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Recent studies have challenged the view that transcription is predominantly regulated at the level of RNA polymerase II recruitment to promoters. Transcription is also regulated at the level of elongation by factors that act directly upon RNA polymerase II or that manipulate the chromatin environment.
A subset of intracellular transmembrane proteins such as acid-hydrolase receptors, as well as extracellular toxins such as Shiga toxin, undergoes retrograde transport from endosomes to thetrans-Golgi network. Recent studies have begun to provide insights into the molecular machinery involved.
Proteins that move and manipulate DNA share certain properties that are crucial for the preservation of the genetic material. Such proteins are often large and multimeric, they require energy to enforce the reaction directionality, they move stochastically and their activity changes DNA topology.
The use of mouse models has provided a wealth of data regarding the molecular mechanisms that control cardiac hypertrophy, ventricular remodelling and heart failure. Many of the signalling components involved are potential therapeutic targets for treating various forms of heart disease.
Plant-pathogenic bacteria use several virulence strategies to infect their hosts. Recent developments have dissected the sophisticated molecular mechanisms that are used by bacterial pathogens to interfere with pathogen-recognition receptor-mediated defences and to manipulate important plant processes to promote pathogenesis.
Several non-coding RNAs that regulate eukaryotic mRNA transcription have recently been discovered. Their mechanisms of action and biological roles are extremely diverse, which indicates that, so far, we have only had a glimpse of this new class of regulatory factor.
Protein-chip technology is a powerful tool for high-throughput assays of protein profiling, protein–DNA interactions and enzyme activity. Improvements in the technology, such as the construction of whole-proteome arrays in yeast, could lead to the description of comprehensive interaction maps in many organisms.
