Issues
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Cover image
Cover Image
Cover: The spindle assembly checkpoint is responsible for controlling proper execution of mitotic division. Weakening of the checkpoint can result in aberrant chromosome segregation. Here, antibodies against α-tubulin (green) and pericentrin (red) were used to mark the mitotic spindles and spindle poles, respectively, and DAPI to stain the DNA (blue). This image shows that drugs that target the mitotic spindle and mitotic kinases can cause the formation of multipolar spindles, which can lead to incorrect chromosome segregation. For detail see O'Connor et al., page 11. Image credit: Aisling O'Connor.
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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Hindsight/RREB-1 functions in both the specification and differentiation of stem cells in the adult midgut of Drosophila
Summary: Hindsight, the Drosophila homolog of RREB-1, can promote and is required for enterocyte differentiation specifically in the adult midgut. Enterocyte differentiation during the larval/pupal transition does not require Hindsight.
Requirement for PLK1 kinase activity in the maintenance of a robust spindle assembly checkpoint
Summary: Using small molecule kinase inhibitors we find that PLK1 and Aurora B cooperate to avoid mitotic slippage upon microtubule depolymerization and to promote their reciprocal recruitment at kinetochores.
Automated image analysis reveals the dynamic 3-dimensional organization of multi-ciliary arrays
Summary: We develop an automated computational image analysis routine to quantify basal body organization, which detects subtle spatial phenotypes resulting from environmental and genetic perturbations.
PTP1B triggers integrin-mediated repression of myosin activity and modulates cell contractility
Summary: Here we show that protein tyrosine phosphatase PTP1B cooperates with β3 integrin to transiently repress RhoA-myosin-dependent contractility, stimulating adhesion and lamellipodium assembly during cell spreading and migration.
Feel your stride and find your preferred running speed
Summary: Aerial and terrestrial human running patterns self-select different pleasure running speeds. We suggest the existence of an optimization system allowing association of runners' stride with running speed.
Rac1 controls epithelial tube length through the apical secretion and polarity pathways
Summary: Epithelial tube size regulation sustains organ physiology. Rac1 limits tube elongation in the fly trachea through restriction of apical membrane growth, and by supporting luminal secretion of chitin modifying enzymes.
Differences in infectivity between endosymbiotic Chlorella variabilis cultivated outside host Paramecium bursaria for 50 years and those immediately isolated from host cells after one year of reendosymbiosis
Summary: This study was undertaken to detect changes in infectivity induced during long-term cultivation of Chlorella variabilis to alga-free Paramecium bursaria, and its auxotrophy for growth outside the host.
Stable atrogin-1 (Fbxo32) and MuRF1 (Trim63) gene expression is involved in the protective mechanism in soleus muscle of hibernating Daurian ground squirrels (Spermophilus dauricus)
Summary: mRNA expression of atrogin-1 and MuRF1 remains unchanged during hibernation of Daurian ground squirrels, suggesting that stable expression of these genes may facilitate the prevention of SOL atrophy via controlling ubiquitylation of muscle proteins during hibernation.
Direct lateral maneuvers in hawkmoths
Summary: We show that hawkmoths fly sideways by rolling in the direction of movement, adding a left- or right-ward component to their net lift vector. The underlying roll maneuvers are produced from a suite of asymmetric wing kinematic changes and are heavily damped.
METHODS & TECHNIQUES
Tissue-specific tagging of endogenous loci in Drosophila melanogaster
Summary: Here we describe an easily applicable method that allows C-terminal protein tagging at endogenous loci in a tissue- or cell type-specific manner in Drosophila melanogaster.
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