Contents
29 November 2016
Vol 9, Issue 456
Vol 9, Issue 456
Contents
Research Articles
- Reactive oxygen species induce virus-independent MAVS oligomerization in systemic lupus erythematosus
Oxidative stress oligomerizes an outer mitochondrial membrane protein to trigger an antiviral response in the absence of infection.
- Dynamic pre-BCR homodimers fine-tune autonomous survival signals in B cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Homotypic interactions between pre–B cell receptors generate survival signals in human acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells.
- Biased agonists of the kappa opioid receptor suppress pain and itch without causing sedation or dysphoria
Biased agonists of the kappa opioid receptor may relieve intractable itch without causing unwanted side effects.
Podcast
- Science Signaling Podcast for 29 November 2016: Pre-B cell receptor signaling in leukemia
Transient homotypic interactions between pre–B cell receptors promote survival of acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells (Erasmus et al., in 29 November 2016 issue).
Editors' Choice
- A taste for the light
A photoreceptor with homology to taste receptors enables worms to avoid excessive UV exposure.
- ERK blocks pre-miRNA export
Blocking the ERK-dependent suppression of miRNA biogenesis may alleviate chemotherapeutic resistance in patients with liver cancer.
- Battling over mTORC1 in Treg cells
Metabolism in T regulatory cells depends on the balance between inflammatory signals and the transcriptional regulator Foxp3.
- Harmonizing ribosomal proteins and rRNA
An rRNA processing protein has an additional role in regulating the transcription of ribosomal proteins.
- Papers of note in Science
This week’s papers report distinct signals for cell reprogramming, an effect of social status on immune responses, and a mechanism for degrading autophagosomal membranes.
- Papers of note in Science Translational Medicine
This week’s papers describe a nanobody targeting an inflammation-associated ion channel and insights into the development of BMP signaling–driven heterotopic ossification.
About The Cover
Online Cover This week features a Research Article that shows that the mitochondrial-associated protein MAVS, which normally aggregates in response to viral infection to induce type I interferon (IFN) production, can also aggregate in response to reactive oxygen species (ROS). A mutant MAVS protein that is associated with a milder form of systemic lupus erythematosus fails to aggregate in response to ROS, leading to less IFN production. The image shows a transmission electron micrograph of misshapen mitochondria in a fibroblast exposed to ROS. [Image: Iwona Buskiewicz, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT, USA]