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.
 | Macrophages: Re-educating macrophages
Inhibiting IKKβ in tumor-associated macrophages stimulates them to produce nitric oxide or interleukin-12 (IL-12), which causes tumor-cell apoptosis.
Original research paper: J. Exp. Med. 205, 1261-1268 (2008) |
 | Tumorigenesis: Some HIFs are more equal than others
Loss of function of the von Hippel–Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor activates hypoxia-inducible factor 2α (HIF2α), which potentiates the development of highly vascularized tumors in multiple organs.
Original research paper: Oncogene published online 19 May 2008 (doi: 10.1038/onc.2008.160) |
 | In brief: July 2008
Cytoskeleton | Stem cells | Chemotherapy | DNA repair | Human disease | Human disease | Epigenetics | Epigenetics | Synaptic plasticity | Molecular neuroscience | Anticancer drugs | Virtual screening | Mutagenesis | Innate immunity | Signalling in space |
 | Development: Homeobox kick-off for Arabidopsis body plan
The main body axis in Arabidopsis thaliana is established by the differential expression of WUSCHEL-related homeobox (WOX) family genes.
Original research paper: Dev. Cell 14, 867-876 (2008) |
 | Synaptogenesis: What maketh the man?
Male-specific neural circuitry is established by estrogen receptor signaling, which activates PI3K and triggers dendritic spine formation through a MAPK-dependent mechanism.
Original research paper: Neuron 58, 584-598 (2008) |
 | Chemical biology: New electrophilic probes slide in
Electrophilic or photoreactive probes that covalently target an enzyme's conserved active site permit activity-based protein profiling (ABPP) studies of a broad range of proteins.
Original research paper: Nat. Chem. Biol. 4, 405-407 (2008) |
 | Cell morphology: Breaking the spatial code
Two studies describe the role of actin treadmilling in generating a specific cell shape, and uncover a relationship between cell shape and the generation of microdomains that regulate signal transduction from the plasma membrane to cytoplasmic signaling molecules.
Original research paper: Nature 453, 475-480 (2008) |
 | B cells: (micro)Restraint of AID
The microRNA miR-155 suppresses activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID), a potent DNA mutator that is required for antibody diversification in B cells.
Original research paper: Immunity 28, 621-629 (2008) |
 | Senescence: Hold that thought
The expression of inflammatory mediators such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-8 reinforces growth arrest in cells that have undergone oncogene-induced senescence.
Original research paper: Cell 133, 1006-1018 (2008) |
 | Signalling: Rewarding changes in gene expression
Dopamine-triggered signaling induces the accumulation of DARPP32 (dopamine- and cyclic AMP-regulated phosphoprotein with molecular weight 32 kDa) in the nucleus of murine striatal neurons, which leads to phosphorylation of histone H3 and affects chromatin structure and gene expression.
Original research paper: Nature 453, 879-884 (2008) |
 | Metabolic disease: Blocking brain enzyme curbs appetite
Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase kinase 2 (CAMKK2) forms a stable signaling complex with an AMPKα/β heterodimer and has a key role in appetite control and normal glucose responses.
Original research paper: Cell Metab. 7, 377-388 (2008) |
 | Cell signalling: How to lead a double life
The focal adhesion protein kindlin-2 binds to integrin tails and regulates integrin bidirectional signaling.
Original research paper: J. Cell Biol. 181, 439-446 (2008) |
 | Tumour suppressor: Confirming DLC1
Loss of deleted in liver cancer 1 (DLC1) contributes to the development of hepatocellular carcinoma by stimulating constitutive activation of RhoA.
Original research paper: Genes Dev. 22, 1439-1444 (2008) |
 | Tumorigenesis: Combined effort
Oncogenic mutations perturb the expression of many downstream pathway genes, and researchers have now shown that blocking these synergistic changes in gene expression can suppress tumor formation.
Original research paper: Nature 453, 1112-1116 (2008) |
 | Proteomics: Live-cell map quest
A high-resolution interactome map describes how proteins interact in living yeast cells.
Original research paper: Science 320, 1465-1470 (2008) |
 | Cellular microbiology: HO1 tips the balance
Heme oxygenase 1 (HO1) modulates the hepatic stage of malaria by dampening down the host inflammatory response.
Original research paper: Cell Host Microbe 3, 331-338 (2008) |
 | Protein degradation: Catching ubiquitin
The proteasome subunit Rpn13 is a high-affinity receptor for ubiquitin that recognizes its substrates through a novel ubiquitin-binding domain.
Original research paper: Nature 453, 481-488 (2008) |
 | Cell cycle: Stop start
Phosphatase of regenerating liver 3 (PRL3, also known as PTP4A3) is a p53 target gene that can induce cell cycle arrest, which explains the observed downreglation of PRL3 in invasive tumors and metastasis.
Original research paper: Mol. Cell 30, 303-314 (2008) |
 | Signalling: Survival of the sweetest
EGFR promotes cell survival in a kinase-independent fashion by preventing autophagy and maintaining a basal level of intracellular glucose, thus explaining the disappointing response rates to EGFR inhibitors in cancer patients.
Original research paper: Cancer Cell 13, 385-393 (2008) |
 | Cancer genetics: Looking at the big picture
A new, large-scale mutagenesis screen in different mouse backgrounds identifies candidate oncogenes and tumor suppressors, and reveals the networks that link them together.
Original research paper: Cell 133, 727-741 (2008) |
 | Cell biology: Living droplets
Tiny droplets of water in oil can serve as miniature culture vessels for living single cells and multicellular organisms.
Original research paper: Chem. Biol. 15, 427-437 (2008) |
