Issues

Summary: Electrically tunable liquid lenses possess shape-changing principles. We discuss their recent applications, limitations and emerging solutions in enabling high-speed cost-effective 3D live microscopy.

Summary: This Review discusses the structure and function of enigmatic cytoskeletal fibres termed centriolar rootlets, suggesting that they form physical links between subcellular structures to allow collective organelle function.

Summary: Phosphorylation of the F-BAR protein Imp2 within its intrinsically disordered region modulates its localization and function at the contractile ring.

Summary: LFA-1 and kindlin-3 play unconventional roles in the dynein-dependent and talin-1-independent centripetal transport of actomyosin-associated SLP-76 microclusters and in TCR-proximal signaling pathways.

Summary: Developmentally regulated expression of the miRISC protein GW182 plays an important role in determining dendritic arborization by regulating somatodendritic translation and actin cytoskeletal dynamics.

Summary: We report a comparative analysis of self-assembled spindles and canonical centrosomal spindles in fission yeast, which could clarify the mechanisms underlying acentrosomal meiosis.

Summary: We report a new 3D spheroid model of Epstein–Barr virus-positive and -negative nasopharyngeal carcinoma that resembles advanced and metastatic tumors and has potential use in drug target identification.

Highlighted Article: The Bardet–Biedl syndrome complex component BBS1 regulates proteasome-dependent F-actin clearance from the centrosome to enable its translocation to the T cell immune synapse.

Summary: Replacement of the pore region of polycystin-2 with that of polycystin-2L1 results in wider renal tubules and polycystic kidney disease, thus demonstrating the essential function of its ion channel properties.

Summary: Here, we describe how astrocytes respond differently to stimuli of growth factor during development and the postnatal stage, and the role of the Kidins220 protein in this process.

Summary: Eukaryotic cells need large protein complexes to produce microtubules. We studied the regulation of nuclear and septum-associated microtubule-organizing complexes, and their coordination in one cell.

Highlighted Article: The WNT secretory factor EVI/WLS is ubiquitylated and linked to ER-associated degradation by multiple proteins, providing insight into the link between WNT signalling and the ubiquitin–proteasome system.

Highlighted Article: We report a genetically encoded fluorescent reporter sensitive to all known activators of GPR68, a G-protein-coupled receptor involved in many important physiological functions.

Summary: There is an unexpected role for the alternative splicing factor PfSR1 in activating the DNA damage response in the human malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum.