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.
 | Melanoma: A G protein mutation gets under the skin
Researchers have found a point mutation in the heterotrimeric G protein α subunit GNAQ that activates the MAPK pathway in a subset of melanomas.
Original research paper: Nature 457, 599-602 (2009) |
 | Cytokinesis: Rho activity in flux
The GTPase-activating protein MgcRacGAP is required throughout cytokinesis to regulate the spatiotemporal activation of Rho.
Original research paper: Nature Cell Biology 11, 71-77 (2009) |
 | Insulin signaling: Arrestin type 2 diabetes
Insulin signaling elicits PI(3)K-independent activation of Akt by promoting the formation of an insulin receptor/β-arrestin-2/Src/Akt complex.
Original research paper: Nature 457, 1146-1149 (2009) |
 | G-protein signaling: ERK breaks hearts
Gq signaling in hypertrophic cardiomyocytes promotes an association between the G protein βγ complex and Raf or Erk, stimulating Erk2 phosphorylation and nuclear localization.
Original research paper: Nature Medicine 15, 75-83 (2009) |
 | Inflammation: Recruitment freeze
The glycoprotein DEL1 (developmental endothelial locus 1) inhibits leukocyte recruitment by interfering with integrin-dependent neutrophil adhesion to ICAM1 in target tissues.
Original research paper: Science 322, 1101-1104 (2008) |
 | Genomics: Distinguishing drivers from passengers
An RNAi-based screening approach has been used in a mosaic mouse model of hepatocellular carcinoma to identify novel potential tumor suppressor genes.
Original research paper: Cell 135, 852-864 (2008) |
 | In brief: January 2009
Cell death | 2010 Organelle dynamics | Apoptosis | Tumour immunology | Immune responses | Thymocyte development | MicroRNA | Tumorigenesis | Leukaemia | Tumour suppressors | Ageing | Neurodegenerative disease | Synaptic activity | Neuromuscular disease |
 | Cytoskeleton: Invading forces
A splice variant of the actin-associated protein MENA can promote invasion and metastasis of breast cancer cells by facilitating elongation of cofilin-generated barbed ends, leading to increased actin polymerization and lamellipodia extension.
Original research paper: Dev. Cell 15, 813-828 (2008) |
 | Metastasis: Maintaining group polarity
The Wnt-β-catenin signaling pathway and the fibroblast growth factor (Fgf) signaling pathway maintain the polarity of the zebrafish lateral line primordium during migration.
Original research paper: Dev. Cell 15, 749-761 (2008) |
 | Development: RYK's talents
Wnt binding stimulates cleavage of the receptor tyrosine kinase RYK — the carboxy-terminal cleavage product then translocates to the nucleus, where it initiates neuronal differentiation.
Original research paper: Dev. Cell 15, 773-780 (2008) |
 | Nuclear transport: Cell-cycle-regulated mRNA traffic
Cell-cycle-mediated changes in the levels of the nuclear pore protein NUP96 can differentially regulate the export of specific sets of mRNAs.
Original research paper: Dev. Cell 15, 657-667 (2008) |
 | Allergy: Allergic mimicry
The main house dust mite allergen acts as a functional homologue of the Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) signaling co-factor MD2 to drive airway inflammation in a TLR4-dependent manner.
Original research paper: Nature advance online publication 7 December 2008 (doi: 10.1038/nature07548) |
 | Cell polarity: Morphogenesis is the key
Loss of the cell polarity protein scribble (SCRIB) cooperates with oncogenic MYC to drive the transformation of mammary epithelial cells.
Original research paper: Cell 135, 865-878 (2008) |
 | Synaptic plasticity: Myosin Vb: delivery on demand
Myosin Vb undergoes a Ca2+-dependent conformational change that facilitates its interaction with and the subsequent membrane fusion of AMPAR-containing recycling endosomes in dendritic spines.
Original research paper: Cell 135, 535-548 (2008) |
 | Anticancer drugs: Targeting triple-negative breast cancer
Inhibitors of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1), an enzyme that has a key role in DNA repair, show promise for treating hormone-receptor-positive and ERBB2-overexpressing breast cancers.
Original research paper: Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 105, 17079-17084 (2008) |
 | Cell cycle: Destruct and arrest
Two studies provide insight into how the activity of the ubiquitin-ligase anaphase-promoting complex (APC/C) is regulated during the cell cycle.
Original research paper: Nature Cell Biol. 10, 1411-1420 (2008) |
 | Immune regulation: Tightening responses by TIGIT
TIGIT (T-cell immunoreceptor with immunoglobulin and ITIM domains), a novel T-cell-expressed regulator of dendritic cells, exerts immunosuppressive effects by modulating cytokine production.
Original research paper: Nature Immunol. 10, 48-57 (2008) |
 | Metastasis: Moved to act
Differential activation of the small GTPases Rac and Rho determines whether tumor cells migrate using amoeboid-like or mesenchymal-like motion.
Original research paper: Cell 135, 510-523 (2008) |
 | Repair: Novel mechanisms to stimulate regrowth
Stimulating the mTOR pathway or blocking the effects of myelin-derived inhibitors could prove beneficial for promoting axon regeneration after injury.
Original research paper: Science 322, 963-966 (2008) |
 | Analgesia: Uncoupling NMDA receptor interactions
Disrupting the interaction between N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) and the protein tyrosine kinase Src blocks pain without causing respiratory and locomotory side effects.
Original research paper: Nature Med. 14, 1325-1332 (2008) |
 | Cell death: DIAP1 puts ubiquitin on drICE
Caspase activity in Drosophila is regulated by a negative-feedback loop in which effector caspases activate DIAP1 (Drosophila inhibitor of apoptosis protein 1) and are in turn inhibited by DIAP1-mediated non-degradative ubiquitylation.
Original research paper: Mol. Cell 32, 540-553 (2008) |
 | Immune responses: Rearranging the cytoskeleton
The adaptor protein hematopoietic protein 1 (HEM1) has an integral role in Rho-mediated cytoskeletal rearrangement in adaptive immune cells.
Original research paper: J. Exp. Med. 205, 2899-2913 (2008) |
 | Tumorigenesis: Can you have too much MYC?
The ability of the proto-oncogene MYC to elicit tumor suppressor or proliferative responses depends on its level of expression — low expression is sufficient to induce proliferation, whereas overexpression drives apoptosis.
Original research paper: Cancer Cell 14, 447-457 (2008) |
 | Ageing: A SIRTain role in ageing
DNA damage-induced redistribution of the histone deacetylase sirtuin 1 (SIRT1) contributes to age-related changes in gene expression.
Original research paper: Cell 135, 907-918 (2008) |
 | Type 1 diabetes: New link to kinases as targets
Pharmacologic inhibition of the platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) has been shown to induce remission in a mouse model of diabetes.
Original research paper: Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 105, 18895-18900 (2008) |
