Table of contents
June 2009 Vol 10 No 6
Also this month:
- Article series: Chromatin dynamics
Post-transcriptional control
From the editors
p365 | doi:10.1038/nrm2706
Research Highlights
Chromatin: CENP-A on target | PDF (153 KB)
p367 | doi:10.1038/nrm2704
Protein degradation: Tipping the balance | PDF (133 KB)
p368 | doi:10.1038/nrm2701
Cell migration: Talin heads off | PDF (237 KB)
p368 | doi:10.1038/nrm2702
Plant cell biology: New receptors for ABA | PDF (280 KB)
p368 | doi:10.1038/nrm2703
In brief
Mitosis | Gene expression | Protein degradation | Polycomb proteins | PDF (135 KB)
p369 | doi:10.1038/nrm2695
Protein degradation: Chain gang | PDF (162 KB)
p370 | doi:10.1038/nrm2691
Technology Watch
Hunting phosphoproteins | See the force | PDF (125 KB)
p370 | doi:10.1038/nrm2705
Post-translational modification: Examining the Fic domain | PDF (189 KB)
p371 | doi:10.1038/nrm2696
DNA repair: Time to switch | PDF (198 KB)
p371 | doi:10.1038/nrm2700
Prions: Prying into prions | PDF (164 KB)
p372 | doi:10.1038/nrm2692
Journal Club
Freedom versus constraint in protein function | PDF (138 KB)
p372 | doi:10.1038/nrm2697
Reviews
Article series: Chromatin dynamics
Chromatin remodelling beyond transcription: the INO80 and SWR1 complexes
Ashby J Morrison & Xuetong Shen
p373 | doi:10.1038/nrm2693
ATP-dependent chromatin-remodelling complexes are well-known regulators of transcriptional processes. Interestingly, the INO80 and SWR1 complexes also participate in a range of pathways that are involved in genome maintenance, such as DNA repair, checkpoint regulation, DNA replication, chromosome segregation and telomere stabilization.
The ubiquitin–26S proteasome system at the nexus of plant biology
Richard D. Vierstra
p385 | doi:10.1038/nrm2688
The ubiquitin–26S proteasome system is one of the most pervasive pathways of intracellular protein regulation in plants. It controls hormone signalling, chromatin structure and transcription, tailoring morphogenesis, responses to environmental challenges, self-recognition and the battle between pathogens and their plant hosts.
Physiological functions of the HECT family of ubiquitin ligases
Daniela Rotin & Sharad Kumar
p398 | doi:10.1038/nrm2690
Ubiquitylation targets proteins for degradation or other cellular fates. The HECT enzymes are E3 ubiquitin ligases, which dictate the specificity of ubiquitylation. HECTs regulate trafficking of many receptors, channels, transporters and viral proteins. Their role in metazoans is becoming clearer from in vivo studies.
The second wave of synthetic biology: from modules to systems
Priscilla E. M. Purnick & Ron Weiss
p410 | doi:10.1038/nrm2698
Synthetic biology combines the investigative nature of biology with the constructive nature of engineering. A 'first wave' in the field has led to the creation of genetic devices and small modules that are constructed from these devices. Now, a 'second wave' is required to develop effective strategies for assembling devices and modules into intricate customizable larger scale systems.
Perspectives
Opinion
It takes two to tango: regulation of G proteins by dimerization
Raphael Gasper, Simon Meyer, Katja Gotthardt, Minhajuddin Sirajuddin & Alfred Wittinghofer
p423 | doi:10.1038/nrm2689
Guanine nucleotide-binding (G) proteins are regulated by GTPase-activating proteins and guanine nucleotide-exchange factors. Another class of G proteins is emerging that are regulated by homodimerization. The authors propose that juxtaposition of the G domains of two monomers across the GTP-binding sites activates the biological function of these proteins and the GTPase reaction.
Article series: Post-transcriptional control
Opinion
RNA granules: post-transcriptional and epigenetic modulators of gene expression
Paul Anderson & Nancy Kedersha
p430 | doi:10.1038/nrm2694
Compositionally and functionally distinct RNA granules are found in the cytoplasm of somatic and germ cells. The components of most RNA granules are in a dynamic equilibrium, thereby allowing rapid shifts between the translation, storage and decay of RNAs.
