An apollon vista of death and destruction. Martin, S. Nature Cell Biology September (2004) This News and Views article highlights the recent findings that Apollon, which contains a baculovirus IAP repeat (BIR) domain, seems to function in apoptosis as well as in cell division.

Timing the machine. Bowerman, B. Nature 19 August (2004). In this News and Views article, the role of protein phosphorylation in timing the assembly of a key component of the cell-division machinery is discussed.

Adult neuron survival strategies — slamming on the brakes. Benn, S. C. & Woolf, C. J. Nature Reviews Neuroscience September (2004)

Focus issue on PharmacogeneticsNature Reviews Genetics and Nature Reviews Drug Discovery September (2004) This special issue features articles on the latest approaches to pharmacogenetics research, such as genome-wide screening and mouse models, evolving regulatory frameworks, and ethical problems and solutions.

Nuclear structure in cancer cells. Zink, D., Fischer, A. H. & Nickerson, J. A. Nature Reviews Cancer September (2004) The nuclear architecture of cancer cells shows differences compared to normal cells, and understanding this might provide a basis for developing new diagnostic tools and therapeutics.

T-cell trafficking in asthma: lipid mediators grease the way. Luster, A. D. & Tager, A. M. Nature Reviews Immunology September (2004)

Combinatorial control of gene expression. Reményi, A., Schöler, H. R. & Wilmanns, M. Nature Structural & Molecular Biology September (2004) This article outlines insights into how four families of transcription factors and DNA regulate gene expression combinatorially.

Focus issue on Antimicrobial strategiesNature Reviews Microbiology September (2004)

Antivirals and antiviral strategies. De Clercq, E. This article provides an overview of the virus infections for which antiviral therapy is needed and the compounds that are available, or are being developed, for their treatment.

Primate defensins. Lehrer, R. I. The properties and functions of defensins — cysteine-rich antimicrobial peptides that are active against bacterial, fungal and viral pathogens — is reviewed.