Cell biology articles within Nature Communications

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  • Article
    | Open Access

    Hydrogen peroxide and brassinosteroids (BR) both regulate plant development and stress responses. Here Tian et al. show that hydrogen peroxide can trigger oxidation of the BR-responsive BZR1 transcription factor and promote its transcriptional activity, thereby linking BR and redox signaling.

    • Yanchen Tian
    • , Min Fan
    •  & Ming-Yi Bai

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The epidermis is a multi-layered epithelium formed by the differentiation of basal cells and movement into suprabasal layers. Here the authors define a role for the desmosomal cadherin desmoglein-1 in promoting the delamination of basal cells by remodeling the actin cytoskeleton through interactions with the dynein light chain Tctex-1 and cortactin.

    • Oxana Nekrasova
    • , Robert M. Harmon
    •  & Kathleen J. Green

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The Hippo pathway is a major orchestrator of organ development and homeostasis. Here Azad and colleagues develop a biosensor to monitor the activity of the Hippo pathway component LATS and identify VEGF signalling as an upstream regulator of LATS, supporting a role for Hippo signalling during angiogenesis.

    • T. Azad
    • , H. J. Janse van Rensburg
    •  & X. Yang

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Quantitative phosphoproteomics has become a standard method in molecular and cell biology. Here, the authors compare performance and parameters of phosphoproteome quantification by LFQ, SILAC, and MS2-/MS3-based TMT and introduce a TMT-adapted algorithm for calculating phosphorylation site stoichiometry.

    • Alexander Hogrebe
    • , Louise von Stechow
    •  & Jesper V. Olsen

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The temporal activation of kinases and timely ubiquitin-mediated degradation is central to faithful mitosis. Here the authors show that acetylation controlled by Coenzyme A synthase (COASY) and acetyltransferase CBP constitutes a mechanism that ensures faithful mitosis.

    • Chao-Chieh Lin
    • , Mayumi Kitagawa
    •  & Jen-Tsan Chi

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Senescence has been suggested as causing biliary cholangiopathies but how this is regulated is unclear. Here, the authors generate a mouse model of biliary senescence by deleting Mdm2 in bile ducts and show that inhibiting TGFβ limits senescence-dependent aggravation of cholangiopathies.

    • Sofia Ferreira-Gonzalez
    • , Wei-Yu Lu
    •  & Stuart J. Forbes

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Beige adipocytes can arise from transdifferentiation of mature white adipocytes. Here the authors identify CDK6 as a key molecule involved in the white-to-beige adipocyte transdifferentiation and, therefore, as a regulator of organismal energy homeostasis in mice.

    • Xiaoli Hou
    • , Yongzhao Zhang
    •  & Miaofen G. Hu

  • Article
    | Open Access

    During asymmetric divisions fate determinants and niche contacts segregate unequally between daughter cells, but the mechanism is unclear. Here the authors show that Insc:LGN tetramers promote assembly of Par3-Insc-LGN-GαiGDP complexes and asymmetric fate specification independently of microtubule motors.

    • Simone Culurgioni
    • , Sara Mari
    •  & Marina Mapelli

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Mutations in the gene encoding iRHOM2 are associated with hyperproliferative epidermal disorders. Here, the authors show that iRHOM2 is a target gene of p63, that together they regulate inflammation, cell survival and response to oxidative stress, and inhibition of p63-iRHOM2 signalling with an antioxidant reduces epidermal inflammation.

    • Paola Arcidiacono
    • , Catherine M. Webb
    •  & Anissa Chikh

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) dysfunction is a common feature of thoracic aortic aneurysms (TAAs). Here, Lino Cardenas and colleagues show that the formation of a HDAC9-MALAT1-BRG1 complex promotes VSMC dysfunction in TAA by epigenetically altering the expression of key components of the cytoskeleton in VSMCs.

    • Christian L. Lino Cardenas
    • , Chase W. Kessinger
    •  & Mark E. Lindsay

  • Article
    | Open Access

    A growing number of cargo-specific effector proteins are being identified that interact with both dynein and dynactin and form processive dynein-dynactin-effector complexes. Here the authors identify and characterize a conserved mechanism of interaction between dynein and unrelated effector proteins.

    • In-Gyun Lee
    • , Mara A. Olenick
    •  & Roberto Dominguez

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Microtubule asters are positioned precisely within cells by forces generated by molecular motors, but it is unclear how these are integrated in space and time. Here the authors perform in vivo drag measurements and genetic manipulations to determine the balance of forces that position microtubule asters in C. elegans zygotes.

    • A. De Simone
    • , A. Spahr
    •  & P. Gönczy

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Amino acids stimulate cell growth and depletion in a cell activates autophagy, yet how this is regulated is unclear. Here, the authors show that MAP4K3 (also known as germinal-center kinase-like kinase) acts as an amino acid-dependent regulator of autophagy, via phosphorylation of the transcription factor EB.

    • Cynthia L. Hsu
    • , Elian X. Lee
    •  & Albert R. La Spada

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) are involved in vascular remodeling associated with plaque progression. Little is known about their immune regulatory role in vascular disorders. Here, the authors report that MT4-MMP-deficiency increases the recruitment of patrolling monocytes to early atherosclerotic lesions, which accelerates atherosclerosis.

    • Cristina Clemente
    • , Cristina Rius
    •  & Alicia G. Arroyo

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Nanobodies (Nbs) coupled to organic dyes are increasingly used for super-resolution cell imaging, but producing gene-specific Nbs is time-consuming. Here the authors present a peptide-tag/Nb combination for dSTORM imaging which can be easily adapted to different targets in fixed and live cells.

    • David Virant
    • , Bjoern Traenkle
    •  & Ulrich Rothbauer

  • Article
    | Open Access

    MANF is a secreted ER stress-inducible protein that protects neurons, pancreatic β cells and cardiomyocytes from cell death under oxidative stress, hypoxic or ischemic conditions. Here the authors show that MANF confers cytoprotection through direct binding to sulfatide followed by cellular uptake in both C. elegans and mammalian cells.

    • Meirong Bai
    • , Roman Vozdek
    •  & Dengke K. Ma

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Kinetochores (KT) that are not attached to microtubules prevent chromosome missegregation via the spindle assembly checkpoint. Here the authors show that Mps1 localizes Stu1 at unattached KTs together with Slk19, causing a reorganization of the nuclear MT network that favors the capturing of unattached KT.

    • Caroline Kolenda
    • , Jennifer Ortiz
    •  & Johannes Lechner

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Polarisation of metastasising cancer cells in circulation has not been investigated before. Here the authors identify single cell polarity as a distinct polarisation state of single cells in liquid phase, and show that perturbing single cell polarity affects attachment, adhesion, transmigration and metastasis in vitro and in vivo.

    • Anna Lorentzen
    • , Paul F. Becker
    •  & Mathias Heikenwalder

  • Article
    | Open Access

    G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) activate intracellular signalling pathways upon extracellular stimulation. Here authors record single cell responses of GPCR signalling which allows the direct estimation of its channel capacity for each cell along with the reproducibility of its response.

    • Amiran Keshelava
    • , Gonzalo P. Solis
    •  & Vladimir L. Katanaev

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Endothelial cells release extracellular matrix components that regulate inflammation. Here the authors demonstrate that the extracellular matrix component epidermal growth factor-like protein 7 regulates inflammation in experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in the mouse.

    • Catherine Larochelle
    • , Timo Uphaus
    •  & Frauke Zipp

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Stormorken syndrome is associated with the R304W mutation in STIM1, which is a Calcium sensor in the endoplasmic reticulum. Here authors use FRET and electrophysiology to show that R304W induces STIM1 conformational extension by a dual mechanism resulting in constitutive activation of Ca2+ channels.

    • Marc Fahrner
    • , Michael Stadlbauer
    •  & Christoph Romanin

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Cardiolipin is a phospholipid component of the inner mitochondrial membrane. Here the authors demonstrate that cardiolipin interacts with mutant α-synuclein, and that impaired cardiolipin function can lead to spread of α-synuclein between neurons.

    • Tammy Ryan
    • , Vladimir V. Bamm
    •  & Scott D. Ryan

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The CORVET complex is a multi-subunit complex that regulates fusion between early endosomes. Here the authors show that the CORVET subunits Vps3 and Vps8 also regulate vesicular transport from early to recycling endosomes and are required for recycling integrins to the plasma membrane.

    • Caspar T. H. Jonker
    • , Romain Galmes
    •  & Judith Klumperman

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) are essential to modulate ubiquitin signaling. While known DUBs can be grouped into six families, the authors here present biochemical and structural evidence for a seventh DUB family, defining determinants of substrate specificity for two representative enzymes.

    • Thomas Hermanns
    • , Christian Pichlo
    •  & Kay Hofmann

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Understanding the biological role of graphene in eukaryotic cells is essential for future biomedicine applications. Here, the authors investigate the interaction of neurons and fibroblasts with graphene substrates, which increase cell membrane cholesterol and potentiate neurotransmitter release and receptor signaling.

    • Kristina E. Kitko
    • , Tu Hong
    •  & Qi Zhang

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Calcium-independent phospholipase A2β (iPLA2β) is involved in many physiological and pathological processes but the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. Here, the authors present the structure of dimeric iPLA2β, providing insights into the regulation of its activity and cellular localization.

    • Konstantin R. Malley
    • , Olga Koroleva
    •  & Sergey Korolev

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The trichoplein-Aurora A pathway inhibits ciliogenesis in proliferating cells. Here the authors EGFR-mediated phosphorylation of the deubiquitinating enzyme USP8 leads to its activation, and this suppresses trichoplein degradation, allowing inhibition of ciliogenesis.

    • Kousuke Kasahara
    • , Hiromasa Aoki
    •  & Masaki Inagaki

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Fragile X syndrome patients display intellectual disability and autism, caused by mutations in the RNA-binding protein fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP). Here, the authors show that FMRP sumoylation is required for regulating spine density and maturation.

    • Anouar Khayachi
    • , Carole Gwizdek
    •  & Stéphane Martin

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Polarized localization of Numb and Pon in Drosophila neuroblasts (NBs) enables their unequal segregation during asymmetric cell divisions. Here, the authors demonstrate liquid-liquid phase separation of Pon and Numb in NBs mediated by multivalent intermolecular interactions is required for their basal condensation.

    • Zelin Shan
    • , Yuting Tu
    •  & Wenyu Wen

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The proteome-wide characterization of proteostasis depends on robust approaches to determine protein half-lives. Here, the authors improve the accuracy and precision of mass spectrometry-based quantification, enabling reliable protein half-life determination in several non-dividing cell types.

    • Toby Mathieson
    • , Holger Franken
    •  & Mikhail M. Savitski

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Aurora B kinase is a member of the chromosomal passenger complex, which is an indispensable regulator of mitosis. Here the authors show that the deubiquitinating enzyme USP35 has a role in mitotic progression by inhibiting proteasomal degradation of Aurora B kinase, leading to its activation.

    • Jinyoung Park
    • , Mi-Sun Kwon
    •  & Eun Joo Song

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Asthenozoospermia is a major cause of male infertility, and multiple morphological abnormalities of the flagella (MMAF) is a particularly severe form. Here, using whole-exome sequencing of 78 MMAF patients, the authors identify mutations in two WDR proteins, CFAP43 and CFAP44, and confirm that these proteins are required for flagellogenesis in mouse and Trypanosoma brucei.

    • Charles Coutton
    • , Alexandra S. Vargas
    •  & Pierre F. Ray

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Vacuolar sorting receptors (VSRs) are suggested to efficiently transport hydrolases by continuous cycling. Here, the authors use a nanobody-epitope interaction-based labeling approach to trace VSR recycling from the TGN/EE to the cis-Golgi and reveal ligand reloading of recycled VSRs.

    • Simone Früholz
    • , Florian Fäßler
    •  & Peter Pimpl

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Trafficking from endosomes to the trans-Golgi network requires recognition of vesicle tethers during membrane docking. Here, the authors identify a complex localised to AP-1 generated vesicles containing WDR11, C17orf75 and FAM91A, which together with TBC1D23 facilitates vesicle capture on Golgi membranes

    • Paloma Navarro Negredo
    • , James R. Edgar
    •  & Margaret S. Robinson

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) protein, BRUCE is known to ubiquitinate apoptosis regulators for proteasomal degradation. Here the authors show that BRUCE provides a bridge between LAMP2 on lysosomes and Atg8 family proteins on autophagosomes to support autophagosome-lysosome fusion.

    • Petra Ebner
    • , Isabella Poetsch
    •  & Fumiyo Ikeda

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Aberrant mTORC1 signaling is linked to several chronic diseases. Here, the authors develop a small molecule inhibitor that binds the small G-protein Rheb and selectively blocks mTORC1 signaling, holding potential for therapeutic applications.

    • Sarah J. Mahoney
    • , Sridhar Narayan
    •  & Eddine Saiah

  • Article
    | Open Access

    Glucagon secretion is promoted during hypoglycemia and inhibited by increased glucose levels. Here, Basco et al. show that glucokinase suppresses glucose-regulated glucagon secretion by modulating the intracellular ATP/ADP ratio and the closure of KATP channels in α-cells.

    • Davide Basco
    • , Quan Zhang
    •  & Bernard Thorens

  • Article
    | Open Access

    The actomyosin cytoskeleton plays an important role in polarised cell migration. Here the authors identify lymphocyte-specific protein (LSP)-1 as a regulator of actomyosin contractility in macrophages, by competing with supervillin for myosin IIA activators acting specifically on the β-actin isoform.

    • Pasquale Cervero
    • , Christiane Wiesner
    •  & Stefan Linder

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