Research Highlights in 2015

Shows that the distribution of phosphoinositides in cilia regulates ciliary trafficking to control Hedgehog (Hh) signalling.

Optineurin and NDP52 are primary mitophagy receptors that are recruited to damaged mitochondria by PINK1-dependent phospho-ubiquitin.

The orientation of CCCTC-binding factor (CTCF)-binding sites located in enhancers and promoters dictates the directionality of CTCF binding and thus chromatin topology and gene expression.

Stearic acid covalently binds to transferrin receptor protein 1 (TFR1) and inhibits TFR1–JNK signalling and E3 ubiquitin ligase HUWE1-mediated ubiquitylation of mitofusin, ensuring proper mitochondrial fusion and function.

This study shows the mechanism by which, in the absence of RB, MYC and E2F proteins drive unregulated cell proliferation in the intestine.

The nascent polypeptide-associated complex (NAC) at the ribosome exit site contributes to correct targeting of nascent chains by determining whether MetAP or SRP associate with the ribosome.

Neural crest cells switch from expressing E-cadherin to expressing N-cadherin to undergo contact inhibition of locomotion.

A study now shows that the secretory pathway kinase FAM20C phosphorylates the majority of secreted proteins.

Inhibition of mTOR by rapamycin attenuates the translation of interleukin-1α, thus reducing the secretion of inflammatory cytokines by senescent cells.

A new report shows that histone modification patterns influence the occurrence of chromosomal translocations.

Transcription-blocking DNA lesions displace spliceosomes from chromatin and activate a non-canonical ataxia-telangiectasia mutated signalling pathway that modulates splicing.

Two studies identify receptors that target the endoplasmic reticulum for autophagy-mediated degradation.

Mechanical forces activate YAP1 and β-catenin transcriptional activity in a cadherin-dependent manner.

The ubiquitylation of specific Lys residues of 40S ribosomal proteins is stimulated by the unfolded protein response to contribute to translational regulation.

The major circadian transcription factor BMAL1 has independent circadian translational activity, which is regulated by the mTOR pathway kinase S6K1.

The basket nucleoproteins Nup1 and Nup60 contribute to nuclear pore complex formation by inducing membrane curvature.

Microtubule detyrosination guides CENP-E-dependent transport of pole-proximal chromosomes to the spindle equator during mitosis.

Berkovits and Mayr show that 3′ UTRs generated by alternative polyadenylation can recruit the RNA-binding protein HUR and its effector SET, which regulate the cellular localization of the translated proteins.

Guttman and colleagues discovered proteins that bind the lncRNAXistand mediate gene silencing during X-chromosome inactivation.

Dishevelled recruits E3 ligases to WNT co-receptors to facilitate their degradation and the downregulation of WNT signalling.