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.
 | Presenilin: Showing less cleavage
TMP21 is a novel component of the presenilin complex that negatively regulates γ-secretase and the production of amyloid-β peptide.
Original research paper: Nature 440, 1208 - 1212 (2006) |
 | Osteopontin: Interfering with interferon
Osteopontin expression is required for interferon-α production in plasmacytoid dendritic cells.
Original research papers: Nature Immunology 7, 498 - 506 (2006); Nature Immunology 7, 441 - 443 (2006) |
 | Stem Cells: Accelerated ageing
Activation of p38 MAPK in response to reactive oxygen species limits the lifespan of hematopoietic stem cells in vivo.
Original research papers: Nature Medicine 12, 446 - 451 (2006); Nature Medicine 12, 383 - 384 ( 2006) |
 | RNAi screens: Identifying cancer drug targets
A novel RNAi screen reveals a role for CARD11 signaling in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma pathogenesis.
Original research paper: Nature 441, 106-110 (4 May 2006) |
 | Signal transduction: Understanding NEMO
The connection between tumor-necrosis-factor receptor-1 (TNFR1) signaling, IκB kinase (IKK)and NF-κB activation, as well as the biochemical mechanism underling NEMO's signaling function in IKK activation, have now been revealed.
Original research paper: Nature Cell Biol. 8, 398 – 406 (2006); Mol. Cell 22, 245 – 257 (2006) |
 | Macrophages: Regulatory circuit in the lungs
Exposure of alveolar macrophages to microbial products releases them from alveolar epithelial cells and suppresses the expression of &alpha,Vß6-integrin, thereby removing tumor growth factor (TGFß)-mediated inhibition.
Original research paper: Immunity 24, 475 – 487 (2006) |
 | In brief: April 2006
Chromatin | ER stress | Mechanism of disease | Asthma and allergy | Technique | Regulatory T cells | Immunotherapy | Hypoxia | Oncogenes | Oncogenes | Evo–Devo | Human Disease | Network Biology |
 | Tumour suppressors: Sssh, we are about to begin
Overexpression of one component of the pre-replication complex represses the expression of the INK4a, INK4b and ARF tumor suppressors and promotes the oncogenic transformation of cells.
Original research paper: Nature 440, 702 – 706 (2006) |
 | Development: Top-notch neural induction
Notch is a key factor in the promotion of neural commitment of embryonic stem cells, thus providing an encouraging step towards the production of pure cell populations.
Original research paper: PloS Biol. 4, e121 (2006) |
 | Parasitology: Who's HOSTing who?
The intracellular pathogen Toxoplasma gondii gains access to key molecules by sequestering organelles from the host cell's endocytic pathway.
Original research paper: Cell 125, 261 – 274 (2006) |
 | ESCs keep their options open
Two powerful technologies reveal a chromatin-based mechanism for maintaining embryonic stem cell (ESC) pluripotency.
Original research paper: Nat. Cell Biol. 8, 532 – 538 (2006) |
