Issues

Summary: Across kingdoms, proteins localize asymmetrically to the plasma membrane to direct cellular processes. We explore the principles of polar membrane targeting mechanisms, emphasizing studies in plants.

Summary: We overview the principles of molecular mechanosensation and explore the mechanical and biochemical regulation of these mechanisms, highlighting the distinction between mechanosensing and mechanotransduction.

Summary: ARHGAP32, a RhoGAP, regulates desmosome organization and assembly via an interaction with desmoplakin, and this regulation is required for epithelial cell sheet integrity.

Highlighted Article: SMN separates from the Cajal body in an orderly fashion during its maturation. A multimerization-defective SMN mutant linked to spinal muscular atrophy shows deficiencies in this separation process.

Summary: Perturbation of ESCRT-associated HD-PTP results in cell-type-specific phenotypes. Loss of HD-PTP in muscle results in canonical ESCRT defects, whereas loss in adipose results in decreased signaling.

Highlighted Article:Schizosaccharomyces pombe Duc1 promotes correct localization of the phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase Its3, normal plasma membrane PI(4,5)P₂ levels and medial cell division.

Highlighted Article: The interaction between cingulin and nonmuscle myosin regulates cyst formation of MDCK cells and maintains the nanoscale organization of cingulin. The deafness-associated cingulin variant affects tight junction membrane mechanics.

Summary: A novel non-canonical motif on the cytoplasmic tail of RNF13 is predicted to interact with the adaptor protein complex 1, providing molecular insights into the mechanisms altered by sorting motif variants of RNF13.

Summary: Argonaute CSR-1, in an RNA interference pathway, acts to restrict localization of the holocentromere protein HCP-3 and kinetochore proteins at the poleward faces of mitotic chromosomes in C. elegans.