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Transcription-independent diffusible damage signals, such as Ca2+, H2O2and ATP, are generated immediately after epithelial wounding to alert tissues to damage. Together, these signals have short-term effects on actomyosin structures and immune cell chemotaxis, and in the longer term coordinate the subsequent transcription of specific wound response genes to direct the wound healing process.
The growth and maturation of mammalian oocytes rely on the communication with ovarian somatic cells as well as on dynamic cytoskeleton-based events. Increasing evidence suggests that self-organizing microtubules and motor proteins direct meiotic spindle assembly and actin filaments control spindle positioning and oocyte polarity, while meiotic chromatin provides key instructive signals.
Structural data has provided insight into the molecular mechanisms that modulate fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signalling to generate distinct biological outputs in development, tissue homeostasis and metabolism. Mechanisms include alternative splicing of ligand and receptor, homodimerization and site-specific proteolytic cleavage of ligand, and interaction of ligand and receptor with heparan sulphate and Klotho co-receptors.
The prevalence and physiological importance of alternative splicing in multicellular eukaryotes has led to increased interest in its control. Much has been learnt about how transcription and chromatin structure influence splicing events, as well as the effects of signalling pathways, and this understanding may hold promise for the development of gene therapies.
Caveolae in the plasma membrane mediate signalling control and the response to membrane stress. The roles of caveolins and cavins hold the key to caveola structure and function, and their dysfunction is linked to several human diseases.
The class O forkhead box transcription factors (FOXOs) control diverse gene expression programmes and are themselves regulated by several post-translational mechanisms. A common principle of their many roles is the maintenance of tissue homeostasis in response to environmental changes.
Unicellular eukaryotes and mammalian germ cells and stem cells can maintain their telomere length through the action of telomerase. Insights into the mechanism by which telomerase is recruited to capped telomeres, and the individual contributions of telomere-associated proteins, highlight differences in this process between humans, budding yeast and fission yeast.
