EMBO Reports - Table of Contents alert Volume 13 Issue 1, pp 1 - 90

TABLE OF CONTENTS January 2012 | Volume 13, Issue 1 Upfront Science & Society Reviews Scientific Reports Also new AOP Sign up for e-alerts Recommend to your library Web feed Subscribe Upfront Top Editorial Happy birthday to RU Despite some recent reforms, Howy argues that Russia needs to do a lot more to regain its rightful place in the world league table of science Howy Jacobs EMBO reports (2012), 13, 1; 10.1038/embor.2011.228 Abstract | Full text | PDF Published online: 23 December 2011 Subject Categories: Science Policy & Funding | Societal Issues & Politics Stem cells, morals and the courts Earlier this year, the European Court of Justice revoked a patent on how to generate nerve cells from human embryonic stem cells. The decision raises intriguing questions about the freedom of research versus concerns about the morality of a technology. Michele Garfinkel EMBO reports (2012), 13, 2; 10.1038/embor.2011.242 Abstract | Full text | PDF Published online: 02 December 2011 Subject Categories: Science Policy & Funding | Societal Issues & Politics Hot off the Press Immune cell transdifferentiation: a complex crosstalk between circulating immune cells and the haematopoietic niche ROS sensed in the haematopoietic niche induces the differentiation of circulating plasmatocytes into wasp-egg-fighting lamellocytes in a non-cell-autonomous manner, as described in this issue of EMBO reports. Marie Meister and Dominique Ferrandon EMBO reports (2012), 13, 3 - 4; 10.1038/embor.2011.238 Abstract | Full text | PDF Published online: 09 December 2011 Subject Categories: Immunology | Microbiology & Pathogens | Differentiation & Death Telomere flip-flop: an unfolding passage to senescence In this issue of EMBO reports, insight is provided into how telomeres can function both as tumour suppressors by limiting the number of times a cell can divide and as tumour promoters by allowing genomic instability. Carolyn M Price EMBO reports (2012), 13, 5 - 6; 10.1038/embor.2011.237 Abstract | Full text | PDF Published online: 09 December 2011 Subject Categories: Cell Cycle | Genome Stability & Dynamics Structural insights into the activation of RIG-I, a nanosensor for viral RNAs RIG-I detects cytosolic viral dsRNA and initiates antiviral innate immune responses. Four recent reports of crystal structures that enlighten how RIG-I is activated and recognizes RNA are discussed. Qiu-Xing Jiang and Zhijian J Chen EMBO reports (2012), 13, 7 - 8; 10.1038/embor.2011.239 Abstract | Full text | PDF Published online: 09 December 2011 Subject Categories: Immunology | Structural Biology Meeting Point Where do you come from; where do you go? Pluripotency, differentiation and malfunction of stem cells The conference ‘Stem Cells in Development and Disease’ took place in September 2011 in Berlin. It covered the latest findings in stem cell biology, including the genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of reprogramming, maintenance of pluripotency and differentiation. Francesca M Spagnoli, Daniel Besser and Salvador Aznar Benitah EMBO reports (2012), 13, 9 - 11; 10.1038/embor.2011.241 First paragraph | Full text | PDF Published online: 09 December 2011 Subject Categories: Development | Molecular Biology of Disease | Signal Transduction Science & Society Top Stem cell research, scientific freedom and the commodification concern 'Commodification' has been repeatedly used as an argument to ban or limit research on human embryonic stem cells. But what does it mean and is the term sufficiently defined to serve as a justification to curtail the freedom of research? Timothy Caulfield and Ubaka Ogbogu EMBO reports (2012), 13, 12 - 16; 10.1038/embor.2011.232 Abstract | Full text | PDF Published online: 02 December 2011 Subject Categories: Societal Issues & Politics | Science Policy & Funding Is there a neurobiology of the free will? Do we have free will, or are our decisions a consequence of our brain's biochemistry or chance? Neurobiologists have set out to answer this question, but might ultimately be unable to do so. Bertram Gerber EMBO reports (2012), 13, 17 - 19; 10.1038/embor.2011.229 Abstract | Full text | PDF Published online: 02 December 2011 Subject Categories: Philosophy & History of Science The return of the phage Phages have been used to treat infectious diseases since their discovery nearly a century ago. Modern sequencing and genetic engineering technologies now enable researchers to vastly expand the use of phages as general drug delivery vehicles. Philip Hunter EMBO reports (2012), 13, 20 - 23; 10.1038/embor.2011.234 Abstract | Full text | PDF Published online: 02 December 2011 Subject Categories: Health & Disease | Technology, Development & Applications When life gets physical Does the spin of an electron allow birds to see the Earth's magnetic field? Andrea Rinaldi investigates the influence of quantum events in the biological world. Andrea Rinaldi EMBO reports (2011), 13, 24 - 27; 10.1038/embor.2011.236 Abstract | Full text | PDF Published online: 16 December 2011 Subject Categories: Technology, Development & Applications | Evolution, Environment & Agriculture Reviews Top DNA methylation: TET proteins—guardians of CpG islands? DNA methylation is an epigenetic modification with important roles in transcriptional regulation during development. The recent finding that the TET family of proteins can convert methylcytosine to hydroxymethylcytosine suggests a potential mechanism for active DNA demethylation. Kristine Williams, Jesper Christensen and Kristian Helin EMBO reports (2012), 13, 28 - 35; 10.1038/embor.2011.233 Abstract | Full text | PDF Published online: 09 December 2011 Subject Categories: Chromatin & Transcription | Molecular Biology of Disease | Differentiation & Death Emerging roles of the FBW7 tumour suppressor in stem cell differentiation The tumour suppressor FBW7 targets many oncoproteins for degradation. It also controls stem cell self-renewal, differentiation, survival and multipotency in various tissues. Whether its loss could also lead to de-differentiation or acquisition of stemness in the context of cancer is discussed. Zhiwei Wang, Hiroyuki Inuzuka, Hidefumi Fukushima, Lixin Wan, Daming Gao, Shavali Shaik, Fazlul H Sarkar and Wenyi Wei EMBO reports (2012), 13, 36 - 43; 10.1038/embor.2011.231 Abstract | Full text | PDF Published online: 09 December 2011 Subject Categories: Differentiation & Death | Cell Cycle | Signal Transduction Scientific Reports Top Synaptonemal complex protein SYCP3 impairs mitotic recombination by interfering with BRCA2 The meiosis-specific protein SYCP3 is shown to inhibit mitotic homologous recombination and thus contribute to chromosomal instability in a range of human tumours. These tumours are then sensitive to PARP inhibitors, extending the therapeutic application of these drugs. Noriko Hosoya, Miyuki Okajima, Aiko Kinomura, Yoshihiro Fujii, Takashi Hiyama, Jiying Sun, Satoshi Tashiro and Kiyoshi Miyagawa EMBO reports (2012), 13, 44 - 51; 10.1038/embor.2011.221 Abstract | Full text | PDF | Supp. info. | Review Process File Published online: 25 November 2011 Subject Categories: Cell Cycle | Genome Stability & Dynamics Five dysfunctional telomeres predict onset of senescence in human cells Replicative senescence is triggered by DNA damage response foci associated with telomeres. Reddel and colleagues now establish that a threshold of five damaged telomeres exists to induce senescence in normal cells and that end-to-end chromosome fusion is not required for senescence induction. Zeenia Kaul, Anthony J Cesare, Lily I Huschtscha, Axel A Neumann and Roger R Reddel EMBO reports (2012), 13, 52 - 59; 10.1038/embor.2011.227 Abstract | Full text | PDF | Supp. info. | Review Process File Published online: 09 December 2011 Subject Categories: Cell Cycle | Genome Stability & Dynamics A model for mitotic inheritance of histone lysine methylation Epigenetic mechanisms such as histone methylation ensure that gene expression status is maintained through cellular divisions. The authors show that, although overall methylation levels are maintained through the cell cycle, the methylation levels of newly incorporated versus parental histones are significantly different, suggesting that methylation marks are not accurately reproduced. Mo Xu, Weixiang Wang, She Chen and Bing Zhu EMBO reports (2012), 13, 60 - 67; 10.1038/embor.2011.206 Abstract | Full text | PDF | Supp. info. | Review Process File Published online: 04 November 2011 Subject Categories: Genome Stability & Dynamics A new proofreading mechanism for lesion bypass by DNA polymerase-λ Translesion DNA polymerases lack the exonuclease proofreading activity that warrants fidelity for replicative DNA polymerases. In this report, Maga and colleagues show that translesion DNA pol lambda uses an alternative proofreading mechanism based on pyrophosphorolysis of incorrectly incorporated nucleotides opposite DNA lesions. Emmanuele Crespan, Giovanni Maga and Ulrich Hübscher EMBO reports (2012), 13, 68 - 74; 10.1038/embor.2011.226 Abstract | Full text | PDF | Supp. info. | Review Process File Published online: 02 December 2011 Subject Categories: Genome Stability & Dynamics Profilin1 is required for glial cell adhesion and radial migration of cerebellar granule neurons The actin cytoskeleton is a key player in neuronal migration but the control mechanisms of actin dynamics in this process remain largely unknown. Here, the authors show that the actin-binding protein profilin1 is required for migration of cerebellar granule neurons, and its ablation leads to aberrant cerebellar organization and hypoplasia. Jan A Kullmann, Alexander Neumeyer, Christine B Gurniak, Eckhard Friauf, Walter Witke and Marco B Rust EMBO reports (2012), 13, 75 - 82; 10.1038/embor.2011.211 Abstract | Full text | PDF | Supp. info. | Review Process File Published online: 11 November 2011 Subject Categories: Neuroscience Oxidative stress in the haematopoietic niche regulates the cellular immune response in Drosophila The haematopoietic niche is shown to sense localized oxidative challenge induced by pathogen infection, and respond by eliciting a systemic effect on immune function, leading to innate immune cell differentiation. Sergey A Sinenko, Jiwon Shim and Utpal Banerjee EMBO reports (2012), 13, 83 - 89; 10.1038/embor.2011.223 Abstract | Full text | PDF | Supp. info. | Review Process File Published online: 02 December 2011 Subject Categories: Development | Immunology Corrections Top Corrigendum Wnts need a p(assport)24 to leave the ER Lucy Palmer, Jean-Paul Vincent and Karen Beckett EMBO reports (2012), 13, 90; 10.1038/embor.2011.244 Abstract | Full text | PDF Published online: 09 December 2011 Erratum More than a blog Howard Wolinsky EMBO reports (2012), 13, 90; 10.1038/embor.2011.245 Abstract | Full text | PDF Published online: 09 December 2011 Please note that you need to be a subscriber or site-licence holder to enjoy full-text access to EMBO reports. In order to do so, please purchase a subscription. You have been sent this Table of Contents Alert because you have opted in to receive it. 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