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Stereocilia-staircase spacing is influenced by myosin III motors and their cargos espin-1 and espin-like
Stereocilia of the inner ear have graded heights that are thought to be regulated by the myosin-III family members MYO3A and MYO3B. Here the authors identify espin-1 and espin-like (ESPNL) as cargo that differentially influence the functions of both motors to regulate stereocilia length.
- Seham Ebrahim
- , Matthew R. Avenarius
- & Bechara Kachar
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Article
| Open Access
NuSAP governs chromosome oscillation by facilitating the Kid-generated polar ejection force
During metaphase, alignment of chromosomes is facilitated by oscillations driven by the chromokinesin Kid. Here Li et al. show that the microtubule-associated protein NuSAP is a novel regulator of Kid, regulating the amplitude and velocity of chromosome oscillation.
- Chenyu Li
- , Chenyi Xue
- & Yih-Cherng Liou
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| Open Access
Calcium-controlled conformational choreography in the N-terminal half of adseverin
The calcium-regulated gelsolin family of actin-binding proteins includes adseverin. Here, the authors report the X-ray crystal structure of the N-terminal portion of adseverin and use small-angle scattering and molecular dynamics simulations to examine the calcium-dependent function of this protein.
- Sakesit Chumnarnsilpa
- , Robert C. Robinson
- & Cedric Leyrat
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| Open Access
Mitotic redistribution of the mitochondrial network by Miro and Cenp-F
During mitosis, mitochondria partition into daughter cells through microtubule-based transport. Here the authors show that the mitochondrial protein Miro and the cytoskeletal-associated protein Cenp-F interact in a cell-cycle dependent manner to promote microtubule-directed movement of mitochondria.
- Gil Kanfer
- , Thibault Courthéoux
- & Benoît Kornmann
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The bacterial tubulin FtsZ requires its intrinsically disordered linker to direct robust cell wall construction
The bacterial division protein FtsZ recruits cell wall synthesis enzymes to the cytokinetic ring. Sundararajan et al.show that FtsZ deletion variants alter peptidoglycan structure without detectable effects on enzyme recruitment, suggesting an additional role in the regulation of cell wall metabolism.
- Kousik Sundararajan
- , Amanda Miguel
- & Erin D. Goley
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| Open Access
Microtubule-associated protein 6 mediates neuronal connectivity through Semaphorin 3E-dependent signalling for axonal growth
Loss of the structural microtubule-associated protein 6 (MAP6) leads to neuronal differentiation defects that are independent of MAP6’s microtubule-binding properties. Here the authors establish a functional link between MAP6 and Semaphorin 3E signalling for proper formation of the fornix of the brain.
- Jean-Christophe Deloulme
- , Sylvie Gory-Fauré
- & Annie Andrieux
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Crossreactivity to vinculin and microbes provides a molecular basis for HLA-based protection against rheumatoid arthritis
Autoantibodies targeting citrunillated proteins are common in rheumatoid arthritis patients. Here the authors show that vinculin (a human protein) and some microbial proteins are recognized by these antibodies and by CD4+T cells, and this response is absent in patients carrying a protective HLA allele.
- Jurgen van Heemst
- , Diahann T. S. L. Jansen
- & René E. Toes
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Vimentin regulates activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome
The mechanism of NLRP3 activation remains incompletely characterized. Here the authors show that it is dependent on vimentin, and that NLRP3-mediated lung injury and fibrosis induced by endotoxin, asbestos or bleomycin are reduced in vimentin-deficient mice.
- Gimena dos Santos
- , Micah R. Rogel
- & Karen M. Ridge
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Filamin acts as a key regulator in epithelial defence against transformed cells
Mutations resulting in cell transformation occur in single cells to begin with and these cells can be eliminated from epithelial layers. Here, the authors describe a mechanism whereby neighbouring normal cells mediate this extrusion using filamin and intermediate filament, vimentin.
- Mihoko Kajita
- , Kaoru Sugimura
- & Yasuyuki Fujita
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| Open Access
Actomyosin-dependent formation of the mechanosensitive talin–vinculin complex reinforces actin anchoring
The interaction between focal adhesion proteins vinculin and talin is stimulated by mechanical stretching. Here the authors reconstitute actomyosin-dependent stretching of talin in vitro, and show that the resulting activation of vinculin reinforces anchoring of the adhesion complex to actin.
- Corina Ciobanasu
- , Bruno Faivre
- & Christophe Le Clainche
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Dynamin−SNARE interactions control trans-SNARE formation in intracellular membrane fusion
Dynamin promotes membrane fission by constricting the neck of invaginating membranes; however, it was recently shown that dynamin also regulates membrane fusion. Here the authors show that this fusogenic activity is mediated by interaction with the Qa SNARE, thereby promoting trans-SNARE formation.
- Kannan Alpadi
- , Aditya Kulkarni
- & Christopher Peters
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Macrophage VLDL receptor promotes PAFAH secretion in mother's milk and suppresses systemic inflammation in nursing neonates
Mother's milk contains a number of protective factors, such as the anti-inflammatory enzyme PAFAH. Here, Duet al. show that the VLDL receptor protects nursing newborns from systemic inflammation by maintaining secretion of PAFAH from maternal macrophages into mother's milk.
- Yang Du
- , Marie Yang
- & Yihong Wan
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Dimensional and temporal controls of three-dimensional cell migration by zyxin and binding partners
Molecular and oscillations are common in biology, but periodic cell migrations have not been observed. Fraleyet al. report regular, periodic migrations of cells along tracks generated inside 3D matrices, and show that these 1D oscillations are controlled by zyxin and its binding partners α-actinin and p130Cas.
- Stephanie I. Fraley
- , Yunfeng Feng
- & Denis Wirtz
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| Open Access
A CLASP-modulated cell edge barrier mechanism drives cell-wide cortical microtubule organization in Arabidopsis
How microtubules are organized correctly in plant cells is not well understood. Ambroseet al. use 4D imaging and computer modelling to show that sharp cell edges induce microtubule depolymerization and that the microtubule-associated protein CLASP mitigates this process to modulate array organization.
- Chris Ambrose
- , Jun F. Allard
- & Geoffrey O. Wasteneys
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The acetylation of tau inhibits its function and promotes pathological tau aggregation
Phosphorylation of the microtubule-associated protein tau is associated with disease, but other post-translational modifications of tau are not well studied. Here, Cohenet al. study the acetylation of tau and suggest that this form of the protein may be associated with tauopathies.
- Todd J. Cohen
- , Jing L. Guo
- & Virginia M. Y. Lee
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| Open Access
A doublecortin containing microtubule-associated protein is implicated in mechanotransduction in Drosophila sensory cilia
Mechanoreceptors are important for detecting external stimuli. In this study a putative receptor identified inDrosophilais shown to be potentially important for hearing and the amplification of mechanotransduction.
- S. Bechstedt
- , J.T. Albert
- & J. Howard
Mechanism of intermediate filament recognition by plakin repeat domains revealed by envoplakin targeting of vimentin