January 2007

• Neighbourly help in the gut

  Retinoic acid produced by gut-associated lymphoid tissue-derived dendritic cells modulates the migration of B cells towards the gut.

  Original research paper: Science 314, 1157-1160
  (2006)

• Lipids under scrutiny

  Researchers have developed a system to rapidly deplete or increase specific phosphatidylinositide species at the plasma membrane.

  Original research paper: Nat. Methods 4, 7
  (2007)

• Cure for a broken heart?

  Thymosin 4 (T4), a protein required for actin reorganization, stimulates the mobilization of vascular progenitors from adult epicardium.

  Original research paper: Nature,
  (15 Nov 2006); doi:10.1038/nature05383

• Go forth and multiply

  The microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF) is a key determinant of invasive potential and both cell-cycle entry and exit in melanoma cells.

  Original research paper: Genes Dev.,
  (15 December 2006); doi:10.1101/gad.405406