Issues

Summary: This Commentary discusses recent developments in the field of collagen-binding integrins and their roles, with a special emphasis on wound healing, fibrosis and cancer.

Summary: Trafficking of the Wnt morphogen from an origin cell to a recipient cell is unclear. Recent evidence suggests that Wnt is distributed along cytonemes during embryogenesis. Such a transport mode has profound impact on Wnt morphogenetic field formation during tissue patterning.

Summary: We newly identify a Plasmodium-specific transmembrane protein of the basal complex termed BTP1. BTP1 dynamics during schizogony correlate with membrane invagination during the final steps of cell division.

Highlighted Article: Contribution of actin to chromosome movement and interactions in yeast is quantified to reveal that interphase chromosome dynamics are modulated by the additive effects of cytoskeletal and nuclear actin.

Summary: This study demonstrates a new pathway by which PPARγ can regulate endothelial cell homeostasis and angiogenesis through E2F1-mediated regulation of Wnt–β-catenin signaling genes such as GSKIP.

Highlighted Article: In addition to its known function in organizing extracellular collagen fibrils, COMP is identified as assisting in secretion of collagen. COMP-null mice display significantly attenuated skin fibrosis.

Summary: ATF6a, a target of the Runx2 and Sox6 transcription factors, positively regulates hypertrophic chondrocyte differentiation and endochondral bone formation by acting as a coactivator of Runx2.

Highlighted Article: Ectopic nuclei abnormally located in the PS layer of retinas of GRF2-depleted mice identify a crucial role of GRF2 in nuclear migration mechanisms required for cone photoreceptor development and function.

Summary: Hic-5 coordinates matrix proteolysis and migration events by enhancing complex formation between MT1-MMP and FAK to initiate sprouting responses in activated endothelial cells.

Highlighted Article: The E3 ligase MGRN1 interacts with the ER ligase GP78, causing its Ca²⁺-dependent ubiquitylation and degradation. This downregulates mitophagy in healthy cells.

Summary: The focal adhesion protein Hic-5 plays a crucial role in myofibroblast differentiation in response to TGF-β by facilitating tension-dependent stress fiber assembly and MRTF-A nuclear accumulation.

Summary: KDM6-specific H3K27me3 demethylase activity is crucially involved in the DNA damage response and survival of differentiating ESCs.

Summary: SMN is shown to affect membrane dynamics. We propose that SMN assembles a translational platform associated to and governed by plasma membrane.

Highlighted Article: p62 is a crucial positive regulator of HIF1α, which is a facilitating factor in p62-enhanced tumorigenesis.

Summary: Phosphorylation of a previously neglected serine residue in the trafficking control region of TASK-1 interferes with the binding of trafficking machinery and enables complex regulation by physiological stimuli.

Summary: We present evidence that retroendocytosis of apotransferrin mediated by multifunctional GAPDH extrudes excess cellular Fe in a mechanism reminiscent of pumping out of water by a reverse overshot water-wheel.

Summary: Leishmania parasites have a highly structured flagellar pocket, including a structure homologous to the Trypanosoma brucei flagellum attachment zone, which undergoes structural adaptations in different life cycle stages.