Issues
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Cover image
Cover Image
Cover: During the late stages of spermatogenesis, germ cell nuclei undergo dramatic morphological changes while becoming mature sperm. This process involves the ubiquitylation of histones and their removal from chromatin. Histones are replaced by small highly basic proteins called protamines, which package sperm DNA in a highly compact form. This confocal z-stack image captures clusters of male germ cells from a Drosophila testis stained for a protamine B transgene (red), DNA (green) and ubiquitin (blue). New evidence indicates that Drosophila Importin-9 plays an important role in promoting the exchange of histones for protamines. See article by V. Palacios et al. (jcs258391).
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RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS
STICKY WICKETS
FIRST PERSON
CELL SCIENTISTS TO WATCH
PERSPECTIVE
Data science in cell imaging
Summary: As the complexity and volume of microscopy data increases, the application of data science to cell imaging will become a critical first step to deriving biological insight.
REVIEWS
On the asymmetric partitioning of nucleocytoplasmic transport – recent insights and open questions
Summary: We question how soluble factors are asymmetrically partitioned across the nuclear pore complex to establish the directional basis of nucleocytoplasmic transport.
Motor proteins at the mitochondria–cytoskeleton interface
Summary: This Review highlights the diverse functions of myosin, kinesin and dynein motor proteins in the transport and positioning, fission and fusion, and turnover of mitochondria.
Neutrophil transendothelial migration hotspots – mechanisms and implications
Summary: Leukocytes seem to prefer specific sites for crossing the endothelium. These are referred to as transmigration hotspots. This Review highlights the potential mechanisms and tissue specificity of these transmigration hotspots.
RESEARCH ARTICLES
The p97–UBXN1 complex regulates aggresome formation
Highlighted Article: The p97 AAA-ATPase and adaptor UBXN1 recognize ubiquitylated, misfolded proteins and deliver them to the aggresome for degradation. Loss of p97-UBXN1 inhibits aggresome formation and disposal of Huntingtin inclusion bodies.
Natural killer cell immune synapse formation and cytotoxicity are controlled by tension of the target interface
Highlighted Article: Analyses of the impact of altered target rigidity reveal that soft targets expressing activating ligands do not induce polarisation of natural killer cellular machinery required for cytolysis.
DNAJB chaperones suppress destabilised protein aggregation via a region distinct from that used to inhibit amyloidogenesis
Summary: DNAJB chaperones potently suppress destabilised luciferase aggregation in cells. For DNAJB6 and DNAJB8 this requires a region in the C-terminal domain different from that used to inhibit amyloidogenesis.
Transcription co-factor LBH is necessary for the survival of cochlear hair cells
Summary: Loss of function of transcription co-factor LBH caused progressive hair cell loss in adult mice, likely mediated by dysregulation of genes promoting hair cell survival and DNA repair.
AMP-activated protein kinase is a key regulator of acute neurovascular permeability
Summary: The metabolic sensor protein kinase AMPK is a key regulator of acute retinal vascular permeability by activating endothelial nitric oxide synthase and p38 MAPK.
The RAC1 activator Tiam1 regulates centriole duplication through controlling PLK4 levels
Summary: Tiam1 maintains centriole number and ensures correct chromosome segregation via interaction with βTRCP, part of the E3 ligase complex, which degrades PLK4, the master regulator of centriole duplication.
Importin-9 regulates chromosome segregation and packaging in Drosophila germ cells
Summary:Drosophila Importin-9 loss disrupts female and male meiosis. Importin-9 also functions during the histone to protamine transition and in nuclear transport of proteasome proteins during spermiogenesis.
Tumor microenvironment acidity modulates ROR1 to promote epithelial–mesenchymal transition and hepatocarcinoma metastasis
Highlighted Article: An acidic microenvironment plays a key role in hepatocarcinoma metastasis by increasing ROR1 expression, providing a promising target for tumor management.
Rab5 regulates macropinocytosis by recruiting the inositol 5-phosphatases OCRL and Inpp5b that hydrolyse PtdIns(4,5)P2
Summary: A series of mutagenesis experiments reveals that Rab5 supports macropinosome scission by promoting PtdIns(4,5)P2 hydrolysis, through the recruitment of 5-inositol phosphatases to circular ruffles.
PAPOLA contributes to cyclin D1 mRNA alternative polyadenylation and promotes breast cancer cell proliferation
Summary: Poly(A)polymerase α upregulates the expression of cyclin D1 and enhances proliferation of breast cancer cells. It could be a therapeutic target in triple-negative breast cancer.
Selective axonal translation of the mRNA isoform encoding prenylated Cdc42 supports axon growth
Summary: Axon regeneration drives selective localization of alternatively spliced Cdc42 mRNA isoform to PNS axons.
Combined heterogeneity in cell size and deformability promotes cancer invasiveness
Summary: The use of simulations and experiments to illustrate the advantage imparted by combined heterogeneity in cell size and deformability in enhancing cancer invasiveness.
TOOLS AND RESOURCES
RBD11, a bioengineered Rab11-binding module for visualizing and analyzing endogenous Rab11
Summary: We developed an artificial Rab11-specific binding domain, named RBD11, that can be used for visualizing and temporally analyzing endogenous, active Rab11 in mammalian cultured cells.
Development of conformational BRET biosensors that monitor ezrin, radixin and moesin activation in real time
Summary: Characterization of BRET-based conformational biosensors that monitor individual ezrin, radixin or moesin activation at the plasma membrane in living cells.
2021 JCS Prize winner announced
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We are pleased to announce that the winner of the 2021 JCS Prize is Lee Dolat for his paper entitled ‘An endometrial organoid model of interactions between Chlamydia and epithelial and immune cells’.
Propose a new Workshop
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Our Workshops bring together leading experts and early-career researchers from a range of scientific backgrounds. Applications are now open to propose Workshops for 2024, one of which will be held in a Global South country.
Cell scientist to watch: Christian Münch
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Journal of Cell Science interviewed Christian Münch, who established his independent research group in 2016 at Goethe University Frankfurt. His lab studies cellular stress responses to mitochondrial protein misfolding, infection and disease, as well as developing proteomics methods.
Essay series: Equity, diversity and inclusion in cell biology
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The JCS Essay Series is an initiative to help showcase and provide a platform for voices in the field of cell biology. The first topic we covered was 'Equity, diversity and inclusion in cell biology', and the winning and runner up essays are now available to read.
FocalPlane Network launched
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We are excited to announce the launch of the FocalPlane Network, an international directory of microscopists. The idea behind the FocalPlane Network is to facilitate promotion and networking as well as assist those seeking conference speakers, committee members, reviewers or collaborators. We hope that it will help promote diversity in the community. Find out more and join the Network here.