Upregulation of transcription on the Drosophila male X chromosome is mediated by the MSL complex. The MSL3 chromodomain is found to be involved in spreading of these activation complexes from initial entry sites. This is represented on the cover in the original artwork "Compression" by Colleen Buzzard (http://www.colleenbuzzard.com). Ink on paper. pp 1318–1325

The Ink4a/Arf/Ink4b locus plays a role in cellular senescence in vertebrates, and the Jhdm1b protein is now shown to be an H3K36 demethylase that represses Ink4b. Though controlled by a different process, autumn leaves illustrate the concept of senescence. pp 1169-1175, News and Views p 1133

The structure of the baculovirus postfusion form of glycoprotein gp64, along with structural comparisons, suggests that the three classes of viral fusion proteins may be more closely related than previously thought. The cover, by Erin Boyle, is an artistic interpretation of the structure. pp 1024–1030

Malaria in pregnant women can affect both mother and child. Work from Garboczi and colleagues sheds light on the interactions involved in pregnancyassociated malaria. 'Life Cycle', by Emmanuel Atiemoh Yeboah, illustrates the different stages of the mother-child relationship. Oil on calico, with cutouts of batik cloth and details in pen and ink (http://www.novica.com). pp 932–938, News and Views p 895

Studies on ClC-0 reveal a mechanistic connection between channels and transporters in the CLC protein family. Colorized traces of ClC-0 single channel recordings show conductance changes that accompany changes in channel gating state. Cover art by Erin Boyle. pp 805-810, News and Views p 781

Membrane fusion is critical for communication between membranebound compartments in eukaryotic cells and is essential for host cell infection by enveloped viruses. This issue contains a special Focus on Membrane Fusion. Cover by Erin Boyle. pp 653-698

Biophysical studies from Spudich and colleagues suggest that a rigid α-helix in the tail domain of myosin-VI may contribute to its large step size. The black-necked stilt shown here also has a long stride. Photo by Frank Leung for iStockphoto.com. pp 591-597

Wintermeyer and colleagues show that a nascent peptide within the E. coli ribosome can trigger alterations in SRP binding and membrane targeting in a purified system, which suggests that information about internal changes in the ribosomal exit tunnel can be conveyed externally via ribosomal protein L23. Cover image by Phil Early from istockphoto.com. pp 494-499

The INO80 chromatin-remodeling complex has roles in transcription, DNA repair and replication. Papamichos-Chronakis and Peterson now show that Ino80 regulates efficient fork progression, stabilizes stalled forks and helps ensure proper restart. The cover photograph, from Creatas Images, represents the replication fork.pp 338-345, News and Views p 332

The eukaryotic proteasome catalyzes the selective degradation of targeted proteins. New structural and functional work reveals the role of a chaperone complex in directing assembly of the proteasome core, or 20S, particle. Cover by Erin Boyle shows the 20S proteasome with the chaperone complex, in the style of artist Mark Rothko. pp 228 and 237, News and Views p 218

Unfolding and degradation of protein substrates containing the ssrA tag by the bacterial AAA+ ClpXP is shown by Sauer and colleagues to be dependent on the rate of ATP hydrolysis and the substrate's energy landscape. Unfolding is represented by origami in the cover photograph by Erin Boyle. Origami by Adam Lipkin.pp 139-145

Internal ribosomal entry sites help initiate translation of some viral transcripts. Kieft and colleagues present the structure of a Dicistroviridae IRES domain. Its structural mimicry of the host tRNA-mRNA interaction suggests how this RNA is able to kick start translation alone. This molecular mimicry is represented by organismal mimicry in the cover photograph by Ra'id Khalil, from istockphoto.com.pp 57-64