The beauty of cell biology - pE207

doi:10.1038/ncb0902-e207

Full Text - The beauty of cell biology | PDF (108 KB) - The beauty of cell biology

A minor actin catastrophe - ppE209 - E211

Ryan Littlefield & Velia M. Fowler

doi:10.1038/ncb0902-e209

Using sophisticated fluorescence microscopy, polymerization of single actin filaments can now be observed directly. Recent experiments show that the ends of actin filaments grow and shorten more rapidly than would be predicted from measured rate constants for monomer association and dissociation. This suggests that actin filaments may undergo a type of dynamic instability, similar to microtubules, or even use a previously uncharacterized mechanism to drive filament turnover.

Full Text - A minor actin catastrophe | PDF (148 KB) - A minor actin catastrophe

See also: Article by Fujiwara et al.

Unconventional ways to travel - ppE211 - E212

Markus Schober & Norbert Perrimon

doi:10.1038/ncb0902-e211

Recent studies of border cells in the Drosophila melanogaster ovary have identified a novel mechanism that is involved in cell migration. Binding of the minus-end-directed motor, Myosin VI, to the cell adhesion molecule, DE-Cadherin, stabilizes the cadherin–catenin complex. This interaction might promote the formation of long cellular extensions (LCEs) at the leading edge of migrating border cells.

Full Text - Unconventional ways to travel | PDF (99 KB) - Unconventional ways to travel

Taking the easy way out? - pE213

Alison Schuldt

doi:10.1038/ncb0902-e213

Full Text - Taking the easy way out? | PDF (421 KB) - Taking the easy way out?

TSC1–TSC2: a complex tale of PKB-mediated S6K regulation - ppE214 - E216

Edward J. McManus & Dario R. Alessi

doi:10.1038/ncb0902-e214

The insulin- and growth factor-stimulated protein kinases protein kinase B (PKB)/Akt and p70 S6 ribosomal kinase (S6K) are crucial regulators of cell growth. Recent advances, supported by work in this issue of Nature Cell Biology, have indicated that the tumour suppressor tuberous sclerosis complex-2 (TSC2) functions as an antagonist of S6K activation, an inhibition that is relieved by PKB-mediated phosphorylation of TSC2. In contrast to some previous models, these findings indicate that PKB functions upstream of S6K.

Full Text - TSC1–TSC2: a complex tale of PKB-mediated S6K regulation | PDF (78 KB) - TSC1–TSC2: a complex tale of PKB-mediated S6K regulation

See also: Article by Inoki et al. | Article by Potter et al. | Brief Communication by Gao et al.

The progress zone — alive or dead? - ppE216 - E217

Cheryll Tickle & Lewis Wolpert

doi:10.1038/ncb0902-e216

Some thirty years ago, a model was proposed to explain patterning of the vertebrate limb along its proximal–distal axis. This model was based on the ability of cells to measure time to assess their position. Two recent publications in Nature present data that may be difficult to reconcile with the early model. One report proposes that the limb is already specified in minute form in the early limb bud, whereas the other focuses on fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signalling from the apical ridge.

Full Text - The progress zone — alive or dead? | PDF (67 KB) - The progress zone — alive or dead?

Mouse development comes of age - pE219

Paul Trainor reviews Mouse Development: Patterning, Morphogenesis and Organogenesis by J. Rossant & P. Tam

doi:10.1038/ncb0902-e219

Full Text - Mouse development comes of age | PDF (97 KB) - Mouse development comes of age

Zizimin1, a novel Cdc42 activator, reveals a new GEF domain for Rho proteins - pp639 - 647

Nahum Meller, Mohammad Irani-Tehrani, William B. Kiosses, Miguel A. Del Pozo & Martin A. Schwartz

doi:10.1038/ncb835

Abstract - | Full Text - Zizimin1, a novel Cdc42 activator, reveals a new GEF domain for Rho proteins | PDF (1,351 KB) - Zizimin1, a novel Cdc42 activator, reveals a new GEF domain for Rho proteins | Supplementary information

TSC2 is phosphorylated and inhibited by Akt and suppresses mTOR signalling - pp648 - 657

Ken Inoki, Yong Li, Tianquan Zhu, Jun Wu & Kun-Liang Guan

doi:10.1038/ncb839

Abstract - | Full Text - TSC2 is phosphorylated and inhibited by Akt and suppresses mTOR signalling | PDF (611 KB) - TSC2 is phosphorylated and inhibited by Akt and suppresses mTOR signalling

See also: News and Views by McManus & Alessi

Akt regulates growth by directly phosphorylating Tsc2 - pp658 - 665

Christopher J. Potter, Laura G. Pedraza & Tian Xu

doi:10.1038/ncb840

Abstract - | Full Text - Akt regulates growth by directly phosphorylating Tsc2 | PDF (1,895 KB) - Akt regulates growth by directly phosphorylating Tsc2 | Supplementary information

See also: News and Views by McManus & Alessi

Microscopic analysis of polymerization dynamics with individual actin filaments - pp666 - 673

Ikuko Fujiwara, Shin Takahashi, Hisashi Tadakuma, Takashi Funatsu & Shin'ichi Ishiwata

doi:10.1038/ncb841

Abstract - | Full Text - Microscopic analysis of polymerization dynamics with individual actin filaments | PDF (374 KB) - Microscopic analysis of polymerization dynamics with individual actin filaments

See also: News and Views by Littlefield & Fowler

Lon protease preferentially degrades oxidized mitochondrial aconitase by an ATP-stimulated mechanism - pp674 - 680

Daniela A. Bota & Kelvin J. A. Davies

doi:10.1038/ncb836

Abstract - | Full Text - Lon protease preferentially degrades oxidized mitochondrial aconitase by an ATP-stimulated mechanism | PDF (456 KB) - Lon protease preferentially degrades oxidized mitochondrial aconitase by an ATP-stimulated mechanism

Filamin is essential in actin cytoskeletal assembly mediated by p21-activated kinase 1 - pp681 - 690

Ratna K. Vadlamudi, Feng Li, Liana Adam, Diep Nguyen, Yasutaka Ohta, Thomas P. Stossel & Rakesh Kumar

doi:10.1038/ncb838

Abstract - | Full Text - Filamin is essential in actin cytoskeletal assembly mediated by p21-activated kinase 1 | PDF (2,556 KB) - Filamin is essential in actin cytoskeletal assembly mediated by p21-activated kinase 1 | Supplementary information

Imaging actin and dynamin recruitment during invagination of single clathrin-coated pits - pp691 - 698

Christien J. Merrifield, Morris E. Feldman, Lei Wan & Wolfhard Almers

doi:10.1038/ncb837

Abstract - | Full Text - Imaging actin and dynamin recruitment during invagination of single clathrin-coated pits | PDF (652 KB) - Imaging actin and dynamin recruitment during invagination of single clathrin-coated pits | Supplementary information

Tsc tumour suppressor proteins antagonize amino-acid–TOR signalling - pp699 - 704

Xinsheng Gao, Yong Zhang, Peter Arrazola, Okio Hino, Toshiyuki Kobayashi, Raymond S. Yeung, Binggeng Ru & Duojia Pan

doi:10.1038/ncb847

Abstract - | Full Text - Tsc tumour suppressor proteins antagonize amino-acid–TOR signalling | PDF (608 KB) - Tsc tumour suppressor proteins antagonize amino-acid–TOR signalling

See also: News and Views by McManus & Alessi

Reaper-mediated inhibition of DIAP1-induced DTRAF1 degradation results in activation of JNK in Drosophila - pp705 - 710

Erina Kuranaga, Hirotaka Kanuka, Tatsushi Igaki, Kazunobu Sawamoto, Hidenori Ichijo, Hideyuki Okano & Masayuki Miura

doi:10.1038/ncb842

Abstract - | Full Text - Reaper-mediated inhibition of DIAP1-induced DTRAF1 degradation results in activation of JNK in Drosophila | PDF (2,749 KB) - Reaper-mediated inhibition of DIAP1-induced DTRAF1 degradation results in activation of JNK in Drosophila | Supplementary information

MOR1/GEM1 has an essential role in the plant-specific cytokinetic phragmoplast - pp711 - 714

David Twell, Soon Ki Park, Timothy J. Hawkins, Daniel Schubert, Renate Schmidt, Andrei Smertenko & Patrick J. Hussey

doi:10.1038/ncb844

Abstract - | Full Text - MOR1/GEM1 has an essential role in the plant-specific cytokinetic phragmoplast | PDF (1,400 KB) - MOR1/GEM1 has an essential role in the plant-specific cytokinetic phragmoplast | Supplementary information

Invasive cell migration is initiated by guided growth of long cellular extensions - pp715 - 719

Tudor A. Fulga & Pernille Rørth

doi:10.1038/ncb848

Abstract - | Full Text - Invasive cell migration is initiated by guided growth of long cellular extensions | PDF (4,013 KB) - Invasive cell migration is initiated by guided growth of long cellular extensions | Supplementary information

The Semaphorin 4D receptor controls invasive growth by coupling with Met - pp720 - 724

Silvia Giordano, Simona Corso, Paolo Conrotto, Stefania Artigiani, Giorgio Gilestro, Davide Barberis, Luca Tamagnone & Paolo M. Comoglio

doi:10.1038/ncb843

Abstract - | Full Text - The Semaphorin 4D receptor controls invasive growth by coupling with Met | PDF (620 KB) - The Semaphorin 4D receptor controls invasive growth by coupling with Met | Supplementary information

Proteasome subunit Rpn1 binds ubiquitin-like protein domains - pp725 - 730

Suzanne Elsasser, Rayappa R. Gali, Martin Schwickart, Christopher N. Larsen, David S. Leggett, Britta Müller, Matthew T. Feng, Fabian Tübing, Gunnar A.G. Dittmar & Daniel Finley

doi:10.1038/ncb845

Abstract - | Full Text - Proteasome subunit Rpn1 binds ubiquitin-like protein domains | PDF (235 KB) - Proteasome subunit Rpn1 binds ubiquitin-like protein domains | Supplementary information

Subnuclear shuttling of human telomerase induced by transformation and DNA damage - pp731 - 736

Judy M. Y. Wong, Leonard Kusdra & Kathleen Collins

doi:10.1038/ncb846

Abstract - | Full Text - Subnuclear shuttling of human telomerase induced by transformation and DNA damage | PDF (1,752 KB) - Subnuclear shuttling of human telomerase induced by transformation and DNA damage | Supplementary information

Corrigendum - p736

doi:10.1038/ncb831

Full Text - Corrigendum | PDF (58 KB) - Corrigendum