Sensors and Switches

The ins and outs of cells - p479

doi:10.1038/nchembio.629

Chemical biologists continue to discover how cells translate chemical or physical inputs into biological outputs. This issue includes a collection of articles that delineates the complexity of these switches, highlighting current ideas and future challenges in this research arena.

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Sensors and Switches

Principles for designing fluorescent sensors and reporters - pp480 - 483

Edward A Lemke & Carsten Schultz

doi:10.1038/nchembio.620

Sensors and reporters are among the most exciting tools used in cell biology. Now, they are increasingly used in developmental biology and medicine because they allow us to spy on events in living cells and organisms, including humans, in real time and with high spatial resolution. Herein, we discuss multiple design options for fluorescent sensors and reporters as well as strategies to improve their properties and increase development.

Full Text - Principles for designing fluorescent sensors and reporters | PDF (477 KB) - Principles for designing fluorescent sensors and reporters

Sensors and Switches

Principles of a switch - pp484 - 487

Mark Ptashne

doi:10.1038/nchembio.611

Lambda's 'genetic switch' responds in a dramatic all-or-none fashion to an environmental signal, activating transcription of certain genes as it turns off others. The switch illustrates principal features of many biological regulatory processes.

Full Text - Principles of a switch | PDF (406 KB) - Principles of a switch

Sensors and Switches

Sensing cellular stress through STIM proteins - pp488 - 492

Jonathan Soboloff, Muniswamy Madesh & Donald L Gill

doi:10.1038/nchembio.619

In response to decreasing Ca²⁺ levels in the endoplasmic reticulum, STIM proteins couple with Orai channels in the plasma membrane, leading to Ca²⁺ influx into the cell. In addition to Ca²⁺-related endoplasmic reticulum stress, STIM proteins are emerging as general stress sensors that react to multiple stress signals to orchestrate Ca²⁺ signaling and homeostasis.

Full Text - Sensing cellular stress through STIM proteins | PDF (3.15 MB) - Sensing cellular stress through STIM proteins

Sensors and Switches

Chronicles of the GTPase switch - pp493 - 495

Jacqueline Cherfils & Mahel Zeghouf

doi:10.1038/nchembio.608

The GTPase switch is a versatile molecular device used by many proteins, such as the small GTPases, to regulate an astounding number of functions. Although the basics of the guanine nucleotide cycle are now well established, the next challenge is to reach an integrated view of how these proteins use it to orchestrate signaling pathways.

Full Text - Chronicles of the GTPase switch | PDF (537 KB) - Chronicles of the GTPase switch

Sensors and Switches

Chemistry and biology of reactive oxygen species in signaling or stress responses - pp504 - 511

Bryan C Dickinson & Christopher J Chang

doi:10.1038/nchembio.607

Abstract - Chemistry and biology of reactive oxygen species in signaling or stress responses | Full Text - Chemistry and biology of reactive oxygen species in signaling or stress responses | PDF (698 KB) - Chemistry and biology of reactive oxygen species in signaling or stress responses

Sensors and Switches

AMP-activated protein kinase: nature's energy sensor - pp512 - 518

David Carling, Faith V Mayer, Matthew J Sanders & Steven Gamblin

doi:10.1038/nchembio.610

Abstract - AMP-activated protein kinase: nature�s energy sensor | Full Text - AMP-activated protein kinase: nature�s energy sensor | PDF (779 KB) - AMP-activated protein kinase: nature�s energy sensor

Sensors and Switches

Aptamers for allosteric regulation - pp519 - 527

Jan L Vinkenborg, Nora Karnowski & Michael Famulok

doi:10.1038/nchembio.609

Abstract - Aptamers for allosteric regulation | Full Text - Aptamers for allosteric regulation | PDF (929 KB) - Aptamers for allosteric regulation