full set of reviews and decision letters, and we will make an initial decision within one week.
Special Issue – Cell Biology of Mitochondria

Our special issue on ‘Cell Biology of Mitochondria’ is now complete. Explore this issue and read the Editorial from our Guest Editors Ana J. García-Sáez and Heidi McBride.
Save the date – Imaging Cell Dynamics

We are delighted to announce that we will be hosting a 2026 Imaging Cell Dynamics meeting. This meeting will provide a unique opportunity to bring together experts working at the interface between cell biology and imaging. Save the date for 11-14 May 2026 and register for more information.
Origin and evolution of mitochondrial inner membrane composition

In this Review, Kailash Venkatraman and colleagues provide an examination of the morphological similarities between prokaryotic intracytoplasmic membranes and mitochondrial inner membranes, and whether cristae evolution has driven specialisation of the mitochondrial lipidome.
Resolution in super-resolution microscopy
Super-resolution microscopy (SRM) has emerged as a powerful tool for biological discovery. In this Perspective, Kirti Prakash and colleagues compile expert opinions on crucial, yet often overlooked, aspects of SRM that are essential for maximising its benefits and advancing the field.