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.
 | Necrotic inflammation: Interleukin-1α promotes a Toll-free response
During necrosis, the macrophage cytokine interleukin 1α (IL-1α) induces neutrophil invasion and the sterile inflammatory response through the IL-1 receptor (IL-1R)–myeloid differentiation primary response gene 88 (Myd88) pathway.
Original research paper: Nature Medicine 13, 851-856 (2007) |
 | Cell cluster migration: Leading or lagging — or both
Drosophila ovarian border cells follow two routes for cell migration: they can be guided by two leading cells which exhibit strong receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signaling, or respond as a group to a chemoattractant gradient.
Original research paper: Nature 448, 362-366 (2007) |
 | Tumorigenesis: AKT puts its PHD to use
A subset of human cancers contains a point mutation in the plekstrin homology domain (PHD) of the AKT1 kinase, which promotes membrane association and oncogenesis.
Original research paper: Nature 448, 439-444 (2007) |
 | Siglecs: Sugars signal stop
Mouse sialic acid-binding immunoglobulin-like lectin-G (Siglec-G) is a B-cell receptor that inhibits calcium signaling and cell proliferation.
Original research paper: Nat. Immunol. 8, 695-704 (2007) |
 | Stem cells: Introducing the next generation
Mouse fibroblasts can be reprogrammed to an embryonic stem (ES)-cell state through the ectopic retroviral expression of four transcription factors: OCT4, SOX2, c-MYC and KLF4.
Original research paper: Nature 448, 313–317 (2007) |
 | Cancer stem cells: Fishing for clues
A zebrafish model of Ras-induced embryonal rhabdo-myosarcoma (ERMS) has uncovered a subset of genes that are commonly enriched in human ERMS.
Original research paper: Genes Dev. 21, 1382–1395 (2007) |
 | In brief: July 2007
Stem cells | Cell cycle | Immunological synapses | Signalling | Mast cells | Inflammation | Tumour suppressors | Angiogenesis | Metastasis | Tumour suppressors | Nuclear receptors | Signalling | Network biology | RNA interference | Development | Technology | Plasticity | Neurotransmission | Behaviour | Axon growth | Circadian rhythms | Cancer | Amyloid diseases | Genomics | RNA interference |
 | Endometrial cancer: Another tyrosine kinase target?
The Cancer Genome Project has uncovered fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) mutations in 10% of endometrial carcinoma samples, verifying FGFR2 as a potential candidate for the development of anti-cancer therapies.
Original research paper: Oncogene advance online publication 21 May 2007 |
 | Axon guidance: Endocannabinoids steer developing axons
Activation of the neuronal cannabinoid receptor CB1R stimulates RhoA activation and Erk phosphorylation and promotes formation of accurate synaptic connections in γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-containing interneurons.
Original research paper: Science 316, 1212–1216 (2007) |
 | Diabetes: Bypassing the side effects of thiazolidinediones?
The β-carboline alkaloid harmine upregulates peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ (PPARγ) expression and exhibits antidiabetic activity without the adverse side effects reported for the thiazolidinedione diabetes drugs.
Original research paper: Cell Metab. 5, 357–370 (2007) |
 | Drug delivery: Minicells deliver lethal load to tumours
Receptor-mediated endocytosis of cell surface and transmembrane receptors can be harnessed to deliver anti-cancer compounds to tumor cells.
Original research paper: Cancer Cell 11, 431–445 (2007) |
 | Cell biology: Signaling rewired
Synthetic guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) can be designed to selectively activate specific signaling pathways.
Original research paper: Nature 447, 596–600 (2003) |
 | Tumour suppression: The power of arrest
Two studies using sophisticated mouse models reveal that induction of cellular senescence is a critical component of p53-mediated tumor suppression.
Original research paper: Cancer Cell 11, 461–469 (2007) |
 | Regulatory T cells: Adding adenosine to the mix
Two studies have identified cyclic AMP (cAMP) and members of the adenosine-synthesis pathway as key factors in the identification and function of TReg cells.
Original research paper: J. Exp. Med. 204, 1257–1265 (2007) |
 | Innate immunity: Turning on TLR9
The nuclear protein high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) is an important modulator of Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9) activation by CpG-containing DNA (CpG DNA).
Original research paper: Blood published online 4 June 2007 |
 | Leukaemia: Reduction increases risk
Death-associated protein kinase 1 (DAPK1) is a putative tumor-suppressor gene for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), with reduced expression being a common and potentially early event in the genesis of CLL.
Original research paper: Cell 129, 879–890 (2007) |
 | Dendrites: DSCAM's branching business
Down syndrome cell-adhesion molecule (DSCAM) is essential for dendrite self-avoidance during morphogenesis of the Drosophila peripheral nervous system.
Original research paper: Cell 129, 593–604 (2007) |
 | Neurodegeneration: Death despite survival
Inhibitors of histone deacetylases (HDACs) prevent neurodegeneration by modulating a cyclic AMP response element-binding protein (CREB) binding protein (CBP)-dependent pathway in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
Original research paper: J. Neurosci. 27, 5535–5545 (2007) |
 | Neurodegenerative disorders: An aid to digestion
A high-throughput screening strategy to identify novel modulators of mammalian autophagy may provide drug development leads for Huntington's disease.
Original research paper: Nature Chem. Biol. 3, 331–338 (2007) |
 | Neurological diseases: New avenues for stroke treatment
Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors exhibit anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects in the ischemic brain, leading to decreased infarct volume and improved neurological function after stroke.
Original research paper: J. Pharmacol. Exp. Therap. 321, 892–901 (2007) |
 | Stem cells: Throwing a ROCK inhibitor at a problem
An inhibitor of the Rho-associated kinase ROCK improves human embryonic stem cell survival during culture.
Original research paper: Nat. Biotechnol. 25, 681–686 (2007) |
 | Protein degradation: A proteasome for every occasion
The composition of the proteasome is altered during periods of ubiquitin deficiency to ensure that levels of free ubiquitin are maintained in order to carry out essential protein degradation.
Original research paper: Cell 129, 747–759 (2007) |
 | Lymphocyte development: LRF and Notch go head to head
The proto-oncogene leukemia/lymphoma-related factor is a master regulator of B-cell and T-cell lineage commitment and functions by repressing Notch signaling in the bone marrow, allowing for the development of the B-cell lineage.
Original research paper: Science 316, 860–866 (2007) |
 | Chemotherapeutics: Lethal and resistant partners
A genome-wide small interfering RNA screen has identified mitotic spindle checkpoint control genes as being able to sensitize non-small-cell lung cancer cells to paclitaxel.
Original research paper: Nature 446, 815–819 (2007) |
 | Neurotransmission: Exploring profilin
Profilin 2 is required for activity-stimulated actin polymerization in the synapse, which controls neurotransmitter release, neuronal excitability and novelty-seeking behavior in mice.
Original research paper: EMBO J. 26, 2991–3002 (2007) |
 | Cell biology: 3D laser blasting for biologists
The combination of laser ablation and light sheet–based fluorescence microscopy provides researchers with a powerful way to examine function in living three-dimensional (3D) objects.
Original research paper: Opt. Express 15, 6420–6430 (2007) |
 | Cancer: Finding the right target
Mouse models of Ras-induced lung and skin cancer validate the importance of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) pathway in tumorigenesis.
Original research paper: Cell 129, 957–968 (2007) |
 | Innate immunity: The benefits of a lifelong union
Latent herpesvirus infection in mice promotes elevated levels of interferon-γ (IFNγ) and tumor-necrosis factorα (TNFα), which protects mice from subsequent bacterial infections.
Original research paper: Nature 447, 326–329 (2007) |
 | Genomics: Finding needles in a haystack
Three large-scale genome-wide association studies have identified several new genetic loci — including fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 1 (MAP3K1) — that confer susceptibility to breast cancer.
Original research paper: Nature 447, 1087–1093 (2007) |
 | Tumour supressor: Surviving the tumour suppressor
Allelic loss of the autophagy genes Beclin 1 or autophagy 5-like (Atg5) promotes tumorigenesis as a result of acquired DNA damage and genome instability.
Original research paper: Genes Dev. 21, 1367–1381 (2007) |
 | Analgesics: Specifically attenuating pain
A small molecule inhibitor of the Nav1.8 voltage-gated sodium channel is a potent analgesic in a rat model of acute and inflammatory pain.
Original research paper: Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA. 104, 8520–8525 (2007) |
