Published in The Journal of cell biology
Many biological events, such as the propagation of nerve impulses, the synchronized cell cycles of early embryogenesis, and collective cell migration, must be coordinated with remarkable speed across very large distances. Such rapid coordination cannot be achieved by simple diffusion of molecules alone and requires specialized mechanisms. Although ...
Published in The Journal of cell biology
Chaperones with aggregase activity promote and organize the aggregation of misfolded proteins and their deposition at specific intracellular sites. This activity represents a novel cytoprotective strategy of protein quality control systems; however, little is known about its mechanism. In yeast, the small heat shock protein Hsp42 orchestrates the s...
Published in The Journal of cell biology
The assembly of sequence-specific enhancer-binding transcription factors (TFs) at cis-regulatory elements in the genome has long been regarded as the fundamental mechanism driving cell type-specific gene expression. However, despite extensive biochemical, genetic, and genomic studies in the past three decades, our understanding of molecular mechani...
Published in The Journal of cell biology
The biogenesis of mitochondria depends on the import of hundreds of preproteins. N-terminal matrix-targeting signals (MTSs) direct preproteins to the surface receptors Tom20, Tom22, and Tom70. In this study, we show that many preproteins contain additional internal MTS-like signals (iMTS-Ls) in their mature region that share the characteristic prop...
Published in The Journal of cell biology
Kinesin-4 motors play important roles in cell division, microtubule organization, and signaling. Understanding how motors perform their functions requires an understanding of their mechanochemical and motility properties. We demonstrate that KIF27 can influence microtubule dynamics, suggesting a conserved function in microtubule organization across...
Published in The Journal of cell biology
Dendritic cells (DCs) produce major histocompatibility complex II (MHCII) in large amounts to function as professional antigen presenting cells. Paradoxically, DCs also ubiquitinate and degrade MHCII in a constitutive manner. Mice deficient in the MHCII-ubiquitinating enzyme membrane-anchored RING-CH1, or the ubiquitin-acceptor lysine of MHCII, exh...
Published in The Journal of cell biology
Mitofusins are outer membrane proteins essential for mitochondrial fusion. Their accepted topology posits that both N and C termini face the cytoplasm. In this issue, Mattie et al. (2018. J. Cell Biol. https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.201611194) demonstrate instead that their C termini reside in the intermembrane space. These findings call for a revisio...
Published in The Journal of cell biology
Song studies the trafficking and biological activities of cholesterol.
Published in The Journal of cell biology
Ben Barres, professor of neurobiology at Stanford University and member of the JCB editorial board for over 15 years, passed away on December 27, 2017, after a lengthy battle with pancreatic cancer. Ben left an indelible mark on the scientific community as a scientist, an advocate for equality, and an unbelievably supportive mentor. As a scientist ...
Published in The Journal of cell biology
Accurate and synchronous replication timing between chromosome homologues is essential for maintaining chromosome stability, yet how this is achieved has remained a mystery. In this issue, Platt et al. (2018. J. Cell Biol. https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.201707082) identify antisense LINE (L1) transcripts within long noncoding RNAs as the critical fact...
