Volume 14 Issue 6, June 2013

Exit from pluripotency is enabled by the exclusion of TFE3 from the nucleus.

RHEB promotes mitophagy in response to oxidative phosphorylation.

The conversion of white fat to brown fat during cold exposure in adults involves reversible transdifferentiation of adipocytes.

The timing of DNA replication might have a role in establishing cell identity during development.

RND GTPases are regulated by 14-3-3 binding to a hybrid phosphorylation prenyl motif in RND.

Two groups report the first X-ray crystal structures of active arrestins.

Multipotent stem and progenitor cells are heterogeneous in lineage choice and timing of commitment to differentiation.

Nuclear mDia promotes the assembly of a nuclear actin network that results in MAL–SRF-dependent gene expression.

Subsets of mammalian adult stem cells reside in a reversible quiescent state. Recent studies of epigenetic, transcriptional and post-transcriptional events underlying quiescence suggest that this state is actively maintained by signalling pathways that keep cells poised for rapid activation, rather than this being a dormant state with minimal basal activity.

The methylation of cytosine bases in DNA has a key role in regulating transcription. It has recently been discovered that ten-eleven translocation (TET) proteins can reverse DNA methylation, refining our view of how changes in DNA methylation are coupled to different cellular processes.

Pluripotent stem cell lines differ in their capacity to differentiate into desired cell typesin vitro. Genetic and epigenetic variations contribute to functional variability between cell lines and heterogeneity within single clones. Characterizing such variations is important for the use of pluripotent stem cells in disease modelling and developmental processes and for their applications in regenerative medicine.

Through their role as substrate adaptors for S phase kinase-associated protein 1 (SKP1)–cullin 1 (CUL1)–F-box protein (SCF) ubiquitin ligase complexes, F-box proteins control the degradation of a large number of proteins with wide-ranging functions. Studying the mechanisms of substrate recruitment by F-box proteins has increased our understanding of their dysregulation in disease and might lead to targeted therapies.

The distinct organization of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER)–Golgi interface across species reflects variation in the mechanisms that control transport between these organelles. Continued comparative analyses of this interface should help to elucidate the ways that ER–Golgi trafficking control can be adapted to meet cell type-specific needs.

The past few years have marked significant anniversaries in the field of signal transduction. Here, six researchers reflect on the context in which these discoveries were made, and how our concept of cell signalling has evolved during the past three decades.