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ON THE COVER
A representative image of mouse olfactory epithelium section. Olfactory sensory neurons are stained for olfactory marker protein (red). Glial-like supporting cells express the Ca2+-activated Cl− channel TMEM16A (green) at the apical portion. The cell nuclei are stained in blue with DAPI. See page 954. - PDF Icon PDF LinkTable of Contents
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Editorials
Excluding scientist survivors from the NASEM Action Collaborative is a step backward in changing culture to prevent sexual harassment
By excluding scientist survivors from leadership of the Action Collaborative, the NASEM undermines its goal of positive culture change to reduce sexual harassment.
Research News
Commentary
The mechanism of photon-like dark noise in rod photoreceptors
Pugh highlights recent work ruling out a role for ultraweak photon emission in spontaneous photon-like events in retinal rods.
Viewpoint
It takes two to tango: The dance of the permease
In order to dance the tango, Lac permease must slide smoothly between at least two conformations, one open to the outside of the cell membrane and one open to the inside. This Viewpoint describes recent studies on the structure and mechanism lactose permease utilizes to perform its tango, a dance involving symport of an H+ and a sugar.
Research Articles
Rejection of the biophoton hypothesis on the origin of photoreceptor dark noise
It has been suggested that retinal “dark light” is caused by photons emitted by the retina itself. The authors show that the “biophoton” radiation from the retina can be detected, but its intensity is ≥100 times lower than necessary to produce the measured physiological noise understood to arise from the spontaneous activation of rhodopsin.
Molecular determinants for agonist recognition and discrimination in P2X2 receptors
P2X receptors (P2XRs) are ligand-gated cation channels involved in pain and inflammation. Gasparri et al. show that the backbone carbonyl atoms of amino acid residue Thr184 are involved in ligand discrimination, while those of Lys69 contribute mostly to ligand recognition by rat P2X2Rs.
Identifying the molecular target sites for CFTR potentiators GLPG1837 and VX-770
Identification of the binding sites for small molecules that alleviate gating defects in CFTR would assist rational drug design for the treatment of cystic fibrosis. Yeh et al. identify two potential binding sites for prototypical CFTR potentiators at the interface of CFTR’s two transmembrane domains.
Extraocular muscle function is impaired in ryr3−/− mice
Extraocular muscles are specialized skeletal muscles expressing a particular set of proteins involved in calcium homeostasis, including RYR3. Eckhardt et al. investigate extraocular muscle function in ryr3−/− mice and show that ablation of RYR3 significantly impacts vision.
Communications
Rapid resensitization of ASIC2a is conferred by three amino acid residues in the N terminus
Acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs) are voltage-independent cation channels that are modulated by extracellular pH fluctuations. Lee et al. identify three neutral residues in the N terminus (T25, T39, and I40) that are critical for rapid resensitization of homomeric and heteromeric ASIC2a channels.
TMEM16A calcium-activated chloride currents in supporting cells of the mouse olfactory epithelium
Glial-like supporting cells of the olfactory epithelium are involved in a variety of processes important to the function of this tissue. Henriques et al. find that supporting cells exhibit an ATP-induced, Ca2+-sensitive Cl− current produced by TMEM16A Cl− channels.
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