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Volume 12 Issue 2, February 2005

Colorized EM images of a microtubule (left) and one decorated with DASH (right images), a subcomplex of the kinetochore. DASH oligomerizes to form rings and paired helices that encircle microtubules. pp 138-143

Volume 12 Issue 2

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Editorial

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News & Views

  • Despite its simple repeating sequence, the C-terminal domain (CTD) of RNA polymerase II spatially and temporally recruits diverse factors to the site of transcription. A recent study reports observations consistent with an induced fit binding mechanism that is coupled to recognition of CTD proline isomerization and phosphorylation patterns.

    • Christopher D Lima
    News & Views

  • Gating of the mechanosensitive channel MscS involves cooperative action of glycine and alanine residues along the pore-lining transmembrane helix. Opening of the channel is facilitated by an iris-like rotation and tilt of the pore-lining helices. Site-directed mutagenesis indicates that substantial structural plasticity can be tolerated by MscS without impairing its function.

    • Boris Martinac
    News & Views

  • A FRET-based approach to monitor the assembly of membrane-associated COPII coat proteins provides new insights into how the COPII–cargo complex is maintained on the membrane during continuous rounds of Sar1p-GTP hydrolysis.

    • Wei Liu
    • Jennifer Lippincott-Schwartz
    News & Views

  • A recent study shows that the testicular angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) has a new unexpected activity: it is responsible for cleaving GPI off from proteins anchored on the sperm cell membrane.

    • Satyajit Mayor
    News & Views
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Commentary

  • The tails of the four core histones are exposed on the nucleosome surface, where they are subject to a variety of enzyme-catalyzed, post-translational modifications. Modifications, singly or in combination, provide a source of information that can be used for signal transduction during ongoing processes, such as transcription, or as heritable epigenetic marks. A nomenclature is presented that allows patterns of histone modification to be clearly and unambiguously specified and that should facilitate discussion of their functional roles.

    • Bryan M Turner
    Commentary
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