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Using laser trapping with recombinant Ndc80 and Dam1 kinetochore complexes, Rachel Flores, Charles Asbury, Trisha Davis and colleagues (University of Washington) show that interactions between three distinct regions of the complexes support strong, stable attachments to dynamic microtubule tips. Phosphorylating two of the regions reduces both attachment strength and stability. Phosphorylating the third region specifically reduces long-term stability.
We're pleased to introduce the newest members of the JCB editorial board:
Gregory Alushin, Tamara Caspary, Çagla Eroglu, Andrew Ewald, Laura Lackner, Michael Lazarou, Kassandra Ori-McKenney, Tatiana Petrova, Elçin Ünal, Sara Wickström, and Bo Zhong.
We are grateful to these and all of our board members for their contributions to JCB and service to the cell biology community.
Mengdie Wang, Choua Xiong and Arthur M. Mercurio (UMass Chan Medical School) reveal an unexpected cell-intrinsic function of PD-L1 in regulating the dynamics of the plasma membrane that facilitates persistent cell migration. The study highlights the diverse processes that PD-L1 can regulate independently of its immune checkpoint function.
Patrick Caswell (The University of Manchester) previews work from Duncan et al. (
https://bit.ly/3qdQtbx) which characterizes the mechanism by which Rab40b/Cul5 ubiquitylation of Rap2 controls its activity and correct localization during cell migration.
Robert M. Harmon, John Devany and Margaret L. Gardel (University of Chicago Physics) demonstrate that differential expression of an actin nucleator, the formin Dia1, drives cell sorting and maintains distinct morphological domains within an epithelial tissue. This illuminates the possible utility of the large formin family in orchestrating the compartmentalization and differentiation of complex tissues.
In this new Spotlight, Liz Smythe (The University of Sheffield) highlights work from the Antonescu lab (
https://bit.ly/3vBdf0K) showing how clathrin coated pits segregate a subset of Akt signaling.
Cassandra R. Blanchette, Amy L. Scalera, Avital A. Rodal and colleagues (Brandeis University) show a novel role for the endocytic machinery in regulating extracellular vesicle (EV) trafficking at Drosophila neuromuscular synapses. In endocytic mutants, EV cargoes are missorted and then removed from the synapse by retrograde transport, leading to disruption of their physiological functions.
Paola Bezzi (Université de Lausanne) previews work from Cvetkovic et al. (
https://bit.ly/3uBOAsl) that presents a neural organoid system to model human reactive astrocytes.
Ori Avinoam (Weizmann Institute of Science) studies membrane remodeling with a focus on cell-to-cell fusion through the lens of correlative light and electron microscopy. In our latest People and Ideas series, we chatted with Ori about his scientific journey and future research plans.
Yumiko Ono, Kenji Matsuzawa and Junichi Ikenouchi (Kyushu University 代謝生理学研究室) revealed that mTORC2–Rab35 activation by hypo-osmotic stress not only promotes apical transport of sphingomyelin to supply membrane but also decreases the actin cortex underlining the apical membrane by reducing PI(4,5)P2 to facilitate the expansion of the apical membrane.
Contact inhibition of locomotion is a process that regulates cell motility upon cell collision. Ku**er, Steinbacher, Thölmann, Ebnet (WWU Münster - Münster University) and colleagues show that JAM-A inhibits the activity of the Src–Erk1/2 pathway and of Rac1 to stabilize cell matrix adhesions and to inhibit protrusive activity upon contact formation.
The Rab40b/Cul5 complex is an emerging pro-migratory molecular machine. Emily D. Duncan, Rytis Prekeris and colleagues (University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus) demonstrate that Rab40b/Cul5 ubiquitylates Rap2 to regulate its localization and activity, ultimately proposing a model by which Rap2 is targeted to the leading-edge plasma membrane to regulate actin dynamics during cell migration.