Featured
-
-
Article |
Comprehensive interrogation of natural TALE DNA-binding modules and transcriptional repressor domains
The peptide sequence of transcription activator-like effectors (TALEs) can be customized to tailor the binding of TALEs to specific DNA sequences. Conget al. improve TALE specificity for guanine binding and use a genetic construct based on TALEs to efficiently repress expression of a target gene.
- Le Cong
- , Ruhong Zhou
- & Feng Zhang
-
Article |
Cis- and trans-regulatory divergence between progenitor species determines gene-expression novelty in Arabidopsis allopolyploids
Gene-expression divergence produces phenotypic diversity, but the molecular basis for this is not clear. Here, a genome-wide study ofcis- and trans-regulation in Arabidopsisallopolyploids and their progenitors provides evidence for natural selection and epigenetic regulation during evolution and speciation.
- Xiaoli Shi
- , Danny W-K. Ng
- & Z. Jeffrey Chen
-
Article |
Trim71 cooperates with microRNAs to repress Cdkn1a expression and promote embryonic stem cell proliferation
Embryonic stem cells have a shortened cell cycle that allows for rapid proliferation, but the exact mechanisms are unclear. Here, a microRNA target, Trim71, is shown to inhibit the expression of a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, thus enabling the G1–S phase cell cycle transition in embryonic stem cells.
- Hao-Ming Chang
- , Natalia J. Martinez
- & Richard I. Gregory
-
Article
| Open AccessProtein L-isoaspartyl methyltransferase regulates p53 activity
Protein L-isoaspartyl methyltransferase (PIMT) is a carboxyl methyltransferase, but its role in regulating the tumour suppressor p53 is unclear. Here, PIMT is shown to methylate p53, obstructing the tumour suppressor function of p53 through reduced protein levels and stability.
- Jae-Cheol Lee
- , Sung-Ung Kang
- & Jeung-Whan Han
-
Article |
RUNX1-induced silencing of non-muscle myosin heavy chain IIB contributes to megakaryocyte polyploidization
Megakaryocytes undergo polyploidization prior to forming platelets but this process is poorly characterised. In this study, non-muscle myosin IIB heavy chain, that localizes to the contractile ring during mitosis, is shown to be silenced prior to polyploidization in a RUNX1-dependent manner.
- Larissa Lordier
- , Dominique Bluteau
- & Yunhua Chang
-
Article |
miR-137 forms a regulatory loop with nuclear receptor TLX and LSD1 in neural stem cells
The microRNA miR-137 is enriched in the brain of mice and induces the differentiation of adult neural stem cells. Now, Sun and colleagues report that miR-137 negatively regulates proliferation of neurons in embryonic mice and that TLX and LSD1 cooperate to negatively regulate miR-137 expression, blocking premature differentiation.
- GuoQiang Sun
- , Peng Ye
- & Yanhong Shi
-
Article
| Open AccessSelective inhibition of microRNA accessibility by RBM38 is required for p53 activity
MicroRNAs bind to the 3′-untranslated region of genes to regulate expression. In this study, an RNA-binding protein, RMB38, is shown to selectively regulate the access of some microRNAs to their targets, and control the expression of some p53 target genes.
- Nicolas Léveillé
- , Ran Elkon
- & Reuven Agami
-
Article
| Open AccessBlimp1 regulates the transition of neonatal to adult intestinal epithelium
Many mammals are born with an immature intestinal epithelium, which adapts to a changing diet during the weaning period. Muncanet al. show that the transcriptional repressor Blimp1is expressed in the intestine of mice at birth, and that expression is lost at the transition to the weaning stage.
- Vanesa Muncan
- , Jarom Heijmans
- & Gijs R. van den Brink
-
Article
| Open AccessCytosine methylation regulates oviposition in the pathogenic blood fluke Schistosoma mansoni
The chronic disease schistosomiasis is caused by the blood flukeSchistosoma mansoni. By studying DNA modifications throughout the lifecycle of the pathogen, the authors identify DNA methylation as a factor in egg development and suggest that the epigenetic machinery responsible may be a therapeutic target.
- Kathrin K. Geyer
- , Carlos M. Rodríguez López
- & Karl F. Hoffmann
-
Article |
TorsinA participates in endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation
The torsinA protein localizes to the endoplasmic reticulum and, when mutated, causes early onset torsion dystonia. The authors reveal a new role for torsinA in proteosome-mediated degradation of misfolded proteins, and relate this to endoplasmic reticulum stress, in aCaenorhabditis elegansmodel and patient fibroblasts.
- Flávia C. Nery
- , Ioanna A. Armata
- & Xandra O. Breakefield
-
Article |
Cyclin B-dependent kinase 1 regulates human TRF1 to modulate the resolution of sister telomeres
TRF1 is a telomere binding protein involved in sister telomere cohesion. In this study, the ability of TRF1 to bind to telomeres in mitosis is inhibited by cyclin-dependent kinase 1-mediated phosphorylation, which may facilitate sister telomere resolution during mitosis.
- Megan McKerlie
- & Xu-Dong Zhu
-
Article |
An evolutionarily conserved three-dimensional structure in the vertebrate Irx clusters facilitates enhancer sharing and coregulation
TheIrx genes are arranged in clusters and the reason for this arrangement is unclear. Using a chromatin conformation capture assay, the authors show that Irx genes share enhancer elements, suggesting that the gene cluster is required for coregulation of the Irxgenes.
- Juan J. Tena
- , M. Eva Alonso
- & José Luis Gómez-Skarmeta
-
Article |
α-Mannosidase 2C1 attenuates PTEN function in prostate cancer cells
PTEN is a phosphatase that regulates the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase signalling pathway and is inactivated in many tumour types. Heet al.show that a mannosidase, α-mannosidase 2C1, can inactivate PTEN in prostate cancer cells, and that PTEN-positive human prostate tumours overexpress α-mannosidase 2C1.
- Lizhi He
- , Catherine Fan
- & Damu Tang
-
Article |
Wwp2 is essential for palatogenesis mediated by the interaction between Sox9 and mediator subunit 25
Sox9 is an important transcription factor in the formation of cartilage chondrogenesis that occurs during skeletal development. Nakamuraet al.show that Sox9 interacts with Wwp2 and Med25 to form a complex and that loss of either protein in zebrafish results in altered palate chondrogenesis.
- Yukio Nakamura
- , Koji Yamamoto
- & Haruhiko Akiyama
-
Article
| Open AccessDisruption of TBP-2 ameliorates insulin sensitivity and secretion without affecting obesity
Thioredoxin binding protein-2 (TBP-2) mutant mice have abnormal insulin sensitivity and secretion. In this study, TBP-2-null obese mice are shown to have improved insulin sensitivity and glucose intolerance, suggesting a potential role for TBP-2 inhibition in diabetes treatment.
- Eiji Yoshihara
- , Shimpei Fujimoto
- & Hiroshi Masutani
-
Article |
G-protein β2 subunit interacts with mitofusin 1 to regulate mitochondrial fusion
Little is known about the regulation of mitofusin proteins that are involved in the fusion of mitochondrial membranes. In this study, the authors report that a heterotrimeric G protein, Gβ-subunit 2, can interact with mitofusin 1, and is involved in the regulation of mitochondrial fusion.
- Juan Zhang
- , Weihua Liu
- & Quan Chen
-
Article |
Development of a novel selective inhibitor of the Down syndrome-related kinase Dyrk1A
The kinase Dyrk1A is essential for brain function and development, and its excessive activity has been implicated in Down syndrome. In this study, a selective inhibitor of Dyrk1A is developed, which may help to elucidate the molecular mechanisms of normal and diseased brain.
- Yasushi Ogawa
- , Yosuke Nonaka
- & Masatoshi Hagiwara