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Despite its role in long-term gene silencing, DNA methylation is more dynamic than originally thought. Active DNA demethylation occurs during specific stages of development and there is growing evidence to suggest that multiple mechanisms for active DNA demethylation exist.
Mitochondrial outer membrane permeabilization is often required for activation of the caspase proteases that cause apoptotic cell death. As a consequence, the integrity of the mitochondrial outer membrane is highly controlled, primarily through interactions between pro- and anti-apoptotic members of the B cell lymphoma 2 (BCL-2) protein family.
Cell migration affects all morphogenetic processes and contributes to numerous diseases, including cancer and cardiovascular disease. Adhesion formation and disassembly drive the migration cycle by activating Rho GTPases, which in turn regulate actin polymerization and myosin II activity, and therefore adhesion dynamics.
Preserving a functional set of cytoplasmic organelles requires accurate organelle inheritance at cell division. In yeast, the polarized transport of peroxisomes to daughter cells is balanced by retention mechanisms. Some mechanistic principles apply to the inheritance of all organelles, but the inheritance of some organelles is regulated by specific factors.
Proteomic studies have led to the identification of numerous new transport components and pathways for mitochondrial protein import. Furthermore, they have revealed that protein translocases are integrated into dynamic networks and are connected to machineries that function in bioenergetics, mitochondrial morphology and coupling to the endoplasmic reticulum.
Aminoacyl tRNA synthetases (aaRSs) have progressively added domains and motifs that have no connection to aminoacylation. These additions equip aaRSs with new functions and correlate with the appearance of new biological processes (such as a circulatory system) during the course of evolution.
