Hickson GRX (2022) J Cell Biol "A back-up source of microtubules for the midbody during cytokinesis."

Hickson GRX

[J Cell Biol, 2022]

During cytokinesis, microtubules become compacted into a dense midbody prior to abscission. Using genetic perturbations and imaging of C. elegans zygotes, Hirsch et al. (2022. J. Cell Biol.https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.202011085) uncover an unexpected source of microtubules that can populate the midbody when central spindle microtubules are missing.

Allard P et al. (2011) Cell Cycle "Mechanistic insights into the action of Bisphenol A on the germline using C. elegans."

Allard P, Colaiacovo MP

[Cell Cycle, 2011]

Feature on: Allard P, et al. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 2010; 107:20405-10.

Loedige I et al. (2009) Cell "TRIM-NHL proteins take on miRNA regulation."

Loedige I, Filipowicz W

[Cell, 2009]

The TRIM-NHL family of proteins is conserved among metazoans and has been shown to regulate cell proliferation and development. In this issue, Hammell et al. (2009) and Schwamborn et al. (2009) identify two members of this protein family, NHL-2 in worms and TRIM32 in mice, as positive regulators of microRNA function.

Garrity PA (2007) J Neurophysiol "Role of adaptation in C. elegans thermotaxis. Focus on "Short-term adaptation and temporal processing in the cryophilic response of Caenorabditis elegans"."

Garrity PA

[J Neurophysiol, 2007]

The work of Clark et al. in this issue of J. Neurophysiology extends the analysis of thermotaxis in C. elegans by providing a detailed analysis of the adaptation of thermotactic behavior. Previous work indicates that thermotaxis in C. elegans involves a biased random walk in which changes in temperature alter the duration of the runs that an animal makes between turns. Interestingly, the authors find that although behavioral responses to increases and decreases in temperature have opposite effects on run length, the two responses are of similar magnitude and adapt with similar kinetics. These properties are predicted to allow the system act as a band-pass filter that would be less sensitive to temperature fluctuations occurring on a time-scale significantly faster or slower than the time needed for an average run. This analysis of C. elegans thermotaxis raises potential parallels to bacterial chemotaxis, with the kinetics of adaptation playing an important role in determining the ability of the organism to sense a stimulus gradient. This raises the possibility that diverse organisms may exploit similar system properties to solve similar problems, such as the problem of responding robustly to subtle gradations in an external stimulus.

Brenkman AB et al. (2007) Cell Metab "Live longer through PHAsting."

Burgering BM, Brenkman AB

[Cell Metab, 2007]

Dietary restriction provides considerable health benefits and may even increase life span in humans. Panowski et al. (2007) have now identified PHA-4/FoxA as an essential and specific component of DR-induced life-span extension in C. elegans.

Shaw R et al. (2009) Cell "PPTR-1 counterAkts insulin signaling."

Dillin A, Shaw R

[Cell, 2009]

The serine/threonine kinase Akt is a focal point in signaling pathways that control cell tumorigenesis and insulin resistance. In this issue, Padmanabhan et al. (2009) identify a phosphatase regulatory subunit PPTR-1 that regulates the insulin/insulin-like growth factor 1 pathway by counteracting Akt activity in worms and mammalian cells.