biosights: Recent Episodes
The Rockefeller University Press
biosights is a series of life science videos highlighting original scientific research published in The Journal of Cell Biology. The shows feature original video data and interviews with the scientists who performed the work.
Lymphatic exosomes help dendritic cells find their way
Under inflammatory conditions, antigen-presenting dendritic cells are attracted to lymphatic vessels by chemokines secreted from the basolateral surface of lymphatic endothelial cells. Brown et al. reveal that lymphatic endothelial cells also release exosomal vesicles that, by inducing the formation of cellular protrusions, improve the ability of dendritic cells to detect guidance cues and navigate their way through complex tissue environments. This biosights episode presents the paper by Brown et al. from the June 4th, 2018, issue of the Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with one of the paper's senior authors, Dontscho Kerjaschki (Medical University of Vienna). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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BBSome trains provide receptors a passage out of cilia
Many G protein–coupled receptors accumulate in the membrane of primary cilia and then exit this sensory organelle when their signaling pathway is activated. Ye et al. reveal that the BBSome complex facilitates the signal-dependent exit of GPCRs by moving them across a diffusion barrier located at the ciliary transition zone, although the receptors must then cross a second, periciliary diffusion barrier to completely exit the cilium. This biosights episode presents the paper by Ye et al. from the May 7th, 2018, issue of the Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Maxence Nachury (University of California, San Francisco). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Dia1-dependent adhesions help epithelia branch out
The actin cytoskeleton and its regulators play key roles in the maturation and stabilization of focal adhesions but how adhesion maturation affects tissue morphogenesis is largely unknown. Fessenden et al. reveal that the actin-nucleating formin protein Dia1 promotes branching morphogenesis by stabilizing adhesions that are required for epithelial tissues to initiate invasion. This biosights episode presents the paper by Fessenden et al. from the April 2nd, 2018, issue of the Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Margaret Gardel (University of Chicago). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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The nucleus comes through in the clutch
In addition to its roles in DNA replication and gene expression, the nucleus has an important physical impact on cellular behavior. Graham et al. reveal that, although the nucleus is dispensable for cell polarization and migration on 2D surfaces, it is crucial for regulating the cell's responses to mechanical cues. This biosights episode presents the paper by Graham et al. from the March 5th, 2018, issue of the Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's first author, David Graham, and its two senior authors, Jim Bear and Keith Burridge (University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Cytotoxic T cells use Flower power
In order to efficiently kill multiple target cells, cytotoxic T lymphocytes must endocytose and recycle cytotoxic granule membrane components from the immunological synapse. Chang et al. reveal that a protein called Flower facilitates granule endocytosis in a calcium-dependent manner. This biosights episode presents the paper by Chang et al. from the February 5th, 2018, issue of the Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with one of the paper's senior authors, Jens Rettig (Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Ring out your dead: MRCKα cleavage triggers epithelial extrusion
Dying epithelial cells are extruded from the tissue by a basal actomyosin ring formed in neighboring, healthy cells. Gagliardi et al. reveal that epithelial extrusion is also driven by actin rearrangements in the apoptotic cell, where cleavage of the kinase MRCKα induces the assembly of an apical actin ring that collapses the cell body and moves the dying cell upward. This biosights episode presents the paper by Gagliardi et al. from the January 2nd, 2018, issue of the Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's first author, Paolo Gagliardi (Candiolo Cancer Institute, Candiolo, Italy). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Adult neuroblasts DOCK into position
In the postnatal/adult brain, interneuron precursors, or neuroblasts, migrate along the rostral migratory stream by undergoing cycles of leading process extension followed by somal translocation. Nakamuta et al. reveal that the Rac/Cdc42 guanine nucleotide exchange factor DOCK7 coordinates this migratory cycle by regulating both Rac-dependent leading process extension and p116Rip-dependent actin assembly at the cell rear. This biosights episode presents the paper by Nakamuta et al. from the December 4th, 2017, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Linda Van Aelst (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, NY). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Cancer-associated fibroblasts lay the tracks for directional migration
Cancer-associated fibroblasts, or CAFs, regulate tumor progression by secreting chemokines and remodeling the extracellular matrix. Erdogan et al. reveal that the CAF-dependent alignment of fibronectin promotes directional cancer cell migration. This biosights episode presents the paper by Erdogan et al. from the November 6th, 2017, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with two of the paper's authors, Begum Erdogan and Mingfang Ao (Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Drp1 cuts off mitophagy
Misfolded mitochondrial proteins can be eliminated by Parkin-dependent mitophagy but how this process selectively removes damaged mitochondrial regions is unclear. Burman et al. reveal that protein aggregates in the mitochondrial matrix trigger a local accumulation of Parkin on the mitochondrial outer membrane, and that the mitochondrial fission protein Drp1 segregates these domains to prevent Parkin accumulation from spreading and directing the elimination of healthy regions of the organelle. This biosights episode presents the paper by Burman et al. from the October 2nd, 2017, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Richard Youle (NINDS, NIH). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
Synaptic activity shifts dendritic lysosomes
Invading pathogens or other toxic agents can trigger the assembly of the inflammasome adaptor ASC into large, intracellular specks that activate caspase-1 to initiate a proinflammatory cell death called pyroptosis. Kuri et al. follow the dynamics of ASC speck formation in live zebrafish, revealing their lethal effects on epidermal keratinocytes and their subsequent engulfment and degradation by macrophages. This biosights episode presents the paper by Kuri et al. from the September 4th, 2017, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with two of the paper's authors, Paola Kuri and Maria Leptin (EMBL). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
Synaptic activity shifts dendritic lysosomes
Lysosomes are known to exist in both the cell body and axon of neurons, but whether they also localize to dendrites is unclear. Goo et al. reveal that lysosomes do exist in dendrites and dendritic spines, and that their trafficking in this region of neurons is regulated by synaptic activity. This biosights episode presents the paper by Goo et al. from the August 7th, 2017, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Gentry Patrick (University of California, San Diego). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Myosins team up to help secretory granules integrate
Actomyosin contractility drives a variety of membrane remodeling events, including the integration of secretory granules into the apical plasma membrane after exocytosis. By visualizing granule integration in the salivary glands of live mice, Milberg et al. reveal that myosin IIA and myosin IIB act at different stages of the process and that the activation and assembly of these myosin isoforms into contractile filaments is regulated by the F-actin scaffold, which assembles on secretory granules and recruits myosin light chain kinase. This biosights episode presents the paper by Milberg et al. from the July 3rd, 2017, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Roberto Weigert (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Broken chromosomes stay on the safe side in mitosis
Unrepaired DNA double strand breaks can generate chromosome fragments that lack centromeres but, surprisingly, these acentric chromosomes can nevertheless segregate to spindle poles during mitosis. Karg et al. reveal that, in Drosophila melanogaster neuroblasts, acentric chromosomes segregate along interpolar microtubules at the spindle periphery that are organized by the chromokinesin motor protein Klp3a. This biosights episode presents the paper by Karg et al. from the June 5th, 2017, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, William Sullivan (University of California, Santa Cruz). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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The cell cortex makes use of plastin's connections
Cortical actomyosin contractility regulates a variety of morphogenetic processes at both the cellular and tissue-based levels. Ding et al. reveal that, in the Caenorhabditis elegans zygote, the actin cross-linking protein plastin optimizes connectivity within the cortical actomyosin network to coordinate large-scale contractile processes that drive cell polarization and cytokinesis. This biosights episode presents the paper by Ding et al. from the May 1st, 2017, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Ronen Zaidel-Bar (National University of Singapore). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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How Chlamydia help mitochondria keep it together
The obligate intracellular bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis must keep its host cell alive, even though it produces reactive oxygen species that expose the host cell to oxidative stress. Chowdhury et al. reveal that Chlamydia mitigates this oxidative stress by down-regulating the mitochondrial fission protein DRP1 via a microRNA- and p53-dependent pathway, thereby maintaining the mitochondrial network and ATP production to promote host cell survival and bacterial growth. This biosights episode presents the paper by Chowdhury et al. from the April 3rd, 2017, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with two of the paper's authors, Suvagata Roy Chowdhury and Thomas Rudel (University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Actin isoforms divide their responsibilities in motoneurons
Actin dynamics are crucial for axon growth and branching, but most studies have only focused on the role of β-actin. Moradi et al. reveal that α-, β-, and γ-actin have different functions in motoneuron axons; locally translated α-actin forms stable actin filaments that promote the formation of axonal branches, whereas β-actin regulates growth cone dynamics. This biosights episode presents the paper by Moradi et al. from the March 6th, 2017, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Michael Sendtner (University Hospital Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Localizing mTORC2 activity
The mTORC2 complex regulates cell growth and proliferation by phosphorylating the protein kinase Akt, but where in the cell mTORC2 is active, and how growth factors direct its activity towards Akt, remains unclear. Ebner et al. use a novel reporter to show that endogenous mTORC2 activity localizes to plasma membrane, mitochondrial, and endosomal pools with distinct sensitivities to PI3 kinase and growth factor signaling, and that growth factors induce Akt phosphorylation by promoting Akt's recruitment to the plasma membrane. This biosights episode presents the paper by Ebner et al. from the February 6th, 2017, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with two of the paper's authors, Michael Ebner and Ivan Yudushkin (Max F. Perutz Laboratories and Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Tumor cells feel the pressure after protease inhibition
Primary fibroblasts use a high pressure, “nuclear piston” mode of migration to move through highly cross-linked 3D extracellular matrices. Petrie et al. reveal that tumor cells with high levels of matrix metalloproteinase activity generally migrate by forming lamellipodia but, when their protease activity is inhibited, they can switch to the nuclear piston mechanism to force their nuclei through small gaps in the extracellular matrix. This biosights episode presents the paper by Petrie et al. from the January 2nd, 2017, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper’s senior author, Ryan Petrie (Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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How NK cells avoid collateral damage
Before secreting their lytic granules to kill transformed or virally infected cells, natural killer cells converge these lysosome-related organelles around the microtubule-organizing center. Hsu et al. reveal that, by promoting the granules' directed secretion at the immunological synapse, convergence both enhances the efficiency of target cell killing and limits the death of healthy bystander cells. This biosights episode presents the paper by Hsu et al. from the December 19th, 2016, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Jordan Orange (Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Formin’ arcs at the immunological synapse
When a T cell encounters an antigen-presenting cell, it dramatically reorganizes its cytoskeleton to form a specialized contact site called the immunological synapse. Murugesan et al. use superresolution microscopy to reveal that the medial region of the synapse contains a contractile network of formin-generated actomyosin arcs that sweep T cell receptor microclusters toward the center of the synapse. This biosights episode presents the paper by Murugesan et al. from the November 7th, 2016, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper’s senior author, John Hammer (NHLBI, Bethesda, MD). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
Retinal ganglion cells have a backup plan
Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are born at the apical side of the retinal neuroepithelium before they translocate to the basal side and send out axons to form the optic nerve. Icha et al. reveal that, in the zebrafish retina, RGC translocation is expedited by basal process attachment and a population of stable microtubules. If necessary, however, RGCs can switch to a backup, multipolar migratory mode to ensure that they reach the basal lamina in time to support the later stages of retinal development. This biosights episode presents the paper by Icha et al. from the October 24th, 2016, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper’s senior author, Caren Norden (Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Dresden, Germany). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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An iron hand controls endosome-mitochondria contacts
In erythroid cells, endocytosed iron is directly transferred into mitochondria at dynamic endosome-mitochondria contacts. Das et al. reveal that this process also occurs in epithelial cells, and that the motility of endosomes, and the duration of their interactions with mitochondria, is modulated by intra-endosomal iron release from transferrin. This biosights episode presents the paper by Das et al. from the September 26th, 2016, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper’s senior author, Margarida Barroso (Albany Medical College, Albany, NY). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Septins step in to promote macropinosome fusion
After they are formed by the closure of membrane ruffles, macropinosomes mature by fusing with each other and with endosomes, before eventually delivering their fluid phase cargo to lysosomes. Dolat and Spiliotis reveal that septin filaments promote macropinosome maturation and lysosomal delivery by facilitating macropinosome/endosome fusion. This biosights episode presents the paper by Dolat and Spiliotis from the August 29th, 2016, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Elias Spiliotis (Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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The midbody enables ciliogenesis
Fibroblasts initiate ciliogenesis inside the cell, but polarized epithelial cells form a primary cilium at the apical cell surface through a mechanism that is largely uncharacterized. Bernabé-Rubio et al. reveal that, in polarized MDCK cells, a remnant of the cytokinetic midbody moves to the center of the apical surface, where it encounters the centrosome and enables cilium formation. This biosights episode presents the paper by Bernabé-Rubio et al. from the August 1, 2016, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Miguel Alonso (Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, Spain). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Mobilizing mitochondria aids axon regeneration
In mature neurons, the axonal transport of mitochondria is suppressed by the expression of the mitochondrial anchoring protein syntaphilin. Zhou et al. reveal that enhancing mitochondrial transport in mature neurons rescues energy deficits and facilitates axon regeneration after injury. This biosights episode presents the paper by Zhou et al. from the July 4th, 2016, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Zu-Hang Sheng (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, MD). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Neural crest cells stay within versican's confines
Spatial confinement enhances collective cell migration in vitro, but whether it promotes collective migration in vivo is unclear. Szabó et al. reveal that the extracellular matrix protein versican confines neural crest cells to enhance their collective migration during Xenopus laevis embryogenesis. This biosights episode presents the paper by Szabó et al. from the June 6th, 2016, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Roberto Mayor (University College London, London, England, UK). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Surf's uptake! Exosomes ride filopodia into cells
Exosomes are small, extracellular vesicles that transfer lipid, protein, and RNA cargoes between cells, but relatively little is known about how they are taken up and processed by their target cells. Heusermann et al. reveal that exosomes "surf" along recipient cell filopodia before being efficiently endocytosed and targeted to the endoplasmic reticulum. This biosights episode presents the paper by Heusermann et al. from the April 25, 2016, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Nicole Meisner-Kober (Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Sac1 works its contacts
The plasma membrane phosphoinositide PI(4,5)P2 is derived from PI(4)P, whose levels are controlled by the essential lipid phosphatase Sac1. Sac1 is an integral ER membrane protein, but Dickson et al. reveal that it localizes to dynamic ER–plasma membrane contact sites to regulate plasma membrane PI(4)P and PI(4,5)P2 levels. This biosights episode presents the paper by Dickson et al. from the April 11th, 2016, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's corresponding author, Eamonn Dickson (University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Fat2 whips fly eggs into shape
During Drosophila oogenesis, the collective migration of egg chamber follicle cells drives the chambers' rotation and elongation. Squarr et al. reveal that the atypical cadherin Fat2 recruits the WAVE regulatory complex to tricellular junctions to induce the formation of whip-like actin protrusions that control collective migration and tissue rotation. This biosights episode presents the paper by Squarr et al. from the February 29th, 2016, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Sven Bogdan (University of Münster, Münster, Germany). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Chipping away at the problems of cardiac stem cell therapy
Though stem cells transplanted into heart attack patients can develop into cardiomyocytes and integrate with undamaged host tissue, preclinical studies and clinical trials have only shown limited improvements in cardiac function. Using a simplified, in vitro, "muscle on-a-chip" system, Aratyn-Schaus et al. reveal that mechanical forces aren't transmitted efficiently between weaker, stem cell–derived cardiomyocytes and stronger, more mature host cells. This biosights episode presents the paper by Aratyn-Schaus et al. from the February 15th, 2016, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with one of the paper's co-first authors, Francesco Pasqualini (Harvard University, Cambridge, MA). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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P-cadherin provides the driving force for collective cell migration
Collective cell migration is an important process in normal development, wound repair, and tumor metastasis. Plutoni et al. reveal that the cell adhesion molecule P-cadherin promotes collective cell migration via the small GTPase Cdc42, inducing cell polarization and increasing the strength and orientation of mechanical forces. This biosights episode presents the paper by Plutoni et al. from the January 18th, 2016, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Cécile Gauthier-Rouvière (Centre de Recherche de Biochimie Macromoléculaire, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Montpellier, France). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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How catastrophes help oocytes avoid disaster
During meiosis, oocytes must attach homologous chromosomes to opposite spindle poles, but the cells take several hours to assemble a bipolar spindle. Gluszek et al. reveal that, in Drosophila oocytes, the microtubule catastrophe–promoting protein Sentin delays the formation of stable kinetochore–microtubule attachments until spindle assembly is complete, thereby preventing homologous chromosomes from incorrectly attaching to the same spindle pole. This biosights episode presents the paper by Głuszek et al. from the December 21st, 2015, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Hiroyuki Ohkura (University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Cells migrate on the crest of a wave
Cells move through complex 3D environments in vivo, but studying 3D modes of migration in vitro remains a major challenge. Guetta-Terrier et al. examine the movement of cells along suspended nanofibers that mimic 3D fibrillar matrices and find that their migration is guided by fin-like protrusions that propagate away from the cell body to extend the leading edge. This biosights episode presents the paper by Guetta-Terrier et al. from the November 9th, 2015, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's corresponding authors, Benoit Ladoux (National University of Singapore and Institut Jacques Monod, Paris, France) and Nils Gauthier (National University of Singapore). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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CLIP-170 tips its hand in viral transport
After entering a cell, many viruses move toward the nucleus by binding to the microtubule-based motor protein dynein. Jovasevic et al. reveal, however, that herpes simplex virus must first associate with the plus ends of microtubules in a process that requires the dynein accessory factor dynactin and the plus end tracking proteins EB1 and CLIP-170. This biosights episode presents the paper by Jovasevic et al. from the October 26th, 2015, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's corresponding author, Derek Walsh (Northwestern University, Chicago, IL). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Maintaining the link between spindle and furrow position
The cytokinetic cleavage furrow must be carefully aligned with the spindle midzone during asymmetric cell division. Pacquelet et al. discover a pathway that maintains the connection between spindle and furrow position in one-cell C. elegans embryos by inhibiting the accumulation of myosin at the anterior cortex during cytokinesis. This biosights episode presents the paper by Pacquelet et al. from the September 28, 2015, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's corresponding author, Anne Pacquelet (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and Institut de Génétique et Développement de Rennes, France). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Pushing the envelope on spindle assembly
During mitosis, numerous proteins accumulate around the mitotic spindle to help it assemble and segregate sister chromatids correctly. Schweizer et al. reveal that a membranous spindle envelope facilitates the accumulation of these proteins by excluding large organelles from the spindle region. This biosights episode presents the paper by Schweizer et al. from the August 31st, 2015, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Helder Maiato (University of Porto, Porto, Portugal). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Endocytosis brings closure to epithelial wounds
Epithelial cells bordering a wound respond by forming two types of actin-based structure: dynamic membrane protrusions that help the cells crawl into the wound and/or seal it and an actomyosin cable that encircles the wound and closes it like a purse string. Matsubayashi et al. reveal that the endocytic remodeling of intercellular adherens junctions promotes Drosophila epidermal wound healing by coordinating the activity of multiple actin regulators at the wound edge. This biosights episode presents the paper by Matsubayashi et al. from the August 3rd, 2015, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Tom Millard (University of Manchester, Manchester, UK). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Interphase centrosomes flare up
Centrosomes undergo dramatic changes in size and structure during the rapid cell cycles of early Drosophila embryos. Lerit et al. reveal that a scaffold formed by the proteins centrosomin and PLP is required to maintain the activity of interphase centrosomes, which is essential for nuclear spacing and proper chromosome segregation. This biosights episode presents the paper by Lerit et al. from the July 6th, 2015, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with two of the paper's authors, Dorothy Lerit and Nasser Rusan (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Bethesda, MD). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Melanosomal cargoes BLOC'd off from alternate routes
The BLOC-2 complex contains three subunits encoded by genes mutated in Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome, a disease caused by defects in the trafficking pathways that form melanosomes and other lysosome-related organelles. Dennis et al. reveal that the BLOC-2 complex promotes the delivery of melanosomal cargo by targeting recycling endosomal tubules to maturing melanosomes. This biosights episode presents the paper by Dennis et al. from the May 25, 2015, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with one of the paper's senior authors, Michael Marks (University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Formin' actin at adherens junctions
Actin assembly promotes the formation of intercellular adherens junctions, but the role of actin-nucleating formin proteins in this process remains unclear. Grikscheit et al. reveal that, in breast epithelial cells cultured in 3D, the formin FMNL2 stimulates junctional actin assembly downstream of the small GTPase Rac1. This biosights episode presents the paper by Grikscheit et al. from the May 11, 2015, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Robert Grosse (University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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A motif that helps myosin II-B lead from behind
Myosin II-A and myosin II-B play distinct roles in establishing the front–back polarity of migrating mesenchymal cells. Juanes-Garcia et al. identify a short, serine-rich motif in the non-helical tail domain of myosin II-B that enables this isoform to form stable actomyosin bundles that define the cell rear. This biosights episode presents the paper by Juanes-Garcia et al. from the April 13, 2015, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Miguel Vicente-Manzanares (Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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PAPC separates tissues at a Snail's pace
Brachet's cleft separates the ectoderm and mesoderm of early Xenopus and zebrafish embryos. Luu et al. reveal that, in conjunction with the transcription factor Snail1, the protocadherin PAPC promotes tissue separation by down-regulating planar cell polarity proteins at the ectoderm-mesoderm boundary. This biosights episode presents the paper by Luu et al. from the March 16, 2015, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with one of the paper's senior authors, Rudolf Winklbauer (University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Filopodia point the way for haptotaxis
Migrating fibroblasts maintain or change their direction by branching off new lamellipodia from existing protrusions at the cell's leading edge. Johnson et al. reveal that filopodial protrusions initiate and orient these lamellipodia, helping fibroblasts navigate gradients of immobilized guidance cues. This biosights episode presents the paper by Johnson et al. from the February 16, 2015, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Jason Haugh (North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Tubulin transport pumps up cilia
The assembly of cilia and flagella requires the delivery of large amounts of tubulin to the growing ends of the organelles' microtubules. Craft et al. reveal that tubulin loading onto intraflagellar transport particles is specifically upregulated in growing cilia. This biosights episode presents the paper by Craft et al. from the January 19, 2015, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Karl Lechtreck (University of Georgia, Athens, GA). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Osmotic gradient is just the tonic for wounded epithelia
Rapid wound repair is generally thought to be initiated by intrinsic cues, such as changes in the structure or mechanics of damaged tissues. Gault et al. reveal that an extrinsic signal — the osmolarity of the external environment — can stimulate wound closure in zebrafish by inducing epithelial cell migration. This biosights episode presents the paper by Gault et al. from the December 22, 2014, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Philipp Niethammer (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Dynein helps centrioles stick together
Dynein has numerous functions in mitosis, but the function of the motor complex's light intermediate chains is poorly understood. Jones et al. reveal that dynein's light intermediate chains are required to maintain centrosome integrity during mitosis, preventing the premature separation of mother-daughter centrioles and the formation of multipolar spindles. This biosights episode presents the paper by Jones et al. from the November 24, 2014, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior authors, Viki Allan and Sarah Woolner (University of Manchester, UK). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Cdc42 prompts a change of heart
The apical surfaces of polarized epithelia are covered by short, actin-rich protrusions called microvilli, but what happens to these structures when cells detach from a monolayer during development or disease is unclear. Klingner et al. reveal that non-confluent epithelial cells form longer, more dynamic microvilli on their apical surface that connect to a cortical actomyosin network. This biosights episode presents the paper by Klingner et al. from the October 13, 2014, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Roland Wedlich-Söldner (University of Münster, Germany). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Cdc42 prompts a change of heart
The Drosophila heart is a simple tubular structure with a central lumen. Vogler et al. reveal that the small GTPase Cdc42 and actin-nucleating formin proteins promote lumen formation by regulating the dynamics of non-muscle myosin in cardioblasts during heart morphogenesis. This biosights episode presents the paper by Vogler et al. from the September 29, 2014, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with two of the paper's authors, Georg Vogler and Rolf Bodmer (Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, La Jolla, CA). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Deploying exosomes in a battle of the sexes
The paired accessory glands of male Drosophila secrete multiple signaling factors into the seminal fluid that promote reproductive success by altering the recipient female's physiology and behavior. This biosights episode presents the paper by Corrigan et al. from the September 1, 2014, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with corresponding author Alexander Bershadsky (Weizmann Institute, Israel, and Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Rok keeps its finger on the pulse of apical constriction
Early in Drosophila embryogenesis, contractile pulses of myosin assembly and disassembly constrict the apical domains of a group of epithelial cells to drive their invagination into a ventral furrow. Vasquez et al. reveal that Rho kinase and myosin phosphatase dynamically regulate these myosin pulses and that the stepwise constriction resulting from this helps maintain tissue integrity during epithelial invagination. This biosights episode presents the paper by Vasquez et al. from the August 4, 2014, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with two of the paper's authors, Claudia Vasquez and Adam Martin (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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The fluid dynamics of collective cell migration
During development and tumor metastasis, cells prepare to migrate by undergoing an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition that loosens their connections to neighboring cells. But some cell types then migrate en masse to their final destinations, indicating that their intercellular adhesions aren't disrupted completely. Kuriyama et al. reveal that the phospholipid lysophosphatidic acid promotes the collective migration of Xenopus neural crest cells by downregulating the surface expression of N-cadherin, granting the cells fluid-like properties that enhance their movement through embryonic tissues. This biosights episode presents the paper by Kuriyama et al. from the July 7, 2014, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with senior author Roberto Mayor (University College London, UK). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Rab18 tilts the balance of ER structure
The endoplasmic reticulum consists of peripheral tubular networks connected to sheet-like domains surrounding the nucleus. Gerondopoulos et al. reveal that the Rab3GAP complex, which is mutated in the neurodevelopmental disorder Warburg Micro Syndrome, is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor that activates the small GTPase Rab18 (also mutated in Warburg Micro Syndrome) to control the balance between ER tubules and sheets. This biosights episode presents the paper by Gerondopoulos et al. from the June 9, 2014, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with senior author Francis Barr (University of Oxford, UK). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Phosphoinositides get cells in shape
Early Drosophila embryos undergo 13 rounds of rapid nuclear division before enclosing each nucleus into an individual, membrane-bound cell. Reversi et al. describe how the phosphoinositides PI(4,5)P2 and PI(3,4,5)P3 control the resulting cell shapes by coordinating actomyosin contractility with plasma membrane expansion. This biosights episode presents the paper by Reversi et al. from the May 12, 2014, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with senior author Stefano De Renzis (EMBL, Heidelberg, Germany). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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An actin lever flattens out the cell
The lamella is a broad, flat region that forms at the front of migrating cells and adheres to the underlying substrate. Burnette et al. reveal that cells flatten out the lamella by mechanically coupling a contractile actomyosin network at the dorsal surface to ventral cell adhesions. This biosights episode presents the paper by Burnette et al. from the April 14, 2014, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with authors Dylan Burnette (Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN) and Jennifer Lippincott-Schwartz (NICHD, Bethesda, MD). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Blebs lead the way in Dictyostelium chemotaxis
Membrane blebs can help the leading edge of migrating cells protrude forwards, but the contribution of blebs to the motility of Dictyostelium cells is unclear. Zatulovskiy et al. reveal that blebs form at the front of chemotaxing Dictyostelium cells, particularly when the cells are faced with a mechanically resistant environment, and that this process is guided by a PI3-kinase-dependent signaling pathway. This biosights episode presents the paper by Zatulovskiy et al. from the March 17, 2014, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with senior author Robert Kay (MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, UK). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Shroom takes embryos to new dimensions
During development, the planar polarized distribution of Rho kinase and Myosin II helps Drosophila germ-band cells intercalate so that the embryo extends along its anterior-posterior axis. Simões et al. reveal how Rho GTPase and the actin-binding protein Shroom combine to regulate the localization of Rho kinase and actomyosin contractility during axis elongation. This biosights episode presents the paper by Simões et al. from the February 17, 2014, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with first author Sérgio de Matos Simões (formerly at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York and currently at the University of Toronto). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Motors give a new twist to platelet activation
The discoid shape of resting platelets is maintained by a peripheral ring of bundled microtubules called the marginal band. Diagouraga et al. reveal that, upon platelet activation, the motor protein dynein slides microtubules apart, inducing marginal band coiling and the conversion of platelets to a spherical shape. This biosights episode presents the paper by Diagouraga et al. from the January 20, 2014, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with senior author Karin Sadoul (Institut Albert Bonniot, Grenoble, France). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Tumor cells WASH away the extracellular matrix Tumor cells invade through extracellular matrices by forming actin-rich structures called invadopodia, which contain the transmembrane matrix metalloproteinase MT1-MMP. Monteiro et al. reveal that the Arp2/3 activating protein WASH works with the exocyst complex to deliver MT1-MMP from late endosomes to the invadopodial plasma membrane. This biosights episode presents the paper by Monteiro et al. from the December 23, 2013, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with senior author Philippe Chavrier (Institut Curie, Paris, France). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Caspases work as branch managers
When a growing axon nears its target, it arborizes, or branches, to form numerous synaptic connections. Campbell and Okamoto reveal that localized caspase activation downstream of Slit-Robo signaling promotes arbor dynamics and restricts arbor growth. This biosights episode presents the paper by Campbell and Okamoto from the November 25, 2013, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with lead author Douglas Campbell (formerly at the RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Japan, and currently at the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Germany). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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A framework for understanding muscle microtubules The microtubules of skeletal muscle fibers are arranged into an orthogonal grid, but how this network is formed is unknown. Oddoux et al. reveal that the network is built by dynamic microtubules nucleated from Golgi elements. This biosights episode presents the paper by Oddoux et al. from the October 28, 2013, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with senior author Evelyn Ralston (NIH, Bethesda, MD). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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The nodal network
In addition to specialized actin structures such as lamellipodia and stress fibers, cells are thought to contain a contractile actomyosin matrix that maintains cell shape. Luo et al. describe the organization and dynamics of an actomyosin network that may fulfill this function. This network is formed by actin nodes that contain the formin DAAM1 and the crosslinker filamin A, and that are connected to each other by myosin II. This biosights episode presents the paper by Luo et al. from the September 30, 2013, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with corresponding author Alexander Bershadsky (Weizmann Institute, Israel, and Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Shrinking microtubules pull the centrosome into place
When a T cell encounters a target antigen-presenting cell, it moves its centrosome to the immunological synapse that connects the two cells. Yi et al. reveal that centrosome repositioning is a biphasic process driven by the dynein-dependent capture and depolymerization of microtubules. This biosights episode presents the paper by Yi et al. from the September 2, 2013, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with senior author John Hammer (NHLBI, Bethesda, MD). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Epithelia restored by healing waves
Epithelial cells around the edge of a wound assemble an actomyosin cable that constricts to draw the wound closed, but the events that precede cable formation are largely unknown. Antunes et al. reveal that wounding induces a wave of actomyosin assembly and cell constriction that flows toward the wound edge to promote cable assembly and tissue repair. This biosights episode presents the paper by Antunes et al. from the July 22, 2013, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with senior author Antonio Jacinto (NOVA, Lisbon, Portugal). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Vinculin delivers a clutch performance
At the leading edge of migrating cells, actin assembly and membrane protrusion are closely coupled with the formation of integrin-based focal adhesions that attach to the extracellular matrix. Thievessen et al. reveal that the focal adhesion protein vinculin acts as part of a molecular clutch that engages actin flow to coordinate actin and focal adhesion dynamics. This biosights episode presents the paper by Thievessen et al. from the July 8, 2013, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with senior author Clare Waterman (NHLBI, Bethesda, MD). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Netrin Throws Anchor Cells into the Breach
Cell invasion through basement membranes is crucial for both normal development and cancer metastasis but relatively little is known about the process because it is difficult to observe in vivo. By imaging the invasion of anchor cells during C. elegans development, Hagedorn et al. reveal that, after invadopodia-like structures form an initial breach in the basement membrane, localized netrin signaling helps generate a stable invasive protrusion that widens the gap and directs the cell across the extracellular barrier. This biosights episode presents the paper by Hagedorn et al. from the June 10, 2013, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with senior author David Sherwood (Duke University, Durham, NC). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Ventral lamellipodia plug the gaps
When leukocytes enter or exit the blood stream, they leave small wounds both in and between the vascular endothelial cells, which must be quickly repaired so that the endothelium can maintain its barrier function. Martinelli et al. reveal that wounding causes a loss of tension in endothelial cells, inducing the formation of ventral lamellipodia that close the holes left by transmigrating leukocytes. This biosights episode presents the paper by Martinelli et al. from the April 29, 2013, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with authors Roberta Martinelli and Christopher Carman (Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Frog oocytes evade the checkpoint
Most dividing cells possess a spindle assembly checkpoint that prevents them from entering anaphase until all their chromosomes are correctly attached to the metaphase spindle. Shao et al. reveal that Xenopus eggs lack this checkpoint, allowing them to undergo meiosis in the absence of microtubules or in the presence of monopolar spindles. This biosights episode presents the paper by Shao et al. from the April 15, 2013 issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with senior author Johné Liu (Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Canada). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Breaking egg symmetry
During the first meiotic division of mammalian oocytes, the meiotic spindle and chromosomes move from the interior to the periphery of the cell. Yi et al. reveal that chromosome migration occurs in two sequential phases driven by the actin nucleators Fmn2 and the Arp2/3 complex. This biosights episode presents the paper by Yi et al. from the March 4, 2013, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with senior author Rong Li (Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, MO). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Erecting a myosin scaffold for cytokinesis
Cell division requires the coordinated action of proteins that promote actomyosin contraction, membrane trafficking, and extracellular matrix remodeling. Wloka et al. reveal that, in budding yeast, the type II myosin Myo1 acts as an immobile scaffold at the bud neck to organize proteins involved in forming the primary septum during cytokinesis. This biosights episode presents the paper by Wloka et al. from the February 4, 2013, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with senior author Erfei Bi (University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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How cell shape changes unfold
Under certain conditions, cells form protrusions that oscillate rapidly around the cell periphery. Kapustina et al. reveal that these oscillatory protrusions, which may be related to processes involved in amoeboid cell migration, are driven by the cyclic folding and unfolding of the plasma membrane and its underlying actin cortex. This biosights episode presents the paper by Kapustina et al. from the January 7, 2013, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with lead author Maryna Kapustina (University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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At the end of cytokinesis, the microtubule-rich midbody connecting the daughter cells is either shed into the extracellular space or retained by one of the daughters. Chai et al. find that the midbodies released from C. elegans Q neuroblasts are cleared via a pathway that closely mimics the removal of apoptotic cell corpses. This biosights episode presents the paper by Chai et al. from the December 24, 2012 issue of the Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with senior author Guangshuo Ou (Institute of Biophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Fission yeast are thought to assemble their cytokinetic actomyosin rings from actin filaments nucleated at myosin-containing nodes around the cell equator. Using an improved actin-binding probe, Huang et al. find that actin cables are nucleated all over the cortex of mitotic fission yeast and are transported to the division site for incorporation into the contractile ring. This biosights episode presents the paper by Huang et al. from the November 26, 2012, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with senior author Mohan Balasubramanian (Temasek Life Sciences Laboratory, Singapore). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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A stiff test for collectively migrating cells The mechanical properties of the extracellular matrix are known to regulate the migration of single cells, but whether substrate stiffness also affects collective cell migration is unclear. Ng et al. reveal that epithelial sheets move faster on stiffer matrices due to increased myosin contractility and mechanical coupling through cell-cell adhesions. This biosights episode presents the paper by Ng et al. from the October 29, 2012, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with authors Rosa Ng, Gaudenz Danuser, and Joan Brugge (Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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The position of the mitotic spindle is controlled by the microtubule-based motor dynein and a ternary complex of the proteins NuMA, LGN, and Ga. Kotak et al. demonstrate that the ternary complex's primary function is to localize dynein to the cell cortex and that cortical dynein is sufficient to position the mitotic spindle in HeLa cells. This biosights episode presents the paper by Kotak et al. from the October 1, 2012, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with author Pierre Gonczy (EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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C. elegans embryos are protected by a trilaminar eggshell that is thought to make the embryos impermeable to small molecules. Olson et al. describe the hierarchical assembly of the different eggshell layers but reveal that the permeability barrier is a distinct structure that lies in between the shell and the embryo surface. This biosights episode presents the paper by Olson et al. from the August 20, 2012, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with authors Sara Olson (Pomona College, Claremont, CA) and Karen Oegema (Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, UC San Diego, CA). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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In animal cells, the nuclear lamina keeps nuclear pore complexes evenly distributed throughout the nuclear envelope. Steinberg et al. reveal that fungi, which lack nuclear laminae, prevent their nuclear pores from clustering by moving them around on cytoskeletal tracks, a process that also helps to organize fungal chromosomes and optimize nucleocytoplasmic transport. This biosights episode presents the paper by Steinberg et al. from the August 6, 2012, issue of the Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with senior author Gero Steinberg (University of Exeter, UK). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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In early Drosophila embryos, nuclei undergo rapid, synchronous divisions without being separated into individual cells by cytokinesis. Telley et al. develop a cell-free assay to reveal that microtubule asters help disperse the nuclei throughout the embryonic cytoplasm, moving them to the right position for development to continue. This biosights episode presents the paper by Telley et al. from the June 25, 2012, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with lead author Ivo Telley (EMBL, Heidelberg, Germany). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Activated T cell receptors stimulate actin polymerization at the periphery of the immunological synapses that form between lymphocytes and antigen-presenting cells. Babich et al. reveal that the retrograde flow of actin, largely driven by continuous polymerization, is required to sustain downstream signaling events and T cell activation. This biosights episode presents the paper by Babich et al. from the June 11, 2012 issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with senior author Janis Burkhardt (University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Fibroblasts moving across two-dimensional surfaces form lamellipodial protrusions at their leading edge, but how cells move through three-dimensional environments is less well understood. Petrie et al. reveal that, depending on the strength of intracellular RhoA signaling and on the elastic properties of the extracellular matrix, fibroblasts can migrate through 3D environments using either lamellipodia or blunt, cylindrical protrusions called lobopodia. This biosights episode presents the paper by Petrie et al. from the April 30, 2012, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with first author Ryan Petrie (NIH, Bethesda, MD). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) and its phospholipid products are polarized toward the front of migrating fibroblasts, but their exact function in persistent motility remains unclear. Welf et al. reveal that PI3K signaling helps reorient migrating fibroblasts by stabilizing branched protrusions at the leading edge, allowing the cell to pivot and move in a different direction. This biosights episode presents the paper by Welf et al. from the April 2, 2012, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with senior author Jason Haugh (North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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The adhesions between endothelial cells transiently remodel in response to angiogenic growth factors and inflammatory cytokines. Huveneers et al. reveal that remodeling takes place at a subset of adhesions called focal adherens junctions, which recruit the mechanosensory protein Vinculin to resist tension from the actomyosin cytoskeleton and avoid excessive disruption during the remodeling process. This biosights episode presents the paper by Huveneers et al. from the March 5, 2012, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with senior author Johan de Rooij (Hubrecht Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Autophagy is a cellular degradation pathway essential for neuronal survival, but little is known about the dynamics of autophagic organelles in neurons. Maday et al. reveal that autophagosomes form and engulf cargo at the distal tips of neurites and then mature into degradative autolysosomes as they move toward the cell body. This biosights episode presents the paper by Maday et al. from the February 20, 2012, issue of the Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with authors Sandra Maday and Erika Holzbaur (University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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T cells require the septin family of GTP-binding proteins to maintain the integrity of their plasma membranes as they invade through tissues. Gilden et al. reveal that septins function by assembling on membrane blebs to retract them back into shape. This biosights episode presents the paper by Gilden et al. from the January 9, 2012, issue of the Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with senior author Max Krummel (University of California, San Francisco). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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Desmosomes are intercellular adhesions whose adhesive core is formed by two distinct classes of cadherin molecules – desmogleins and desmocollins. Nekrasova et al. reveal that these two cadherins are independently transported to the cell surface by two different kinesin motors. This biosights episode presents the paper by Nekrasova et al. from the December 26, 2011, issue of the Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with senior author Kathleen Green (Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original research.
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When a T cell encounters a target antigen-presenting cell, the lymphocyte's centrosome relocalizes to a specialized contact between the two cells called the immunological synapse. Zyss et al. reveal that casein kinase Iδ helps to reposition the centrosome in activated T cells, perhaps by working with the microtubule plus-end binding protein EB1 to regulate microtubule growth. This biosights episode presents the paper by Zyss et al. from the November 28, 2011, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with senior author Fanni Gergely (University of Cambridge and Cancer Research UK). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short.
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Cofilin severs the ties between cytokinetic nodes Cytokinetic nodes are precursor structures that assemble into the actomyosin contractile ring that separates daughter cells in cytokinesis. Chen and Pollard describe how the actin-severing protein cofilin promotes the rapid formation of a complete contractile ring by limiting the actin-based connections between individual nodes. This biosights episode presents the paper by Chen and Pollard from the October 31, 2011, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology, and includes an interview with authors Qian Chen and Tom Pollard (Yale University, New Haven, CT). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short.
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The ERM protein Moesin helps mitotic cells undergo a series of dramatic shape changes by linking the actin cytoskeleton to the plasma membrane. Roubinet et al. describe how Moesin's localization and activity is regulated over the course of the cell cycle by two different pathways that control Moesin phosphorylation and phosphoinositide synthesis. This biosights episode presents the paper by Roubinet et al. from the October 3, 2011, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology, and includes an interview with senior author Sébastien Carréno (University of Montreal, Canada). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short.
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The actin cytoskeleton has been proposed to regulate exocytosis in many different ways. Nightingale et al. use a two-color, live-cell imaging assay to reveal two contrasting functions of actin in distinct stages of Weibel–Palade body secretion: actin-based anchors inhibit the fusion of these secretory granules with the plasma membrane but, post-fusion, a contractile actin ring squeezes granule content out of the cell. This biosights episode presents the paper by Nightingale et al. from the August 22, 2011, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology, and includes an interview with authors Thomas Nightingale and Daniel Cutler (MRC Laboratory of Molecular Cell Biology, London, UK). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short.
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At the start of mitosis, the nuclear envelope and nuclear pore complexes break down and disperse into the endoplasmic reticulum and cytoplasm. Lu et al. use rapid, 3D live cell imaging to reveal that, in contrast to previous models, the nuclear envelope reforms directly from ER cisternae after mitosis and that this happens before nuclear pore complexes start to reassemble. This biosights episode presents the paper by Lu et al. from the August 8, 2011, issue of the Journal of Cell Biology, and includes an interview with authors Lei Lu (Nanyang Technological University, Singapore) and Tomas Kirchhausen (Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short.
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Several mRNAs are specifically transported to the anterior and posterior regions of Drosophila oocytes by microtubule-based motor proteins, but the organization of microtubules in these cells is unclear. Parton et al. reveal that oocyte microtubules are highly dynamic and display a PAR-1-dependent bias in polarity that facilitates transport of oskar mRNA to the oocyte posterior. This biosights episode presents the paper by Parton et al. from the July 11, 2011, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology, and includes an interview with authors Richard Parton and Ilan Davis (University of Oxford, UK). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short.
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The mammalian Golgi apparatus exists as a continuous ribbon that clusters around the centrosome, but the significance of this organization is unclear. Hurtado et al. identify truncation mutants of the protein AKAP450 that differentially affect Golgi integrity and positioning, and use these mutants to investigate how the Golgi's organization contributes to its function in cell polarization, migration, and ciliogenesis. This biosights episode presents the paper by Hurtado et al. from the May 30, 2011, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology, and includes an interview with senior author Rosa Rios (CABIMER, Seville, Spain). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short.
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Individual cells must quickly repair any disruptions to their plasma membrane. Abreu-Blanco et al. describe how early Drosophila embryos remodel their membranes and cytoskeleton to seal cell surface wounds. This biosights episode presents the paper by Abreu-Blanco et al. from the May 2, 2011 issue of The Journal of Cell Biology, and includes an interview with senior author Susan Parkhurst (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short.
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The endoplasmic reticulum is a complex network of interconnected membrane tubules and cisternae. West et al. use electron tomography to reveal the full diversity of ER structures present in budding yeast and how these structures pass from the mother cell into the bud. This biosights episode presents the paper by West et al. from the April 18, 2011, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology, and includes an interview with senior author Gia Voeltz (University of Colorado, Boulder). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short.
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The centrosome remains closely associated with the nucleus throughout the cell cycle. Bolhy et al. reveal that the nucleoporin Nup133 anchors a network of proteins, including the motor protein dynein, that tethers centrosomes to nuclear pores in early prophase to assist the early stages of mitotic spindle assembly. This biosights episode presents the paper by Bolhy et al. from the March 7, 2011, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology, and includes an interview with senior author Valérie Doye (Institut Jacques Monod, Paris, France). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short.
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Natural Killer (NK) cells distinguish target cells from surrounding healthy tissue by integrating signals from a variety of activating and inhibitory receptors. Abeyweera et al. reveal that signals from inhibitory receptors limit NK cell activity by remodeling contacts with potential targets and inducing NK cell retraction. This biosights episode presents the paper by Abeyweera et al. from the February 21, 2011, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology, and includes an interview with senior author Morgan Huse (Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short.
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The transcription factor HIF-1α is essential for a cell's response to low oxygen conditions. Carbonaro et al. demonstrate that production of HIF-1α protein is regulated by dynamic microtubules and that microtubule-targeting drugs shift HIF-1α mRNA into cytoplasmic P-bodies, where its translation is repressed by miRNAs. This biosights episode presents the paper by Carbonaro et al. from the January 10, 2011, issue of the Journal of Cell Biology, and includes an interview with authors Marisa Carbonaro and Paraskevi Giannakakou (Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short.
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Dynamic microtubules assemble into a steady state bipolar spindle structure but precisely how this is achieved is unclear. Loughlin et al. develop a computational model that predicts how a few key activities organize microtubules in Xenopus meiotic spindles. This biosights episode presents the paper by Loughlin et al. from the December 27, 2010 issue of the Journal of Cell Biology, and includes an interview with author François Nédélec (EMBL, Heidelberg, Germany). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short.
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Centrosome positioning is thought to be important for both neuronal migration and axonogenesis. To investigate centrosome dynamics in vivo, Distel et al. develop a new method to simultaneously visualize multiple subcellular compartments in live zebrafish embryos. This biosights episode presents the paper by Distel et al. from the November 15, 2010 issue of The Journal of Cell Biology, and includes an interview with senior author Reinhard Köster (Helmholtz Zentrum, Munich, Germany). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short.
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Most migrating cells place their centrosome in front of the nucleus, facing the direction in which the cell is moving. Manneville et al. identify a signaling pathway that moves the centrosome into position by recruiting the motor protein dynein to leading edge microtubules. This biosights episode presents the paper by Manneville et al. from the November 1, 2010 issue of The Journal of Cell Biology, and includes an interview with senior author Sandrine Etienne-Manneville (Institut Pasteur, Paris, France). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short.
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Many cellular processes, including polarization and differentiation, require the nucleus to move to a specific location within the cytoplasm. Fridolfsson and Starr reveal how the microtubule motors dynein and kinesin-1 control the bi-directional movements of nuclei in the embryonic hypoderm of C. elegans. This biosights episode presents the paper by Fridolfsson and Starr from the October 4, 2010 issue of The Journal of Cell Biology, and includes an interview with senior author Daniel Starr (UC Davis, CA). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short.
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During an immune response, T cells move into tissues from the vasculature by crossing the endothelial cell layer lining blood vessel walls. Heasman et al. reveal that this transendothelial migration requires signaling at both the front and back of leukocytes by the small GTPase RhoA. This biosights episode presents the paper by Heasman et al. from the August 23, 2010 issue of The Journal of Cell Biology, and includes an interview with senior author Anne Ridley. Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short.
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The endoplasmic reticulum is highly dynamic, although little is known about why and how its membrane tubules move. Friedman et al. reveal that ER membranes slide along stable, acetylated microtubules, which might help them contact other organelles such as mitochondria. This biosights episode presents the paper by Friedman et al. from the August 9, 2010 issue of The Journal of Cell Biology, and includes an interview with senior author Gia Voeltz. Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short.
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Astral microtubules help position the cytokinetic furrow by confining actomyosin contractility to the cell equator. Rankin and Wordeman reveal that if astral microtubules grow too long, they expand membrane blebs at the mitotic cell poles that squeeze the mitotic spindle back and forth between the two daughter cells. This biosights episode presents the paper by Rankin and Wordeman from the July 12, 2010 issue of The Journal of Cell Biology, and includes an interview with senior author Linda Wordeman. Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short.
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Microtubules align along the apical-basal axis of epithelial cells with their plus ends pointing to the basal side. Hotta et al. reveal how signals from the extracellular matrix establish this arrangement by recruiting the microtubule-anchoring factors LL5s to the basal cell cortex. This biosights episode presents the paper by Hotta et al. from the May 31, 2010 issue of The Journal of Cell Biology, and includes an interview with senior author Yuko Mimori-Kiyosue. Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short.
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Drosophila macrophages disperse themselves around the body during embryogenesis, ready to mount an immune response at the site of a wound. Stramer et al. image the cells in vivo, revealing that they form microtubule "arms" to point them in the right direction and push themselves away from their fellow leukocytes. This biosights episode presents the paper by Stramer et al. from the May 17th, 2010 issue of The Journal of Cell Biology, and includes an interview with lead author Brian Stramer. Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short.
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Cells drastically alter their structure at the onset of mitosis. Gavet and Pines reveal that the mitotic kinase CyclinB1-Cdk1 triggers its own nuclear import in prophase to ensure reorganization of the nucleus and cytoplasm is synchronized. This biosights episode presents the paper by Gavet and Pines from the April 19, 2010 issue of The Journal of Cell Biology, and includes an interview with senior author Jonathon Pines. Produced by Justin Paul and Ben Short.
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During gastrulation, pulsed contractions of the actomyosin cytoskeleton apically constrict a strip of cells on the ventral surface of Drosophila embryos. Martin et al. examine how these contractile forces are integrated across the tissue so that it invaginates to form the embryonic mesoderm. This biosights episode presents the paper by Martin et al. from the March 8, 2010 issue of The Journal of Cell Biology, and includes an interview with lead author Adam Martin. Produced by Eun Choi and Ben Short.
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A microtubule-independent network of proteins called the spindle matrix is involved in assembling mitotic and meiotic spindles, but whether the matrix makes a mechanical contribution to spindle shape is unclear. Gatlin et al. manipulate spindles with microneedles to directly probe the mechanical properties of the spindle matrix. This biosights episode presents the paper by Gatlin et al. from the February 22, 2010 issue of the Journal of Cell Biology, and includes an interview with lead author Jay Gatlin. Produced by Eun Choi and Ben Short.
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A novel high-throughput screening approach that combines yeast mutant arrays with high-content imaging provides fresh insights into mitotic spindle disassembly. This biosights episode presents the paper by Vizeacoumar et al. from the January 11, 2010 issue of the Journal of Cell Biology, and includes interviews with authors Brenda Andrews and Charles Boone, and JCB editorial board member John Aitchison. Produced by Eun Choi.
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Mitotic spindle microtubules have long been thought to deliver a signal to the cell cortex that positions the cytokinetic cleavage furrow. A new study reveals that accurate cytokinesis still occurs in the absence of contact between microtubules and the plasma membrane, and suggests that multiple spatial cues combine to define the furrow’s location. This biosights episode presents the paper by von Dassow et al. from the December 14th, 2009 issue of the Journal of Cell Biology, and includes interviews with authors George von Dassow and Bill Bement. Produced by Eun Choi and Ben Short.
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Melanosomes are specialized pigment-producing organelles that arise from the endosomal system. A new study reveals that the clathrin adaptor AP-1 and the kinesin motor KIF13A combine to sort melanosomal cargo and position endosomes near to developing melanosomes where they deliver the cargo via direct tubular contacts. This biosights episode presents the paper by Delevoye et al. from the October 19th, 2009 issue of the Journal of Cell Biology, and includes interviews with authors Graça Raposo and Cédric Delevoye. Produced by Eun Choi and Ben Short.
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In this month’s biosights, we profile Elaine Fuchs, whose 30 years of research on mammalian skin development has recently been honored with the National Medal of Science and the 2009 L’Oréal-UNESCO award for Women in Science. The video includes excerpts from an interview with Dr. Fuchs, and was produced by Eun Choi and Ben Short.
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Early stages of drosophila development are marked by rapid cell cycles that go directly from S phase to mitosis without any obvious gap phases. Having previously investigated the role that cyclins play in timing these divisions, McCleland et al. now look at the role that S phase plays in regulating cell cycle progression. This episode of biosights presents two papers by McCleland et al. from the March 9, 2009 and October 5, 2009 issues of the Journal of Cell Biology and includes interviews with authors Mark McCleland and Patrick O’Farrell. Produced by Eun Choi.
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The contractile vacuole is an osmoregulatory organelle in protozoans that expels excess water from the cytosol through a complex sequence of membrane movements. A new study identifies a myosin motor protein that orchestrates these movements in Dictyostelia. This biosights episode presents the paper by Jung et al. from the August 24th, 2009 issue of the Journal of Cell Biology, and includes an interview with senior author John Hammer III. Produced by Eun Choi and Ben Short.
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Traditional methodologies can not detect the majority of action occurring in complex protein assemblies such as focal adhesions. A new study applied a high throughput screen and multi-parametric analysis to identify genes implicated in focal adhesion formation. This biosights episode presents a paper by Winograd-Katz et al. in the Journal of Cell Biology and includes interviews with authors Sabina Winograd-Katz and Benjamin Geiger. Produced by Eun Choi and Aimee deCathelineau.
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The C-terminus of α-tubulin was thought to lose a tyrosine residue in response to microtubule stabilization, but new research shows that the opposite is true: tyrosine removal causes microtubules to stabilize by reducing the efficiency of depolymerizing motor proteins. This biosights episode presents a paper by Peris et al. in the Journal of Cell Biology, and includes interviews with authors Leticia Peris and Annie Andrieux. Produced by Justin Paul and Ben Short.
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Most cell migration studies are performed in 2D culture dishes, but new work suggests that studying cells migrating along 1D lines might give a better indication of how migration occurs in vivo. This biosights episode presents a paper by Doyle et al. in the Journal of Cell Biology, and includes excerpts from an interview with first author Andrew Doyle. Produced by Justin Paul and Ruth Williams.
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Dictyostelium cells migrate in an orderly head-to-tail arrangement. They do this by leaving a trail of vesicles (thought to contain chemoattractant) for their fellow cells to follow. This biosights episode presents a paper by Kriebel et al. in the Journal of Cell Biology, and includes excerpts from an interview with senior author Carole Parent. Produced by Justin Paul and Ruth Williams.
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Discover how a well-known polarity protein keeps intestinal cells facing the right way by controlling their division direction. This biosights episode presents a paper by Jaffe et al. in The Journal of Cell Biology, and includes excerpts from an interview with senior author Alan Hall. Produced by Justin Paul and Ruth Williams.