Review recycling - p1013

doi:10.1038/ncb0908-1013a

Thirty neuroscience journals share referee reports.

Full Text - Review recycling | PDF (218 KB) - Review recycling

Open access archiving - p1013

doi:10.1038/ncb0908-1013b

The Nature journals upload manuscripts to PubMed Central on request.

Full Text - Open access archiving | PDF (218 KB) - Open access archiving

Single molecule for the people - p1014

Robert Cross reviews Single-Molecule Techniques by Paul R. Selvin & Taekjip Ha

doi:10.1038/ncb0908-1014

Full Text - Single molecule for the people | PDF (199 KB) - Single molecule for the people

A unified vision of the building blocks of life - p1015

Jamey D. Marth

doi:10.1038/ncb0908-1015

Full Text - A unified vision of the building blocks of life | PDF (380 KB) - A unified vision of the building blocks of life

A tal(in) of cell spreading - pp1017 - 1019

Margaret Frame & Jim Norman

doi:10.1038/ncb0908-1017

Talin can activate integrins to bind the extracellular matrix and also connect matrix-engaged integrins to the actin cytoskeleton. New work shows that cell spreading can be dissected into three distinct phases according to their differential requirements for talin function.

Full Text - A tal(in) of cell spreading | PDF (454 KB) - A tal(in) of cell spreading

Prion: disease or relief? - pp1019 - 1021

Yury O. Chernoff

doi:10.1038/ncb0908-1019

The self-perpetuating amyloid isoform, or prion, of the yeast translation termination factor eRF3 modulates programmed translational frameshifting that controls a regulatory circuit determining the polyamine levels in a yeast cell. But it is still unclear whether this effect is adaptive or pathological.

Full Text - Prion: disease or relief? | PDF (305 KB) - Prion: disease or relief?

Twisted epithelial–mesenchymal transition blocks senescence - pp1021 - 1023

Robert A. Weinberg

doi:10.1038/ncb0908-1021

The epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a cellular transdifferentiation program that enables epithelial cancer cells to acquire traits of high-grade malignancy, notably invasive and metastatic powers. A new study indicates that it may also function early in tumour progression by preventing oncogene-induced senescence.

Full Text - Twisted epithelial–mesenchymal transition blocks senescence | PDF (282 KB) - Twisted epithelial–mesenchymal transition blocks senescence

Non-coding RNA transcription: turning on neighbours - pp1023 - 1024

Piero Carninci

doi:10.1038/ncb0908-1023

Even though less than 2% of the mammalian genome encodes proteins, a significant fraction can be transcribed into non-coding RNAs. An elegant study identifies a function for non-coding RNA transcription in activating neighbouring genes.

Full Text - Non-coding RNA transcription: turning on neighbours | PDF (413 KB) - Non-coding RNA transcription: turning on neighbours

Research highlights - p1025

doi:10.1038/ncb0908-1025

Full Text - Research highlights | PDF (270 KB) - Research highlights

Identification of genes that regulate epithelial cell migration using an siRNA screening approach - pp1027 - 1038

Kaylene J. Simpson, Laura M. Selfors, James Bui, Angela Reynolds, Devin Leake, Anastasia Khvorova & Joan S. Brugge

doi:10.1038/ncb1762

A siRNA screen in mammalian epithelial cells uncovers 42 genes not previously implicated in migration or adhesion. Many genes are involved in -catenin, 1-integrin and actin signaling. Genes that accelerate migration tend to impair adhesion.

Abstract - | Full Text - Identification of genes that regulate epithelial cell migration using an siRNA screening approach | PDF (3,428 KB) - Identification of genes that regulate epithelial cell migration using an siRNA screening approach | Supplementary information

Actin and -actinin orchestrate the assembly and maturation of nascent adhesions in a myosin II motor-independent manner - pp1039 - 1050

Colin K. Choi, Miguel Vicente-Manzanares, Jessica Zareno, Leanna A. Whitmore, Alex Mogilner & Alan Rick Horwitz

doi:10.1038/ncb1763

Adhesion assembly is needed for cell migration. Horwitz and colleagues report that new adhesions assemble in the lamellipodium in a manner that is independent of myosin II but requires actin polymerization.

Abstract - | Full Text - Actin and -actinin orchestrate the assembly and maturation of nascent adhesions in a myosin II motor-independent manner | PDF (6,433 KB) - Actin and -actinin orchestrate the assembly and maturation of nascent adhesions in a myosin II motor-independent manner | Supplementary information

A ribosomal protein L23-nucleophosmin circuit coordinates Miz1 function with cell growth - pp1051 - 1061

Michael Wanzel, Annika C. Russ, Daniela Kleine-Kohlbrecher, Emanuela Colombo, Pier-Guiseppe Pelicci & Martin Eilers

doi:10.1038/ncb1764

Miz1, a Myc-associated transcriptional repressor inhibits cell proliferation. Eilers and colleagues show that the ribosomal protein L23 negatively regulates Miz1 by retaining its activator, nucleophosmin, in the nucleolus.

Abstract - | Full Text - A ribosomal protein L23-nucleophosmin circuit coordinates Miz1 function with cell growth | PDF (2,609 KB) - A ribosomal protein L23-nucleophosmin circuit coordinates Miz1 function with cell growth | Supplementary information

Talin depletion reveals independence of initial cell spreading from integrin activation and traction - pp1062 - 1068

Xian Zhang, Guoying Jiang, Yunfei Cai, Susan J. Monkley, David R. Critchley & Michael P. Sheetz

doi:10.1038/ncb1765

Talins link integrins to the actin cytoskeleton and are important for cell spreading. Sheetz and colleagues show that talin is dispensable for initial cell spreading but it is required for sustained cell spreading and adhesion.

First Paragraph - | Full Text - Talin depletion reveals independence of initial cell spreading from integrin activation and traction | PDF (1,567 KB) - Talin depletion reveals independence of initial cell spreading from integrin activation and traction | Supplementary information

See also: News and Views by Frame & Norman

Epigenetic control of polyamines by the prion [PSI⁺] - pp1069 - 1075

Olivier Namy, Aurélie Galopier, Cyrielle Martini, Senya Matsufuji, Céline Fabret & Jean-Pierre Rousset

doi:10.1038/ncb1766

Namy et al. show that the yeast prion form of the eERF3 translation termination factor boosts antizyme expression, which reduces polyamine synthesis. Changes in polyamine levels account for most of the phenotypic traits conferred by this prion.

First Paragraph - | Full Text - Epigenetic control of polyamines by the prion [PSI+] | PDF (1,140 KB) - Epigenetic control of polyamines by the prion [PSI+] | Supplementary information

See also: News and Views by Chernoff

Plk1-dependent phosphorylation of FoxM1 regulates a transcriptional programme required for mitotic progression - pp1076 - 1082

Zheng Fu, Liviu Malureanu, Jun Huang, Wei Wang, Hao Li, Jan M. van Deursen, Donald J. Tindall & Junjie Chen

doi:10.1038/ncb1767

The kinase Plk1 regulates multiple processes during mitosis in mammalian cells. Chen and colleagues show that Plk1 also controls a transcriptional network required for orderly cell-cycle progression through Cdk1-dependent phosphorylation of the transcription factor FoxM1

First Paragraph - | Full Text - Plk1-dependent phosphorylation of FoxM1 regulates a transcriptional programme required for mitotic progression | PDF (1,144 KB) - Plk1-dependent phosphorylation of FoxM1 regulates a transcriptional programme required for mitotic progression | Supplementary information

The adaptor protein of the anaphase promoting complex Cdh1 is essential in maintaining replicative lifespan and in learning and memory - pp1083 - 1089

Min Li, Yong-Hyun Shin, Lingfei Hou, Xingxu Huang, Zhubo Wei, Eric Klann & Pumin Zhang

doi:10.1038/ncb1768

Cellular progression through mitosis is largely controlled by the APC-Cdh1 complex. Zhang and colleagues report that, when the Cdh1 gene is disrupted, cells undergo premature p16-dependent senescence, and that Cdh1-deficient mice show impairment of hippocampus-dependent learning and memory.

First Paragraph - | Full Text - The adaptor protein of the anaphase promoting complex Cdh1 is essential in maintaining replicative lifespan and in learning and memory | PDF (1,303 KB) - The adaptor protein of the anaphase promoting complex Cdh1 is essential in maintaining replicative lifespan and in learning and memory | Supplementary information

Reduced cytosolic protein synthesis suppresses mitochondrial degeneration - pp1090 - 1097

Xiaowen Wang, Xiaoming Zuo, Blanka Kucejova & Xin Jie Chen

doi:10.1038/ncb1769

Ageing is associated with mitochondrial degeneration. In yeast, reducing cytosolic protein synthesis suppresses age-dependent mitochondrial dysfunction and extends lifespan.

First Paragraph - | Full Text - Reduced cytosolic protein synthesis suppresses mitochondrial degeneration | PDF (1,741 KB) - Reduced cytosolic protein synthesis suppresses mitochondrial degeneration | Supplementary information

p53 mRNA controls p53 activity by managing Mdm2 functions - pp1098 - 1105

Marco M. Candeias, Laurence Malbert-Colas, Darren J. Powell, Chrysoula Daskalogianni, Magda M. Maslon, Nadia Naski, Karima Bourougaa, Fabien Calvo & Robin Fåhraeus

doi:10.1038/ncb1770

The ubiquitin ligase Mdm2 promotes both proteolytic degradation of the tumour suppressor p53 and its translation. Fahraeus and colleagues report an additional layer of regulation: p53 mRNA binds directly to Mdm2 protein to inhibit ubiquitin ligase activity, promoting its own translation.

First Paragraph - | Full Text - p53 mRNA controls p53 activity by managing Mdm2 functions | PDF (1,427 KB) - p53 mRNA controls p53 activity by managing Mdm2 functions | Supplementary information

Ripples from neighbouring transcription - pp1106 - 1113

Miki Ebisuya, Takuya Yamamoto, May Nakajima & Eisuke Nishida

doi:10.1038/ncb1771

A new study shows that coordinated regulation of transcription due to a transcriptional ripple effect is widespread in the mammalian genome. Nishida and colleagues have found that induction of immediate early genes is accompanied by upregulation of genes in the vicinity; this process is dependent on the MAPK pathway and the transcription factor SRF.

First Paragraph - | Full Text - Ripples from neighbouring transcription | PDF (1,971 KB) - Ripples from neighbouring transcription | Supplementary information

See also: News and Views by Carninci

Epigenetic transcriptional repression of cellular genes by a viral SET protein - pp1114 - 1122

Shiraz Mujtaba, Karishma L. Manzur, James R. Gurnon, Ming Kang, James L. Van Etten & Ming-Ming Zhou

doi:10.1038/ncb1772

Viruses use various mechanisms to hijack cellular processes. Zhou and colleagues now describe a viral histone H3K27 methylase that modifies host histones and represses host target genes.

First Paragraph - | Full Text - Epigenetic transcriptional repression of cellular genes by a viral SET protein | PDF (2,292 KB) - Epigenetic transcriptional repression of cellular genes by a viral SET protein | Supplementary information