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Cover Image
Cover Image
On the cover
Le Dréau et al. report that the activity levels of the canonical BMP effectors SMAD1 and SMAD5 dictate the mode of stem cell division—self-expanding, self-renewing, or self-consuming—during spinal cord formation. A mirror-reconstruction image of a transverse section through the developing spinal cord of a chick embryo shows the expression patterns of the reporters pSox2:eGFP (green) and pTis21:RFP (red), which are active during progenitor-generating and neuron-generating divisions, respectively. The apical and basal membranes of the neural tube are labeled white.
Image © 2014 Le Dréau et al.
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In This Issue
In Focus
People & Ideas
Amy Gladfelter: Fungi with a streak of individuality
Gladfelter studies the behavior of nuclei and cytoskeletal structures in syncytia.
Review
Report
Structural and functional analysis of MiD51, a dynamin receptor required for mitochondrial fission
Structure–function analyses driven by a crystal structure of the cytosolic domain of the Drp1 receptor MiD51 reveals a nucleotidyltransferase fold and nucleotide binding activity that is independent of its Drp1 binding activity.
A bidirectional antagonism between aPKC and Yurt regulates epithelial cell polarity
During epithelial cell polarization, aPKC phosphorylates Yurt to prevent its premature apical localization, while at the same time Yurt binds to and restrains aPKC function.
PIP3-dependent macropinocytosis is incompatible with chemotaxis
In growing Dictyostelium discoideum, PIP3 is unnecessary for migration toward folate and actively inhibits chemotaxis and pseudopod formation by promoting macropinocytosis.
Article
CDK phosphorylation of SLD-2 is required for replication initiation and germline development in C. elegans
Timely phosphorylation of SLD-2 by CDK is essential for proper replication initiation and cell proliferation in the germline of C. elegans.
The SUN protein Mps3 controls Ndc1 distribution and function on the nuclear membrane
Ndc1–Mps3 interaction is important for controlling the distribution of Ndc1 between the nuclear pore complex and spindle pole body to ensure proper nuclear envelope insertion of both complexes.
Peroxisomal Atg37 binds Atg30 or palmitoyl-CoA to regulate phagophore formation during pexophagy
The acyl-CoA–binding protein Atg37 is a new component of the pexophagic receptor protein complex that regulates the recruitment of Atg11 by Atg30 in the peroxisomal membrane during pexophagy
Aggregation state determines the localization and function of M1– and M23–aquaporin-4 in astrocytes
An aggregation state–dependent mechanism for segregation of plasma membrane protein complexes confers specific functional roles to the M1 and M23 isoforms of the water channel AQP4.
Rho GTPase and Shroom direct planar polarized actomyosin contractility during convergent extension
Rho GTPase signaling establishes a planar polarized actomyosin network within which the actin-binding protein Shroom enhances myosin activity locally to generate robust mechanical forces during axis elongation.
The strength of SMAD1/5 activity determines the mode of stem cell division in the developing spinal cord
The activity level of the BMP effectors SMAD1/5 dictates whether stem cell divisions are self-expanding, self-renewing, or self-consuming during spinal interneuron generation.
TAK1 kinase switches cell fate from apoptosis to necrosis following TNF stimulation
Activation of the TAK1 kinase drives RIPK3-dependent necrosis and inhibits apoptosis downstream of TNF-α stimulation.
