Browse Articles

Forkhead box (FOXO) transcription factors are important mediators of cell stress responses, generally considered to preserve homeostasis and counteract ageing. However, FOXO-mediated mechanisms can also support the survival of cancer and other dysfunctional cells, thereby complicating the link between FOXOs and lifespan extension.

Two papers published in 1991 established a new class of human genetic disorders, caused by expansion of simple DNA repeats.

The first study to show, in C. elegans, that sensory neurons have a role in lifespan regulation.

Antennapedia proteins were among the first proteins found to be exchanged intercellularly. This discovery by Alain Prochiantz and colleagues has inspired researchers of various backgrounds.

Liang et al. show that mitochondria can be expelled from cells via extracellular vesicles as a route of quality control that is an alternative to lysosomal degradation.

In this Review, the authors outline the thermodynamic and kinetic principles of protein misfolding and amyloid formation. Mechanisms of toxicity are discussed, focusing on the effect of amyloid interactions with cellular components, and the association of aggregation with healthy ageing and pathology.

Bulut-Karslıoğlu remembers the publication of two seminal papers that described bivalent chromatin and how this discovery continues to affect research to this day.

To activate noncanonical LC3B lipidation and NLRP3 inflammasome formation, stimulator of interferon genes (STING) forms a proton channel in Golgi membranes.

Anne West recounts the study that showed postnatal accumulation of non-CpG DNA methylation in neurons coinciding with postnatal synapse maturation, suggesting that it contributes to brain function.

In the amphibian axolotl, the kinase mTOR is hyper-sensitive and activates a protein synthesis response that is crucial for wound healing and tissue regeneration.

YAP and TAZ are transcription coactivators with key roles in development and regeneration as well as in cancer. Many of these roles are executed by YAP/TAZ activation in stem cells. This Review discusses how YAP/TAZ regulate stem cell biology, and considers potential applications of modulating YAP/TAZ in regenerative medicine and cancer therapy.

Cutler and Vijg remind us of the publication that laid the foundation for genetic mutation theories of ageing.

Mechanistic target of rapamycin mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) is a central regulator of cellular metabolism. Recent studies of the molecular architecture of mTORC1 shed new light on its physiological functions and on the consequences of their dysregulation in cancer, type 2 diabetes and neurodegeneration.

In this Tools of the Trade article, Joleen Cheah (from the Ting lab) discusses the development of TransitID, which allows researchers to capture protein trafficking pathways in vivo without a priori knowledge of specific proteins of interest.

The transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) family of cytokines act in development and in homeostasis to regulate cell fate decisions. New insights reveal that small perturbations in TGFβ signalling are tolerated during early development but lead to cancer or congenital disorders at later stages.

Cremer et al. show that the ubiquitin ligase RNF26 and vimentin-based intermediate filaments cooperate to control perinuclear ER membrane organization and thus facilitate recovery from ER stress.

Recent studies show that antigenic peptides are derived from the translation of precursor mRNAs. Robin Fåhraeus argues that it is therefore time to re-evaluate nuclear translation and its interesting implications.

The receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 1 functions as a molecular switch to control cell survival, inflammation and cell death. Recent mechanistic studies shed light on the catalytic and non-catalytic roles and on the context-dependent functions of receptor-interacting serine/threonine-protein kinase 1 in health and disease.

Endoplasmic reticulum-associated protein degradation (ERAD) enables removal of aberrant or surplus proteins from the ER. ERAD represents a collection of independent processes exhibiting distinct yet overlapping selectivity for a wide range of substrates, enabling efficient quality control of membrane and secretory proteins.