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The heptameric Arp2/3 complex generates branched actin filament networks that drive lamellipodium protrusion, vesicle trafficking and pathogen motility. Distinct variants of the Arp2/3 complex are now shown to have different roles in tuning actin assembly and disassembly, in concert with the prominent actin regulators cortactin and coronin.
The heart is a complex organ, consisting of multiple cell types that coordinately regulate blood flow. Reciprocal Notch pathway signalling in endocardial and myocardial cells is now shown to promote maturation of the ventricular chambers. These insights reveal mechanisms that, when disrupted, can lead to cardiomyopathies.
De la Pompa and colleagues show that Dll4-mediated Notch signalling regulates trabeculation in the developing mouse endocardium, whereas Jag1/2-mediated Notch signalling in the myocardium drives compaction and ventricular maturation.
Lacaud and colleagues show that the GFI1 transcriptional repressors are required for endothelial-to-haematopoietic transition in the aorta–gonad–mesonephros region of the mouse embryo by inhibiting the endothelial gene expression program via LSD1.
Sheetz and colleagues use micropillar arrays to report that the regulation of rigidity sensing involves the tropomyosin-dependent control of the stepwise contractions needed to reach a force level sufficient for integrin adhesion reinforcement.
Vargas et al. report that innate immune signalling activation controls dendritic cell migration mode and function by regulating distinct F-actin networks at the cell front and rear.
Johannes and colleagues report that retrograde trafficking of non-liganded β1 integrin from the plasma membrane to the trans-Golgi network to then be secreted in a polarized manner is needed for cell adhesion and persistent migration.
Théry and colleagues find that the centrosome can participate in actin-filament assembly in a manner that is mediated by WASH and Arp2/3 and requires the presence of pericentriolar material.
Way and colleagues use in vitro assays and the vaccinia virus actin-based motility system to demonstrate that the subunit composition of the Arp2/3 complex defines distinct properties in actin filament assembly.
Centriole duplication requires the loading of centriolar proteins to the daughter centriole during mitosis. Fu and colleagues analyse by 3D-structural illumination microscopy the sequential recruitment of centriolar proteins Cep135, Cep295 and Cep152.
The role of centrosome amplification in tumorigenesis has remained unclear. Using mice, Blanpain and colleagues find that overexpression of Plk4, which leads to centrosome amplification, can cause aneuploidy and tumour initiation in p53-deficient skin.
Fuchs and colleagues conducted an in vivo screen of cancer-associated microRNAs and identified a tumour-promoting role for miR-21∗ in squamous cell carcinoma.
The ciliary transition zone (TZ) at the base of cilia is thought to gate entry of proteins into the cilium. The authors characterize a role for TMEM107, a protein mutated in the ciliopathy Joubert syndrome, in organizing a submodule of the TZ.
Baskin et al. report that FAM126A, which is mutated in hypomyelination and congenital cataract, regulates PI4KIII, the kinase generating PtdIns(4)P. Loss of FAM126A in patients affects PI4KIIIα complex assembly and PtdIns(4)P synthesis at the plasma membrane.