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biosights

Dec 26, 2011

Desmosomes are intercellular adhesions whose adhesive core is formed by two distinct classes of cadherin molecules – desmogleins and desmocollins. Nekrasova et al. reveal that these two cadherins are independently transported to the cell surface by two different kinesin motors. This biosights episode presents the...


Nov 28, 2011

When a T cell encounters a target antigen-presenting cell, the lymphocyte's centrosome relocalizes to a specialized contact between the two cells called the immunological synapse. Zyss et al. reveal that casein kinase Iδ helps to reposition the centrosome in activated T cells, perhaps by working with the microtubule...


Oct 31, 2011

Cofilin severs the ties between cytokinetic nodes

Cytokinetic nodes are precursor structures that assemble into the actomyosin contractile ring that separates daughter cells in cytokinesis. Chen and Pollard describe how the actin-severing protein cofilin promotes the rapid formation of a complete contractile ring by...


Oct 3, 2011

The ERM protein Moesin helps mitotic cells undergo a series of dramatic shape changes by linking the actin cytoskeleton to the plasma membrane. Roubinet et al. describe how Moesin's localization and activity is regulated over the course of the cell cycle by two different pathways that control Moesin phosphorylation and...


Sep 5, 2011

The actin cytoskeleton has been proposed to regulate exocytosis in many different ways. Nightingale et al. use a two-color, live-cell imaging assay to reveal two contrasting functions of actin in distinct stages of Weibel–Palade body secretion: actin-based anchors inhibit the fusion of these secretory granules with...