The EMBO Journal - Table of Contents alert Volume 31 Issue 7

TABLE OF CONTENTS 04 April 2012 | Volume 31, Issue 7 Have you seen? EMBO Members Review Articles Also new AOP Sign up for e-alerts Recommend to your library Web feed Subscribe Have you seen? Top Human mitotic chromosome structure: what happened to the 30-nm fibre? After decades of pursuit of the structure and properties of higher-order chromatin structures, new work shows that regular 30-nm fibres are absent from human mitotic chromosomes, with chromosome-level condensation achieved instead by packaging of 10-nm fibres in a fractal manner. Jeffrey C Hansen The EMBO Journal (2012), 31, 1621 - 1623; 10.1038/emboj.2012.66 Abstract | Full text | PDF Published online: 13 March 2012 Sperm are promiscuous and CatSper is to blame… A wide variety of small organic molecules including odorants control sperm chemotaxis. A new study demonstrates that these compounds directly activate the calcium channel CatSper, inducing calcium influx independently of G protein-coupled receptor signalling. Christopher LR Barratt and Stephen J Publicover The EMBO Journal (2012), 31, 1624 - 1626; 10.1038/emboj.2012.62 Abstract | Full text | PDF Published online: 13 March 2012 Equal opportunity for all By sequencing TCRα transcripts from naive mouse CD8+ T cells, Genolet et al show that the TCRα repertoire is diverse and that rearrangement of all possible Vα-Jα combinations can occur. This overturns a long held view in the field that recombination of the Tcra locus occurs in a co-ordinate sequential bidirectional manner. Julie Chaumeil and Jane A Skok The EMBO Journal (2012), 31, 1627 - 1629; 10.1038/emboj.2012.64 Abstract | Full text | PDF Published online: 13 March 2012 EMBO Members Review Top Protease signalling: the cutting edge The identification of physiological protease substrates has resulted in a shift of paradigm from proteases as protein-degrading enzymes to establishing their role as key signalling molecules. Boris Turk, Dušan Turk and Vito Turk The EMBO Journal (2012), 31, 1630 - 1643; 10.1038/emboj.2012.42 Abstract | Full text | PDF Published online: 24 February 2012 Subject Categories: Signal Transduction | Proteins Articles Top Human mitotic chromosomes consist predominantly of irregularly folded nucleosome fibres without a 30-nm chromatin structure The famous model of chromosome organization into ‘30-nm fibres’ was based on 30 nm X-ray reflection peaks. Complementary cryo-EM and ultra-SAXS data now reconcile these original observations with ribosome aggregates on isolated chromosomes, and argue against a regular higher-order structure in human mitotic chromosomes. Yoshinori Nishino, Kazuhiro Maeshima and colleagues The EMBO Journal (2012), 31, 1644 - 1653; 10.1038/emboj.2012.35 Abstract | Full text | PDF | Supp. info. | Review Process File Published online: 17 February 2012 Subject Categories: Chromatin and Transcription The CatSper channel: a polymodal chemosensor in human sperm The calcium channel CatSper governs sperm swimming behaviour in response to progesterone and prostaglandins. Surprisingly, multiple types of small molecules including odorants and nucleotides directly activate CatSper-mediated calcium influx independent of G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) or cAMP signalling. Christoph Brenker, Timo Strünker and colleagues The EMBO Journal (2012), 31, 1654 - 1665; 10.1038/emboj.2012.30 Abstract | Full text | PDF | Supp. info. | Review Process File Published online: 21 February 2012 Subject Categories: Membranes and Transport | Signal Transduction Highly diverse TCRα chain repertoire of pre-immune CD8+ T cells reveals new insights in gene recombination TCRα locus diversity in CD8+ T cells is thought to be restricted by a sequential order of Vα and Jα gene recombination. RNA sequencing documents all possible recombination events. The lack of spatial restriction imposed on Vα-Jα secondary recombination supports a model in which chromatin contraction and DNA looping facilitate recombination. Raphael Genolet, Immanuel F Luescher and colleagues The EMBO Journal (2012), 31, 1666 - 1678; 10.1038/emboj.2012.48 Abstract | Full text | PDF | Supp. info. | Review Process File Published online: 28 February 2012 Subject Categories: Immunology IAPs limit activation of RIP kinases by TNF receptor 1 during development The inhibitor of apoptosis proteins cIAP1, cIAP2, and XIAP exert overlapping functions in apoptosis and cytokine signalling. A series of single- and double-knockout mice reveal an essential function of IAP proteins in preventing TNF receptor 1-induced, RIP kinase 1- and 3-dependent cell death during embryogenesis. Maryline Moulin, David L Vaux and colleagues The EMBO Journal (2012), 31, 1679 - 1691; 10.1038/emboj.2012.18 Abstract | Full text | PDF | Supp. info. | Review Process File Published online: 10 February 2012 Subject Categories: Signal Transduction | Differentiation and Death Axl is essential for VEGF-A-dependent activation of PI3K/Akt VEGF-A, but not other angiogenic growth factors, regulate endothelial cell migration by activating PI3K/AKT signalling through a novel pathway involving autophosphorylation of the receptor tyrosine kinase Axl. Guo-Xiang Ruan and Andrius Kazlauskas The EMBO Journal (2012), 31, 1692 - 1703; 10.1038/emboj.2012.21 Abstract | Full text | PDF | Supp. info. | Review Process File Published online: 10 February 2012 Subject Categories: Signal Transduction | Molecular Biology of Disease Cytoplasmic Arabidopsis AGO7 accumulates in membrane-associated siRNA bodies and is required for ta-siRNA biogenesis AGO7 and miR390 regulate the formation of trans-acting small interfering RNAs (ta-siRNAs) from the precursor TAS3. TAS3 processing requires the RNA polymerase RDR6 and also SGS3, which locate with AGO7 in cytoplasmic siRNA bodies that are associated with membranes. Virginie Jouannet, Alexis Maizel and colleagues The EMBO Journal (2012), 31, 1704 - 1713; 10.1038/emboj.2012.20 Abstract | Full text | PDF | Supp. info. | Review Process File Published online: 10 February 2012 Subject Categories: RNA | Plant Biology MDA5 cooperatively forms dimers and ATP-sensitive filaments upon binding double-stranded RNA Structural insights explain how MDA5, critical for detecting viral infection in cells, senses and signals the presence of viral RNA. MDA5 forms filaments on long dsRNAs, positioning its CARD domains in a way that allows them to nucleate assembly of the signalling adaptor MAVS. Ian C Berke and Yorgo Modis The EMBO Journal (2012), 31, 1714 - 1726; 10.1038/emboj.2012.19 Abstract | Full text | PDF | Supp. info. | Review Process File Published online: 07 February 2012 Subject Categories: Immunology A pRNA-induced structural rearrangement triggers 6S-1 RNA release from RNA polymerase in Bacillus subtilis The non-coding 6S RNA inhibits bacterial RNA polymerase by mimicking an open promoter structure; how this regulation is reversed was not clear. The generation of short product RNAs (pRNAs) induce a structural change in 6S RNA that result in its release from the polymerase. Benedikt M Beckmann, Roland K Hartmann and colleagues The EMBO Journal (2012), 31, 1727 - 1738; 10.1038/emboj.2012.23 Abstract | Full text | PDF | Supp. info. | Review Process File Published online: 14 February 2012 Subject Categories: Chromatin and Transcription | RNA Epigenetic silencing of myogenic gene program by Myb-binding protein 1a suppresses myogenesis Mybbp1a, a novel co-repressor of myoblasts differentiation, interacts with MyoD and the repressive chromatin modifiers HDAC1/2 and Suv39h1 at muscle-specific gene promoters. In response to differentiation cues miR-546 downregulates Mybbp1a, resulting in histone acetylation and accumulation of transcriptional activators at promoters. Chang-Ching Yang, Bertrand Chin-Ming Tan and colleagues The EMBO Journal (2012), 31, 1739 - 1751; 10.1038/emboj.2012.24 Abstract | Full text | PDF | Supp. info. | Review Process File Published online: 14 February 2012 Subject Categories: Chromatin and Transcription | Differentiation and Death miR-493 induction during carcinogenesis blocks metastatic settlement of colon cancer cells in liver A miRNA screen for metastasis inhibition identifies miR-493, which induces cell death of metastasized cells and targets the IGF1 receptor. High expression inversely correlates with colon to liver metastization. Koji Okamoto, Hitoshi Nakagama and colleagues The EMBO Journal (2012), 31, 1752 - 1763; 10.1038/emboj.2012.25 Abstract | Full text | PDF | Supp. info. | Review Process File Published online: 28 February 2012 Subject Categories: RNA | Molecular Biology of Disease Cholesterol loss during glutamate-mediated excitotoxicity Excessive glutamatergic neurotransmission, which occurs during stroke or epileptic seizures, leads to downregulation of cholesterol levels at the synaptic plasma membrane and thus modulation of the depolarization induced calcium response. This occurs via the translocation of the cholesterol hydroxylating enzyme, Cyp46, from the endoplasmic reticulum to the plasma membrane. Alejandro O Sodero, Carlos G Dotti and colleagues The EMBO Journal (2012), 31, 1764 - 1773; 10.1038/emboj.2012.31 Abstract | Full text | PDF | Supp. info. | Review Process File Published online: 17 February 2012 Subject Categories: Membranes and Transport | Neuroscience Reversible phosphocholination of Rab proteins by Legionella pneumophila effector proteins Intracellular bacteria often interfere with the host cell vesicular transport system. Legionella protein AnkX inactivates Rab GTPases by phosphocholination, causing their stable membrane attachment and preventing their interaction with GEFs and cellular effectors. Philip R Goody, Roger S Goody and colleagues The EMBO Journal (2012), 31, 1774 - 1784; 10.1038/emboj.2012.16 Abstract | Full text | PDF | Supp. info. | Review Process File Published online: 03 February 2012 Subject Categories: Membranes and Transport | Microbiology and Pathogens Arginine methylation controls growth regulation by E2F-1 The transcription factor E2F-1 regulates the cell cycle and apoptosis. E2F-1 is arginine methylated by PRMT5, leading to degradation and increased cell growth. In colorectal cancer, high levels of PRMT5 correlate with low E2F-1 and poor clinical outcome. Er-Chieh Cho, Nicholas B La Thangue and colleagues The EMBO Journal (2012), 31, 1785 - 1797; 10.1038/emboj.2012.17 Abstract | Full text | PDF | Supp. info. | Review Process File Published online: 10 February 2012 Subject Categories: Chromatin and Transcription | Cell Cycle Linking DNA replication checkpoint to MBF cell-cycle transcription reveals a distinct class of G1/S genes The replication checkpoint alters the expression of cell cycle and damage response genes. In yeast, a subset of these effector genes are controlled by a transcription factor switch from SBF to MBF, preventing their potentially toxic misexpression while ensuring their inducibility on demand. Francisco M Bastos de Oliveira, Marcus B Smolka and colleagues The EMBO Journal (2012), 31, 1798 - 1810; 10.1038/emboj.2012.27 Abstract | Full text | PDF | Supp. info. | Review Process File Published online: 14 February 2012 Subject Categories: Chromatin and Transcription | Cell Cycle | Genome Stability and Dynamics DNA replication stress differentially regulates G1/S genes via Rad53-dependent inactivation of Nrm1 The genotoxic stress-activated checkpoint affects the cell cycle and gene expression programmes. In budding yeast, the latter function involves the Chk2 kinase homologue Rad53, which phosphorylates the co-repressor Nrm1 to activate the E2F-like transcription factor MBF. Anna Travesa, Curt Wittenberg and colleagues The EMBO Journal (2012), 31, 1811 - 1822; 10.1038/emboj.2012.28 Abstract | Full text | PDF | Supp. info. | Review Process File Published online: 14 February 2012 Subject Categories: Chromatin and Transcription | Cell Cycle | Genome Stability and Dynamics Palmitoylated calnexin is a key component of the ribosome–translocon complex The chaperone calnexin is engaged in glycoprotein folding in the endoplasmic reticulum. Palmitoylated calnexin associates with the ribosome–translocon complex and the actin cytoskeleton. The complex mediates N-glycosylation and folding of proteins exiting the translocon. Asvin KK Lakkaraju, Françoise Gisou van der Goot and colleagues The EMBO Journal (2012), 31, 1823 - 1835; 10.1038/emboj.2012.15 Abstract | Full text | PDF | Supp. info. | Review Process File Published online: 07 February 2012 Subject Categories: Proteins Structural insights into initial and intermediate steps of the ribosome-recycling process The ribosome-recycling factor (RRF) and elongation factor-G (EF-G) disassemble the eukaryotic 70S translation post-termination complex. Cryo-EM structures reveal the molecular basis of ribosome recycling and a novel mode of action for EF-G. Takeshi Yokoyama, Rajendra K Agrawal and colleagues The EMBO Journal (2012), 31, 1836 - 1846; 10.1038/emboj.2012.22 Abstract | Full text | PDF | Supp. info. | Review Process File Published online: 02 March 2012 Subject Categories: Proteins | Structural Biology Advertisement Follow EMBO on Twitter for as-it-happens access to news, comments and articles and make Twitter a place to share information and network with others interested in the field. http://twitter.com/EMBOcomm   Please note that you need to be a subscriber or site-licence holder to enjoy full-text access to The EMBO Journal. 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. You can change or discontinue your e-mail alerts at any time, by modifying your preferences on your nature.com account at: www.nature.com/nams/svc/myaccount (You will need to log in to be recognised as a nature.com registrant). 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