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In this Tools of the Trade article, Bohan Zhang (Gladyshev lab) discusses how the use of extended heterochronic parabiosis in mice (surgical connection between circulatory systems for an extended period), followed by detachment, can shed light on potential mechanisms that reverse mammalian ageing.
In this Tools of the Trade article, Manuela Richter (Dumont lab) describes a method to probe mechanisms of cytoskeletal network re-organization that uses a targeted laser to both trigger network remodelling and track network dynamics.
Cell quiescence dampens mTOR signalling and enables AGO2 localization to the nucleus, where it suppresses retrotransposons by directly cleaving their RNA.
Farmer et al. show that mRNAs encoding abscission proteins are targeted to the midbody during cell division and are locally translated to enable cytokinesis.
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.
The regenerative abilities of mammalian hair follicles are facilitated by the proliferation of hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs), which reside in specialized niches within the skin. Recent studies shed light on how local signals and systemic inputs from the body and the environment regulate HFSC function.
Eukaryotic membrane fusion is hindered by energy barriers and often requires soluble N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor attachment protein receptors (SNAREs) to facilitate formation of a fusion pore. Recent studies describe SNARE activity along the fusion pathway and shed light on the regulation of SNARE complex assembly.
A unique feature of mitochondrial DNA function is the coupling of initiation of transcription with that of replication. Tan et al. discuss the choice between initiation of either process, and how mitochondrial DNA packaging into nucleoids controls its accessibility and function in human cells.
Iron homeostasis in animals is tightly controlled, and numerous cellular pathways regulate iron uptake, storage, metabolism and secretion. Recent findings provide new insights into the sensory systems that fine-tune iron homeostasis and explain how cellular and systemic iron fluxes intersect.
