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.
 | Fighting viral infection the Jak-STAT way
Genetic analyses of virus-infected Drosophila reveal a novel role for Jak-STAT signaling in the innate immune response.
Original research paper: Nature Immunology 6, 946 – 953, (2005) |
 | Chromatin: Forming a silent structure
Two novel Rik-1 associated factors regulate H3 methylation and transcriptional silencing within centromeric heterochromatin in yeast.
Original research paper: Genes Dev. 19, 1705 – 1714, (2005) |
 | In brief: September 2005
Signal transduction | Trafficking | Signalling | Haematopoiesis | Tolerance | Cancer genetics | Apoptosis | Tumorigenesis | Therapeutics | Technology | Transporters | Neurodevelopment | Alzheimer's disease | Anti-thrombotics | Inflammation |
 | Tumour immunology: Another way to escape the immune system's watchful eye
Downregulation of the tumor suppressor TSLC1 allows cancer cells to evade recognition by natural killer and CD8+ T cells.
Original research paper: Blood 106, 779 – 786, (2005) |
 | Asthma and allergy: Pollen found guilty
NADPH oxidases in pollen cause airway inflammation by increasing the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS).
Original research paper: J. Clin. Invest. 115, 2169 – 2179, (2005) |
 | T-cell signalling: Methylation modifies T-cell function
Arginine methylation by a CD28 co-stimulatory signal could be important for the activation of T cells.
Original research paper: J. Exp. Med. 202, 371 – 377, (2005) |
 | Tumorigenesis: (H)IFs and buts
Disruption of Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) expression by von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) mutations causes renal cell carcinomas, but is not involved in the VHL-mediated development of phaeochromocytomas.
Original research paper: Cancer Cell 8, 155 – 167, (2005) |
 | Technology: It's cheaper in the Picolab
A pico-scale reaction system serves as the basis for a new generation of high-throughput sequencing machines which will save both time and money.
Original research paper: Nature 6, 465 – 476, (31 July 2005) |
 | Ion channel structure: Switching on to potassium channels
The crystal structure of the mammalian voltage-dependent K+ (Kv) channel sheds light on the mechanism by which it senses membrane voltage.
Original research paper: Science 309, 897 – 903, (2005) |
 | Neurotransmitters: Long-distance communication
Evidence for ectopic neurotransmission broadens the possibilities of neuronal communication.
Original research paper: Science 309, 446 – 451, (2005) |
 | RNA interference: Knocked down for the count
Encapsulation of chemically modified short interfering RNA targeted to hepatitis B virus in specialized liposomes effectively reduces virus replication in mice.
Original research paper: Nature Biotech. 23, 1002 – 1007, (2005) |
 | Molecular libraries: Finger pointing
A screen based on a library of randomly assorted zinc finger-containing transcription factors identifies genes involved in the generation of a specific phenotype.
Original research paper: J. Bacteriol. 187, 5496 – 5499, (2005) |
 | PKD and PI4K: Signaling a coordinated dispatch
Phosphorylation of phosphatidylinositol 4-kinase IIIβ by protein kinase D regulates the transport of vesicles from the Golgi to the plasma membrane.
Original research paper: Nature Cell Biology 7, 880 – 886, (2005) |
 | Signal transduction: What's in a name?
Far from doing what its name suggests, the intracellular protein prohibitin actually promotes epithelial cell migration by activating the Ras–Raf signaling pathway.
Original research paper: Nature Cell Biol. 7, 837 – 843, (2005) |
 | Natural killer cells: NK cells need a license to kill
Natural killer cells acquire functional competence through an interaction between an inhibitory natural killer (NK)-cell receptor and a self MHC class I molecule.
Original research paper: Nature 436, 709 – 713, (2005) |
 | Mitosis: Motoring ahead
Inhibitors of the mitotic kinesin KSP that cause cell cycle arrest and apoptosis, are being developed as a new generation of chemotherapeutic agents.
Original research paper: Cancer Cell 8, 49 – 58, (2005) |
 | Drug delivery: A tiny timely vehicle
The timely release of anti-angiogenic and chemotherapeutic agents from nanocells could improve the efficacy of existing anticancer drugs.
Original research paper: Nature 436, 568 – 572, (2005) |
 | Gene regulation: Copious calculations
A new computational method has been developed to simultaneously map the multiple quantitative trait loci that are responsible for variation in gene-expression 'traits'.
Original research paper: PLoS Biol. 3, e367(2005) |
 | Neurogenesis: Lining up with destiny
Gβγ subunits of heterotrimeric G proteins are required for proper mitotic-spindle orientation and cell fate determination in the developing neocortex.
Original research paper: Cell 122, 119 – 131, (2005) |
 | HIV-1: Viral assembly inhibitors on the horizon
The identification of a small capsid peptide that interferes with the formation of HIV particles in vitro, could lead to the development of a new class of HIV drugs.
Original research paper: Nature Struct. Mol. Biol. 12, 671 – 677, (2005) |
 | Microarrays: Protein microarray velcro
A new polypeptide scaffold that contains a surface immobilization domain and a target capture domain enables flexible protein arraying.
Original research paper: J. Am. Chem. Soc. 127, 10136 – 10137, (2005) |
 | Horizontal gene transfer: Coordinated uptake
Findings from two independent groups suggest that the uptake of single stranded DNA by transformation is closely coordinated with recombination into the bacterial chromosome.
Original research paper: Cell 122, 59 – 71, (2005) |
 | Jun proteins and psoriasis: Scratching the surface
Inducible epidermal deletion of JunB and c-Jun in mice induces both the skin and arthritic lesions that characterize psoriasis.
Original research paper: Nature 437, 369 – 375, (2005) |
 | Apoptosis: Conveying a deadly message
Electron transfer between the pro-apoptotic signal p66Shc and cytochrome c generates reactive oxygen species that trigger mitochondrial apoptosis.
Original research paper: Cell 122, 221 – 233, (2005) |
 | Innate immunity: It's not all about TLRs
Fibroblasts and conventional dendritic cells require retinoic-acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I) rather than Toll-like receptors (TLRs) to mount an antiviral response.
Original research paper: Immunity 23, 19 – 28, (2005) |
 | Metastasis: Destination control
Microarray analysis has identified 54 genes that selectively mediate the metastasis of breast cancer cells to the lung.
Original research paper: Nature 436, 518 – 524, (2005) |
 | Gene networks: Testing the network
A new automated method that prioritizes deletion experiments may help validate predicted protein–protein interactions and resolve ambiguous models.
Original research paper: Genome Biol. 6, R62 – 113, (2005) |
 | Neurogenetics: A screening success
A large-scale RNA interference (RNAi) screen in Caenorhabditis elegans, reveals over 100 genes that are important for synapse structure and function.
Original research paper: Nature 436, 510 – 517, (2005) |
 | Sensory systems: Bittersweet symphony
The extensive co-localization and antagonistic effect of neuropeptide Y and cholecystokinin on potassium currents in taste bud cells suggest they work in concert to modulate bitter taste transduction.
Original research paper: Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 102, 11100 – 11105, (2005) |
 | Anticancer drugs: Double strike
Linking a DNA damaging agent to an androgen receptor ligand has yielded an effective drug against prostate cancer cells in vitro and in vivo.
Original research paper: Chem. Biol. 12, 779 – 787, (2005) |
 | Genomics: Good neighbors
A new method for the detection of genome-wide DNA methylation allows the identification of epigenetic modifications in tumor and surrounding stromal cells.
Original research paper: Nat. Genet. 37, 899 – 905, (2005) |
 | TCF4 and c-Jun: A dangerous liaison
The transcription factor TCF4 binds to c-Jun in a c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK)-dependent manner and contributes to intestinal tumorigenesis.
Original research paper: Nature 437, 281 – 285, (2005) |
 | Cell cycle: Checking the damage
An alternatively spliced p53 isoform repairs damaged DNA before replication is initiated and is crucial for the intra-S-phase checkpoint.
Original research paper: Cell 122, 21 – 32, (2005) |
 | Immune regulation: The sweet side of maturation
Polysaccharides (PSAs) from commensal bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract are found to mediate the development of the host immune's system revealing the molecular basis for host-bacterial symbiosis.
Original research paper: Cell 122, 107 – 118, (2005) |
 | Angiogenesis: Alternative pathways
A new study reveals that interleukin-8 (IL-8) induces angiogenesis in the absence of both oxygen and hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF1).
Original research paper: Nature Med. 11, 992 – 997, (2005) |
 | Ageing: Blame the damaged mitochondria
The accumulation of mitochondrial DNA mutations that promote apoptosis might be a central mechanism driving mammalian aging.
Original research paper: Science 309, 481 – 484, (2005) |
 | Neurodegenerative diseases: From amyloid-β to receptor endocytosis
Amyloid-β contributes to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease by regulating N-methyl-D-aspartate-type (NMDA) glutamatergic receptor trafficking and reducing long-term potentiation (LTP).
Original research paper: Nature Neurosci. 8, 1051 – 1058, (2005) |
 | Glia: Gathering at the nodes
Gliomedin, a protein secreted by Schwann cells, mediates voltage-gated Na+ channel clustering at the nodes of Ranvier.
Original research paper: Neuron 47, 215 – 229, (2005) |
 | Gene regulation: Wake-up call for Sleeping Beauty
By tinkering with the transposon Sleeping Beauty, researchers have developed new and highly effective strategies for performing mammalian mutagenesis screens.
Original research paper: Nature 436, 272 – 276, (2005) |
 | Protein interactions: The science of prediction
A probabilistic model that integrates genomic and proteomic data can reliably predict human protein–protein interactions.
Original research paper: Nature Biotechnology 23, 951 – 959, (2005) |
 | Autoimmunity: Infection and autoimmunity: the glycolipid link
Bacteria can trigger an autoimmune response by inducing the production of large amounts of endogenous glycosphingolipid in host cells.
Original research paper: Immunity 22, 763 – 772, (2005) |
 | Immunological synapses: Increasing T-cell sensitivity with CD8
FRET (fluorescence resonance energy transfer) microscopy shows that nonstimulatory peptides contribute to the antigen-induced interaction between the T-cell receptor (TCR) co-receptor CD8 and the TCR-CD3 complex.
Original research paper: Nature Immunol. 6, 785 – 792, (2005) |
 | Cancer genetics: A screen success
RNAi-based screening in human cell-lines has identified two novel tumor-suppressor candidates: RE1-silencing transcription factor (REST) and paired-like homeodomain transcription factor 1 (PITX1).
Original research paper: Cell 121, 837 – 848, (2005) |
 | Stem cells: Small RNAs cross the divide
Loquacious (LOQS), a dsRNA-binding protein, is essential for microRNA maturation and germ-line stem cell maintenance.
Original research paper: PLoS Biol. 3, e236 – 978, (2005) |
 | Synaptic plasticity: A balancing act
The cell-adhesion molecule Fasciclin II signals through amyloid precursor protein and the scaffolding protein dX11/Mint to regulate synapse formation.
Original research paper: J. Neurosci. 25, 5943 – 5955, (2005) |
 | G-protein-coupled receptors: It takes two...
An analgesic compound that selectively targets opioid receptor heterodimers shows that G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) dimers are functionally relevant in vivo.
Original research paper: Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 102, 9050 – 9055, (2005) |
 | Drug Discovery: Combating natural selection with 'antiviral Judo'
A new method to screen for dominant inhibitors of viral growth could aid in combating RNA viruses by neutralizing their most powerful weapon — natural selection.
Original research paper: Nat. Genet. 37, 701 – 709, (2005) |
 | Plant pathogens: Coordinated defence
R proteins guard plants against type III effectors that inhibit pathogen-associated molecular pattern (PAMP) signaling, thus linking the two defense systems that plants use to combat microbial pathogens.
Original research paper: Cell 121, 749 – 759, (2005) |
