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.
 | Small-molecule inhibitors: Another one bites the Dusp
The use of a novel small-molecule inhibitor of Dusp6 reveals the importance of tightly regulated FGF signaling during cardiac development.
Original research paper: Nature Chemical Biology 5, 680-687 (2009) |
 | FGF signaling: It's a wrap
Fibroblast growth factor signaling regulates the switch from migration to differentiation in Drosophila glial cells.
Original research paper: Nature 460, 758-761 (2009) |
 | Sphingosine 1-phosphate signaling: Treg or not Treg, that is the question
S1P1 activates the mTOR–Akt pathway to suppress Treg-cell differentiation and activity.
Original research paper: Nature Immunology 10, 769-777 (2009) |
 | Ubiquitin ligases: Long live the worm
A specific E2/E3 ubiquitin ligase complex is essential for dietary-restriction-induced longevity in worms.
Original research paper: Nature 460, 396-399 (2009) |
 | TGF-β signaling: A new piece of the puzzle
TGF-β signaling promotes the nuclear accumulation of CLIC4, which mediates the transcriptional response to TGF-β by protecting phospho-Smad2 and 3 from dephosphorylation.
Original research paper: Nature Cell Biology 11, 777-784 (2009) |
 | In brief: July 2009
Cytoskeleton | 2010 Cell division | Cell death | Inflammation | Metastasis | Tumorigenesis | Tumour initiation | Genome instability | Technology | Gene regulation | Neurological disorders | Fear | Cancer | Allergic diseases |
 | T cell memory: Keeping energy levels up
The generation of a long-lived memory CD8+ T-cell population depends on a switch in energy metabolism from glucose to fatty acid metabolism, suggesting that metabolism-altering drugs might be useful for boosting CD8+ T-cell responses.
Original research paper: Nature 460, 103-107 (2009) |
 | Epigenetics: Misreading the code
A chromosomal translocation that fuses the carboxy-terminal PHD finger of JARID1A to the transactivating domain of nucleoporin 98 (NUP98) can induce acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in mice by deregulating histone methylation at loci that encode differentiation-specific transcription factors.
Original research paper: Nature 459, 847-851 (2009) |
 | Learning and memory: HDAC2 is the one
Histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2), but not HDAC1, interacts with the transcriptional corepressor COREST and negatively regulates synapse formation, spine formation, and learning and memory.
Original research paper: Nature 459, 55-60 (2009) |
 | Mood disorders: Channel inhibitor shows antidepressant potential
Inhibition of the amiloride-sensitive cation channel 2, neuronal (ACCN2; also known as ASIC1A) could be a novel strategy for the treatment of depression.
Original research paper: J. Neurosci. 29, 5381-5388 (2009) |
 | Breast cancer: Metastasis on the brain
Gene expression analysis of breast cancer cells that exhibit specificity for brain metastasis reveals that aberrant expression of the α-2,6-sialyltransferase ST6GALNAC5 facilitates transmigration of cancer cells through the blood-brain barrier.
Original research paper: Nature 459, 1005-1009 (2009) |
 | RNA processing: Viral infection has a sting in the tail
Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus hijacks host gene expression machinery to divert cellular resources to viral replication by altering polyadenylation of host mRNA.
Original research paper: PLoS Biol. 7, e1000107 (2009) |
 | Development: Terminal differentiation
Multiple cues are integrated into the neuronal lineage to initiate the expression of terminal differentiation genes that specify the identity of a neuron.
Original research paper: Dev. Cell 16, 563-575 (2009) |
 | Inflammatory diseases: Targeting prostanoid receptors
The prostanoid EP2 and EP4 receptors can regulate immune responses, suggesting that these G-protein-coupled receptors might be a new target for the treatment of immuno-inflammatory disorders.
Original research paper: Nature Med. 15, 633-640 (2009) |
 | Neuroscience: Fluorescent false neurotransmitters
A fluorescent probe designed to incorporate a fluorophore into the structure of a neurotransmitter finds activity-dependent heterogeneity in dopamine release at individual synapses.
Original research paper: Science 324, 1441-1444 (2009) |
 | Cell signalling: A fertility network
In ovarian granulosa cells, luteinizing hormone (LH)-induced signaling activates ERK1 and ERK2 to trigger reprogramming and terminal differentiation.
Original research paper: Science 324, 938-941 (2009) |
 | Signalling: Hedgehog doesn't...
Hedgehog signaling is not required for adult hematopoietic homeostasis or for the development of some leukemias, suggesting that although systemic administration of hedgehog antagonists is unlikely to cause significant hematological toxicity, it is also not a promising therapy for these leukemias.
Original research paper: Cell Stem Cell 4, 548-558 (2009) |
 | Breast cancer: Prioritizing targets
Breast cancers that overexpress angiotensin II receptor type I (AGTR1) are sensitive to AGTR1 inhibitors.
Original research paper: Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 106, 10284-10289 (2009) |
 | Spine formation: Signalling growth
γ-secretase, a protein linked to linked to early-onset Alzheimer's disease, cleaves ephrin receptor A4 (EPHA4) following synaptic activation and triggers the formation of dendritic spines.
Original research paper: J. Cell Biol. 185, 551-564 (2009) |
 | Imaging and visualization: Fluorescent proteins: into the infrared
An engineered infrared fluorescent protein is the first member of a new class of genetically encodable probes, with special advantages over visible-wavelength fluorescent proteins for in vivo imaging.
Original research paper: Science 324, 804-807 (2009) |
 | Apoptosis: Death by ubiquitylation
Full activation of caspase 8 requires polyubiquitylation followed by ubiquitin-binding protein-dependent aggregation.
Original research paper: Cell 137, 721-735 (2009) |
 | Antiviral immunity: TRIMming the response
The influenza A virus non-structural protein 1 (NS1) inhibits the production of type I interferons and antiviral immunity by preventing TRIM25-mediated ubiquitylation of the intracellular viral sensor retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I)
Original research paper: Cell Host Microbe 5, 439-449 (2009) |
 | Neuronal metabolism: A question of balance
By actively downregulating glycolysis, neurons shift their metabolic balance towards pathways responsible for maintaining their antioxidant status, and thus their survival.
Original research paper: Nature Cell Biol. 11, 747-752 (2009) |
 | Anti-obesity drugs: Improving sleep may promote weight loss
T-type Ca2+ channels regulate both sleep and weight maintenance, suggesting that sleep regulation might represent a potential therapeutic strategy for obesity.
Original research paper: J. Clin. Invest. 119, 1659-1667 (2009) |
 | Protein degradation: Assembly from the base
Multiple evolutionarily conserved chaperones generate specific subcomplexes that are assembled into the 19S regulatory particle and the 20S core particle to form the complete 26S proteasome.
Original research paper: Cell 137, 887-899 (2009) |
 | T cell memory: Live long with WNT
WNT–β-catenin signaling can endow mature CD8+ T cells with stem cell-like properties.
Original research paper: Nature Med. advance online publication, 14 June 2009 (DOI 10.1038/nm.1982) |
 | Therapeutics: Dependent on KRAS
A systems biology approach has enabled the identification of several novel KRAS-dependent signaling pathways and proteins in cancer cell lines.
Original research paper: Cell 137, 835-848 (2009) |
 | Senescence: Playing games with epigenetics
In response to oncogene-induced senescence, the histone lysine demethylase JMJD3 derepresses the CDKN2A locus, which encodes the tumor suppressors INK4A and ARF.
Original research paper: Genes Dev. 23, 1171-1176 (2009) |
 | Addiction: Let me count the genes
Chronic cocaine exposure increases δFosB-mediated transcription of sirtuins 1 and 2, altering MAPK signaling in the nucleus accumbens.
Original research paper: Neuron 62, 335-348 (2009) |
