These short, accessible highlights summarize and contextualize must-read papers related to cell signaling. These articles add background and context to summaries of primary research. 'In brief' articles emphasize key aspects of selected articles.
 | Therapeutic angiogenesis: Molecular chit chat
Placental growth factor (PGF) modulates molecular crosstalk between the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) binding receptor tyrosine kinases Flt1 and Flk1, with potential therapeutic implications.
Original research paper: Nature Medicine 9, 936 – 943, (2003) |
 | Cytoskeleton: Another two stings in WASP's tail
Two new Wiskott–Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP) phosphorylation sites have been identified.
Original research paper: Mol. Cell 11, 1215 – 1227, (2003) |
 | In brief: July 2003
Signal Transduction | Signalling | Lymphocyte Activation | Lymphocyte Activation | Ion Channels | Neurodegenerative Disease | Cardiopulmonary Disease |
 | Antibody responses: Behaviour of secretory IgA explained
New research may explain why secretory IgA requires the presence of an integrin co-receptor for signaling through FcaRI (CD89), but cannot trigger phagocytosis.
Original research paper: Nature 327, 645 – 657, (21 May 2003) |
 | Tumour suppressors: ALL from a lost connection
Loss of the B-cell-specific adaptor SLP-65 is associated with a type of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia.
Original research paper: Nature 423, 452 – 456, (2003) |
 | Developmental genetics: How not to go for the jugular
The gene plcg1 functions downstream of Vegf to direct endothelial cells along the arterial developmental pathway.
Original research paper: Genes Dev. 3, 674 – 682, (1 June 2003) |
 | Synaptic physiology: Kiss-me-quick synapses
Two studies provide compelling evidence that most vesicles in small hippocampal synapses fuse by a kiss-and-run type of exocytosis, rather than by collapsing into the presynaptic membrane.
Original research paper: Nature 423, 607 – 613, (2003) |
 | Cancer: ROCKing cell invasion
Cancer cell motility can switch between a rounded blebbing movement, which requires Rho-ROCK signaling, and an elongated protrusive movement, which is sensitive to inhibition of extracellular proteases.
Original research paper: Nature Cell Biology 5, 711 – 719, (2003) |
 | Calcium: Channelling degeneration
Growth-factor-regulated channel (GRC) is a key player in the pathogenesis of myocyte degeneration caused by dystrophin–glycoprotein complex disruption.
Original research paper: J. Cell Biol. 161, 957 – 967, (2003) |
 | Innate immunity: Hide and seek
Bacteria can hide from Toll-like receptor-mediated detection by invading the cell cytoplasm, but are still spotted by the innate immune system through Nod1.
Original research paper: Science 300, 1584 – 1587, (2003) |
 | Angiogenesis: Natural inhibition
Tumstatin, a cleavage fragment of collagen IV, functions not only as an endogenous inhibitor of angiogenesis, but also as a tumor suppressor.
Original research paper: Cancer Cell 3, 589 – 601, (2003) |
 | Sensory systems: Some like it hot
A structural motif that is crucial for determining the sensitivity of the ion channel TRPV1 to hot and spicy stimuli has been identified.
Original research paper: Science 300, 1284 – 1288, (2003) |
 | Computational chemistry: Bespoke binding
Researchers describe a new computational approach for designing receptor and sensor proteins with specificity and affinity for desired small molecules.
Original research paper: Nature 423, 185 – 190, (2003) |
 | Immunology: Nef signals HIV infection
HIV-1 Nef intersects with the CD40 signaling pathway in macrophages to promote the release of sCD23 and sICAM, thus promoting interactions between B cells and T cells that leave T cells open to HIV-1 infection.
Original research paper: Nature 424, 213 – 219, (2003) |
 | Signalling: Repulsive or attractive?
Interactions between cyclic nucleotide and Ca2+ signaling pathways are crucial for netrin-1-mediated axon guidance.
Original research paper: Nature 423, 990 – 995, (2003) |
 | Gene regulation: A stimulating experience
New findings have identified IKKa as an essential player in NF-?B-regulated gene expression.
Original research paper: Nature 423, 655 – 659, (2003) |
 | Macrophages:
Orphan receptor finds a home
The orphan nuclear receptor NUR77 has a crucial role in macrophage cell death.
Original research paper: J. Exp. Med. 197, 1441 – 1452, (2003) |
 | Synaptic plasticity: Lasting effects of endocannabinoids
High-frequency stimulation of the stratum radiatum can cause long-term depression of the inhibitory inputs to the pyramidal neurons, an effect which is mediated by heterosynaptic retrograde endocannabinoid signaling.
Original research paper: Neuron 38, 461 – 472, (2003) |
 | Drug resistance: Pumping stations
Four structurally diverse ligands each use a different subset of amino-acid residues to bind at various positions within the prototypical efflux pump Escherichia coli AcrB, a characteristic that greatly increases the range of potential drug–protein interactions.
Original research paper: Science 300, 976 – 980, (2003) |
 | Golgi: Ha-Ras'd by signaling
A novel Src/PLC-g1/RasGRP1-dependent pathway of Ras activation in the Golgi apparatus has been defined that is distinct from the Ras activation pathway exhibited on the plasma membrane.
Original research paper: Nature 424, 694 – 698, (2003) |
 | Calcium: A local store
The nucleus contains a nucleoplasmic reticulum with the capacity to regulate calcium signals in localized subnuclear regions.
Original research paper: Nature Cell Biol. 5, 440 – 446, (2003) |
 | Signalling: A sugar fix for fasters
The finding that TRB3 is a negative modulator of Akt/PKB has widespread implications for type II diabetes.
Original research paper: Science 300, 1574 – 1577, (2003) |
 | Immunological memory: How do your T cells grow?
Both IL-7 and TCR signals are involved in the maintenance of the memory T-cell pool, but when either signal is missing the other can compensate.
Original research paper: Nature Immunol. 4, 680 – 686, (2003) |
 | Tumorigenic pathways: Unruly recycling
HIP1 transforms cells by altering endocytosis, resulting in growth-factor-receptor accumulation on the cell surface.
Original research paper: Cancer Cell 3, 471 – 482, (2003) |
 | Neurodegenerative disease: Ataxin the brain
Phosphorylation of ataxin-1 plays a crucial role in spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 pathogenesis.
Original research paper: Neuron 38, 375 – 387, (2003) |
