Volume 10 Issue 10, October 2008

The European Life Sciences Organization is set to close shop at the end of the year by fusing with EMBO.

Strict control of cisternal pH in the Golgi is required for posttranslational modification and trafficking of proteins and lipids. A chloride channel to neutralize the charge of the proton pump and to keep the Golgi membrane potential near zero has finally been discovered.

The tumour suppressor VHL is known to suppress hypoxia-induced gene expression by degrading HIF family transcription factors. Evidence that VHL also targets the oncoprotein β-catenin for degradation highlights a new road to transformation by loss of VHL.

Stress granules and processing bodies are related mRNA-containing granules implicated in controlling mRNA translation and decay. A genomic screen identifies numerous factors affecting granule formation, including proteins involved in O-GlcNAc modifications. These results highlight the importance of post-translational modifications in translational control and mRNP granule formation.

Individual neurons form specific elaborate dendritic structures that receive presynaptic information. The pattern of dendritic branching is regulated by the microtubule-associated motor protein dynein, which is responsible for the transport of essential endosomes and other organelles into the dendrites.

This study identifies a voltage-dependent anion channel involved in Golgi acidification, thus providing insights into pH regulation in the Golgi.

Two distinct steps drive COPI vesicle fission: bud-neck constriction, which is dependent on the protein BARS and COPI constituents, followed by bud-neck scission, which is dependent on phosphatidic acid.

Regulatory loops between transcriptional activators and repressors control the circadian clock. A minimal synthetic combination of these transcription factors is sufficient to drive a robust circadian rhythm.

Dendritic morphogenesis is important for neuronal function. In Drosophila melanogaster dendritic arborization neurons, microtubule motors control dendritic branching in a manner that involves trafficking of Rab5-containing early endosomes.

Dendrites and axons differ in microtubule orientation and in composition of organelles and protein. In Drosophila melanogaster dendritic arborization neurons, dynein is required for axonal microtubule polarization and for dendrite-specific targeting of Golgi outposts.

Plus-tip (+TIP) proteins, such as EB1 and EB3, bind to growing microtubules ends. Interaction of EB3 with drebrin is important to couple filamentous actin to microtubules during neuronal growth-cone formation.

The process of lateral inhibition in the canonical Delta-Notch pathway is crucial for cell-fate determination. d-Asb11, a regulator of neural progenitors in zebrafish, is an essential mediator of lateral inhibition through ubiquitylation of Delta A.

In response to TGFβ, and in contrast to canonical SMAD activation, TGFβ receptor kinase activity is dispensable for activating the TAK1 kinase, whereas the TRAF6 ubiquitin ligase is neccessary.

The tumour suppressor VHL is known to stabilize the ubiquitin ligase Jade-1. Jade-1 targets both phosphorylated and unphosphorylated -catenin, thereby linking VHL function directly to inhibition of Wnt signalling.

Malate is involved in mediating plant stomatal responses to high CO₂. By acting as a malate importer, the ABC transporter AtABCB14 controls stomatal movements by increasing their osmotic pressure.

An RNAi sreen shows that assembly of stress granules, which are involved in mRNA translation and decay regulation, requires glycocyslation of translation machinery components.