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Cytoplasmic male sterility (CMS) factors have long been known in some wild plants, and also in some domesticated species, where they are used to produce plants to be used as maternal parents, for example to breed hybrids that display hybrid vigor. Their origins have been mystifying, and now a study recently published in Cell Research helps understand how one widely-used rice CMS factor evolved.
A recent study makes the surprising observation that autophagosomes can still form in the absence of the core conjugation machinery. Furthermore, while such autophagosomes can fuse with lysosomes, their degradation is delayed, and this is associated with delayed destruction of the inner autophagosomal double membrane, highlighting a new role for proteins thought to act exclusively in the formation of autophagosomes in late stages of the autophagic itinerary within autolysosomes.
Studying the immune response against infection with hepatitis viruses is hampered by the lack of suitable preclinical model systems. A recent publication in Science identifies the cytosolic adapter molecule MAVS as being responsible for species restriction of infection with hepatitis A virus as well as linking cytosolic immune sensing in infected hepatocytes with innate effector functions and protective adaptive immunity.
Despite major advances in understanding the genetics and epigenetics of acute myelogenous leukemia, there is still a great need to develop more specific and effective therapies. High throughput approaches involving either genetic approaches or small molecule inhibitor screens are beginning to identify promising new therapeutic targets.
