June 25, 2020
Image credit: Wikimedia Commons User CaptNemoZum
06/25/2020
Research Article
Inflammation and infection can trigger local tissue accumulation of Na+ ions, boosting pro-inflammatory antimicrobial activity of monocyte/macrophage-like cells. Patrick Neubert, Arne Homann, David Wendelborn, Jonathan Jantsch and colleagues show that the sensing of Na+ ions by macrophages requires the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger NCX1.
Image credit: pbio.3000722
Current Issue June 2020
06/19/2020
Research Article
Curli are functional amyloids that play critical roles in biofilm formation and adhesion in many Enterobacteriaceae. Two outer membrane proteins, CsgG and CsgF, form the core apparatus for secretion and assembly of the curli structural subunits. The cryo-EM structure of the CsgG-CsgF complex, by Manfeng Zhang, Huigang Shi, Xuemei Zhang, Xinzheng Zhang and Yihua Huang, reveals a unique amyloid secretion channel with two tandem constriction regions.
Image credit: pbio.3000748
06/19/2020
Research Article
Information about unexpected stimuli is encoded in the form of prediction error signals. The earliest prediction error signals identified in the auditory brain emerge subcortically in the inferior colliculus. Catalina Valdés-Baizabal, Guillermo Carbajal, David Pérez-González and Manuel Malmierca reveal the essential role of dopamine in encoding the precision of prediction errors at the auditory midbrain.
Image credit: pbio.3000744
06/18/2020
Short Reports
By redistributing centriolar satellites to the periphery or center of the cell, Özge Aydin, Sevket Onur Taflan, Can Gurkaslar and Elif Nur Firat-Karalar reveal novel functions for satellites during mitosis, cilium maintenance, and cilium disassembly, suggesting novel mechanisms.
Image credit: pbio.3000679
06/12/2020
Short Report & PRIMER
Why do we like seeing good things happen to others? Benjamin Basile, Elisabeth Murray and co-workers use a study of rhesus monkeys playing a juice donation game to show that the anterior cingulate cortex is necessary for monkeys to acquire normal prosocial preferences. Also read the accompanying Primer by Patricia Lockwood, Kathryn O'Nell and Matthew Apps.
Image credit: pbio.3000735
06/10/2020
Methods and Resources
Eva Doleželová, Alena Zíková and co-workers reveal that developmental progression of the human parasite Trypanosoma brucei is accompanied by dynamic metabolic remodeling of its mitochondrion, leading to increased production of reactive oxygen species; these are found to act as essential cellular signals, driving the parasite's differentiation.
Image credit: pbio.3000741
06/10/2020
Research Article
Tumor-infiltrating macrophages have an active UPR and a mixed proinflammatory and immune-suppressive phenotype. This is driven by the IRE1a/Xbp1 axis of the UPR, so targeting the UPR may increase the response to immune checkpoint blockade therapy.
Image credit: Flickr user NIAID
06/09/2020
Research Article
A study of the social bacterium Myxococcus xanthus reveals that the bacteria preferentially secrete specific polysaccharides within distinct zones of a swarm to facilitate spreading across a surface.
Image credit: Omaima Rebay
06/09/2020
Research Article
Transgenic mice expressing the human prion protein containing an inherited human prion disease mutation develop spontaneous neuropathology and mirror the generation of transmissible prion assemblies seen in humans. Also read the associated Primer.
Image credit: pbio.3000725
06/09/2020
Research Article & PRIMER
The ULK1-ATG13 autophagy initiation complex is differentially regulated throughout the cell cycle, especially in mitosis, promoting mitotic autophagy and cell cycle progression. Also read the accompanying Primer.
Image credit: pbio.3000288
Raquel Lieberman discusses her work on the protein myocilin, implicated in glaucoma, but whose normal function remains unclear after over 20 years.
Susanna Bidgood explores the future of using poxviruses as versatile tools for cell biology research.
Rachel Harding proposes that open notebooks present an opportunity for researchers to showcase their work and rapidly advance science in their field
On the eve of the UN General Assembly meeting on TB, Christoph Grundner urged the need to consider basic research as an essential component of any future anti-TB strategy.
Norman Pace remembers the early days of what became known as "metagenomics," as experienced by the author during his development as a scientist.
Normal service will resume after Covid-19 crisis ends.
Normal service will resume after Covid-19 crisis ends.
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