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.
 | Membrane rafts: A life boat for Akt
Akt membrane localization and activation is dependent on the presence of cholesterol- and sphingolipid-rich nanodomains.
Original research paper: Nature Chemical Biology 4, 538-547 (2008) |
 | Cell adhesion: Talin shifts cell spreading into high gear
The cytoskeletal protein talin functions as a molecular clutch that links the contracting actin cytoskeleton to extracellular matrix-bound integrins.
Original research paper: Nature Cell Biology 10, 1062-1068 (2008) |
 | Neuronal migration: A direct road from Neurog2 to Rnd2
The transcription factor Neurogenin 2 promotes the radial migration of newly born neurons by directly activating the small Rho GTPase Rnd2.
Original research paper: Nature 455, 114-118 (2008) |
 | MicroRNAs: mRNAs are lost in translation
A single microRNA molecule can regulate the translation of hundreds of proteins by inducing degradation and inhibiting translation of mRNA targets.
Original research paper: Nature 455, 58-63 (2008) |
 | Protein degradation: Examining E1
The crystal structure of ubiquitin bound to Uba1, the Saccharomyces cerevisiae E1 ubiquitin ligase, has been solved.
Original research paper: Cell 134, 268-278 (2008) |
 | T cells: TH1 cells do the twist
The transcription factor TWIST1 negatively regulates the production of interleukin 2 (IL-2), interferon-γ (IFNγ) and tumor-necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) in TH1 cells.
Original research paper: J. Exp. Med. 205, 1889-1901 (2008) |
 | In brief: September 2008
Cell adhesion | Cell division | Cytoskeleton | Allergy | Signalling | Immune tolerance | Tumorigenesis | Signalling | Cancer stem cells | Mouse genetics | Synaptic plasticity | Repair | Development | Neurological disorders | Protein biochemistry | Bacterial pathogenesis |
 | Translation: Interpreting p53
Mutations in ribosomal proteins (RPs) alter p53 function to promote human disease and tumorigenesis.
Original research paper: Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 105, 10408-10413 (2008) |
 | Network biology: Why do we need hubs?
A study of the yeast interaction network suggests that essential proteins tend to be network hubs because they belong to biological processes that are densely interconnected.
Original research paper: PLoS Comput. Biol. 4, e1000140 (2008) |
 | We the curators
Two groups describe wiki platforms for community-based curation and annotation of genes and biological pathways.
Original research paper: PLoS Biol. 6, e175 (2008) |
 | Circadian rhythms: An enzymatic rheostat
The histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity of the sirtuin SIRT1 is controlled in a circadian manner, providing a link between metabolism and components of the internal clock.
Original research paper: Cell 134, 329-340 (2008) |
 | Tumorigenesis: Marching to a different drum
The oncogenic NUP214–ABL1 fusion protein is activated by incorporation into the nuclear pore complex.
Original research paper: Mol. Cell 31, 134-142 (2008) |
 | Development: Knowing your place
The Forkhead protein FOXP1 has a crucial role in establishing the diversity of motor neuron subtypes.
Original research paper: Cell 134, 304-316 (2008) |
 | Anticancer drugs: Proteasome inhibitor unleashes three-pronged attack
The myxobacterium peptide argyrin A is a promising novel anti-cancer compound that mediates stabilization of the p27KIP1 tumor suppressor through proteasomal inhibition.
Original research paper: Cancer Cell 14, 23-35 (2008) |
 | Imaging and visualization: New sensors from old
A serendipitous discovery reveals that an existing fluorescent protein — circularly permuted yellow fluorescent protein (cpYFP) — is also a specific sensor for superoxide.
Original research paper: Cell 134, 279-290 (2008) |
 | Cancer biology: The counting game
Depletion of NCD, a kinesin that bundles microtubules at the spindle poles of centrosomes, in cancer cells leads to the formation of multipolar spindles and induces cell death.
Original research paper: Genes Dev. 22, 2189-2203 (2008) |
 | Tumorigenesis: Two-faced
Menin links the MLL (mixed-lineage leukemia) histone methyltransferase to the LEDGF (lens epithelium-derived growth factor) transcriptional coactivator to promote oncogenic transformation of myeloid progenitor cells.
Original research paper: Cancer Cell 14, 36-46 (2008) |
 | Migration: RAB goes back to RAC
Rab5-dependent endocytic recycling is required for spatially restricted Rac activation downstream of receptor tyrosine kinases.
Original research paper: Cell 134, 135-147 (2008) |
 | Tumour suppression: Sharing the limelight
The tumor suppressor p53 represses expression of CD44 — a stem-cell marker that inhibits cell death and induces chemotherapy resistance.
Original research paper: Cell 134, 62-73 (2008) |
 | Animal models: Proteomics goes live in the mouse
An in vivo SILAC (stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture) technique permits comprehensive, quantitative proteomic analysis of whole tissues.
Original research paper: Cell 134, 353-364 (2008) |
 | Chromatin: Signalling to assemble
Acetylation of histone H3 Lys56 (H3K56ac) is essential for efficient nucleosome assembly and is required to maintain genome stability during DNA replication and repair.
Original research paper: Cell 134, 231-243 (2008) |
 | Immune responses: Micromanaging stress
In normal cells, microRNA molecules repress translation of stress-induced ligands for the activating receptor NKG2D, thereby protecting healthy cells from inappropriate natural killer (NK) cell-mediated lysis.
Original research paper: Nature Immunol. 9, 1065-1073 (2008) |
 | Angiogenesis: VEGFR3 joins the crew
Inhibition of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 3 (VEGFR3) might help block tumor growth and circumvent drug resistance when combined with anti-VEGF/VEGFR2 therapies.
Original research paper: Nature 454, 656-660 (2008) |
 | Affective disorders: Baby blues
Two studies addressing different aspects of maternal depression during pregnancy and the post-partum period show that exposure to antidepressants in utero can have long-lasting effects on the offspring's serotonin system, and that altered sensitivity of GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid) type-A receptors might predispose women to post-partum depression.
Original research paper: Neuron 59, 207-213 (2008) |
 | Protein-folding diseases: Chaperones to the rescue
A high-throughput screening approach has identified two pharmacological chaperones that are effective for treating phenylketonuria, an inherited metabolic disease caused by mutations that affect the folding and turnover of phenylalanine hydroxylase.
Original research paper: J. Clin. Inv. 118, 2858-2867 (2008) |
