Issues

Summary: In this Cell Science at a Glance article, we discuss the distinct roles of and properties of RAS isoforms and mutations in cancer – matters that are current foci of ongoing research studies.

Summary: Ventral stress fibers play a key role in cellular mechanosensitivity. We discuss here fundamental questions regarding their structure, force-dependent assembly and force generation capacity.

Summary: HDAC6 is required for the cytolytic function of CD8 T cells in vivo and in vitro by controlling lytic granule dynamics.

Highlighted Article: Localization of RECQL4 to the mitochondria is required to maintain mitochondrial functions, prevent aerobic glycolysis and cellular invasion.

Summary: By measuring tubulin kinetics at microtubule tips and by performing simulations, we reveal a new mechanism for the action of TPX2 in microtubule nucleation and stabilization.

Highlighted Article: PP1 triggers Gwl inactivation upon meiotic and mitotic exit by targeting dephosphorylation of this kinase on its Ser875 activating residue. PP1 is essential to inactivate Gwl when PP2A-B55 is inhibited.

Highlighted Article: Our results show that loss of Cdk1 activity allows PP1 to partially dephosphorylate MASTL, activating PP2A, which completes the dephosphorylation and deactivation of MASTL, thereby promoting mitotic exit.

Summary: CD44s, a splice isoform of the cell surface molecule CD44, plays an essential role in invadopodia activity and, consequently, metastasis during cancer progression.

Highlighted Article: The ectodomain of the G-protein-coupled receptor GPR37 is cleaved by a metalloproteinase and released from cells constitutively by shedding. Thus, plasma membrane receptors exist in a truncated form.

Summary: Our results reveal new functions of endogenous CAPS1 in the BDNF secretory granule life cycle thereby representing a new mechanism of neuronal plasticity.

Highlighted Article: Fibronectin-binding integrin receptors cooperate to induce MRTF-A nuclear translocation and activate the expression of the MRTF-A−SRF target gene Isg15 to promote cancer cell invasion.

Summary: The Buruli ulcer toxin mycolactone inhibits both the co- and post-translational pathways for protein translocation across the endoplasmic reticulum by perturbing the function of the Sec61 translocon.

Highlighted Article: Lipid droplets in Drosophila embryos are an important model of bidirectional transport. Their net transport is controlled by transient expression of Halo, a rate-limiting co-factor of kinesin-1.

Summary: As well as serving as a DNA replication initiation licensing factor, Cdc6 also regulates the rDNA transcription initiation in proliferating cells.

Highlighted Article: The mammalian DCN-type NEDD8 E3 ligases (DCNL1–5) have overlapping and unique functions that might be related to their subcellular distribution and are mostly governed by their unique N-termini.

Summary: TRAF2 and IAP1 cooperatively suppress the basal activity of canonical NF-κB signaling. They also play an essential role in TNF-induced immediate but not delayed IKK activation.

Summary: We show that DICER, DROSHA and DNA damage response RNAs are necessary for the secondary recruitment of DNA damage response factors but not essential for primary recognition of DNA lesions.

Summary: Gliotactin, a key tricellular junction protein, is controlled by miR-184-mediated mRNA degradation. Excess Gliotactin triggers miR-184 expression by activating the BMP type-1 receptor Thickveins.

Summary: We report that endosomal sorting complex required for transport ESCRT-II proteins are required for the maintenance of the sarcoplasmic reticulum integrity in C. elegans body wall muscle cells.

Summary: Splicing of specific introns is essential for subsequent post-transcriptional events required for in vivo expression of a neuronal cytoskeletal component that is crucial for axon development.

Summary: The turn-forming nature of the PA tag peptide allows its insertion into various loop locations in target proteins, including integrins, enabling conformational probing with the anti-PA antibody NZ-1.