Research Highlights

Short, accessible synopses of recent important articles concerning signalling pathways.

May 2011

• Dissecting signaling at the speed of light

  

  Researchers use light-activated photo-uncaging to dissect the elementary steps in protein kinase signaling networks in living human cells.

  Original research paper Nature Methods 8 284 - 285 doi:10.1038/nmeth0411-284b

• Developement: Strong bones: got FZD9?

  

  Frizzled 9 (FZD9), which belongs to a family of receptors involved in WNT signalling, has a role in bone formation, according to a recent study.

  Original research paper Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology 12 280 - 281 doi:10.1038/nrm3103

• Tumour microenvironment: Target practice

  

  The many adventures of MYC continue this month with a new publication by Laura Soucek, Gerard Evan and colleagues, which indicates that blocking the activity of endogenous LMYC, NMYC and MYC (collectively referred to as Myc) suppresses tumour development by eliciting effects both on tumour cells and on the tumour microenvironment.

  Original research paper Nature Reviews Cancer 11 315 doi:10.1038/nrc3058

• T cell signalling: Heavy metal rocks T cells

  

  During the flu season, supermarket shelves are heavily laden with food supplements proclaiming the wonders of zinc for immune health, but the precise mechanisms by which zinc enhances immune function are poorly understood. Yu et al. now show that, in a similar manner to calcium, zinc functions as an ionic signalling messenger to promote T cell activation.

  Original research paper Nature Reviews Immunology 11 300 - 301 doi:10.1038/nri2977

• Autophagy: Limiting factors

  

  NRAS, KRAS and HRAS are often deregulated in cancer; however, increased RAS activity does not guarantee tumour formation, as other pathways, such as cell death or senescence, limit the effects of oncogenic RAS. Three recent papers have indicated that autophagy is induced by oncogenic RAS and both limits and enables cellular survival.

  Original research paper Nature Reviews Cancer 11 313 doi:10.1038/nrc3054