Editors' Choice

Stem Cells
Glucose Fattens Up Muscle

Nancy R. Gough
Sci. Signal. 5 February 2008: ec41.
Stem cells from muscle or adipose tissue form adipocytes in response to increased concentrations of glucose. Summary »|   Podcast »|  

Ischemia
MIFed About Metabolism

Elizabeth M. Adler
Sci. Signal. 5 February 2008: ec42.
MIF acts as a local factor to activate AMP-activated protein kinase during cardiac ischemia, linking inflammation with cardiac metabolism. Summary »|  

Addiction
A Bioinformatics Approach to Addiction

Nancy R. Gough
Sci. Signal. 5 February 2008: ec43.
Meta-analysis of the primary literature linking genes to addiction leads to the development of a hypothetical molecular pathway involved in addiction. Summary »|  

Development
How to Specify a Leg

L. Bryan Ray
Sci. Signal. 5 February 2008: ec44.
Experiments reveal how similar gradients of signaling molecules specify formation of distinct spatial axes in the Drosophila leg. Summary »|  

Neuroscience
Endocannabinoid Interactions

Elizabeth M. Adler
Sci. Signal. 5 February 2008: ec45.
Anandamide can inhibit the production and effects of 2-AG through activation of TRPV1. Summary »|  

Structural Biology
Monogamy in the TGF-β Receptor Relationship

Nancy R. Gough
Sci. Signal. 5 February 2008: ec46.
Crystal structure of the transforming growth factor-β receptor I and II reveals how these members of the family restrict their ligand interactions. Summary »|  

Adhesion
EphA2 Destabilizes Adherens Junctions

John F. Foley
Sci. Signal. 5 February 2008: ec47.
The EphA2 receptor tyrosine kinase, which is associated with tumor malignancy, disrupts cell-cell adhesion through a RhoA-dependent mechanism. Summary »|  

Developmental Biology
Regulating Ovulation

Beverly A. Purnell
Sci. Signal. 5 February 2008: ec48.
In mice, a tumor suppressor commonly mutated in human cancers prevents premature activation of ovarian follicles, allowing them to form oocytes throughout life. Summary »|  

Immunology
T Cell Role for Cathepsin K

Stephen J. Simpson
Sci. Signal. 5 February 2008: ec49.
A lysosomal protease known to function in bone cells also operates in the innate immune pathway activated in experimental multiple sclerosis and arthritis in mice. Summary »|  

Medicine
Growth and Survival—The Complete Toolkit

Paula A. Kiberstis
Sci. Signal. 5 February 2008: ec50.
Systematic inhibition of gene expression with RNA interference reveals genes essential for growth and survival of tumor cells, potentially leading to new cancer drugs. Summary »|  

Immunology
Interfering with Inflammation

Stephen J. Simpson
Sci. Signal. 5 February 2008: ec51.
Small RNAs packaged in lipid nanoparticles can be directed by antibodies to specific gut immune cells, where they suppress inflammation by inhibiting a cell-cycle protein. Summary »|  

Perspectives

Neuroscience
Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors and Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein: Partners in Translational Regulation at the Synapse

Jennifer A. Ronesi and Kimberly M. Huber
Sci. Signal. 5 February 2008: pe6.
On the road to protein synthesis–dependent plasticity, FMRP is the brake and mGluRs are the gas. Summary »|   Full Text »|   PDF »|