Journal Club

Highlighting recently published papers selected by Academy members

Category Archives: Cell Biology

Journal Club: Studies hint at how cholesterol and other molecules move through cells

Posted on March 27, 2018 by Charlotte Schubert

Four recent studies take a close look at how molecules cross the gap between membrane contacts within a cell, offering insights into crucial cellular activities. Three of the papers elucidate the transport of cholesterol; the fourth suggests that such contact … Continue reading →

Categories: Cell Biology | Journal Club | Tagged cholesterol, contact site, LAM protein, plasma membrane, StARkin domain, sterol | Leave a comment

Journal Club: Scientists culture human placenta cells in hopes of understanding pregnancy complications

Posted on February 1, 2018 by Carolyn Beans

A collection of human placental cells known as trophoblasts are responsible for much of what goes right in a healthy pregnancy. But growing and studying these cells in the lab has been a major challenge. Now, a team of Japanese … Continue reading →

Journal Club: Cells use waves to regulate mitosis, suggesting similar wave dynamics as myriad natural phenomena

Posted on December 18, 2017 by Carrie Arnold

Over the past decade, biologists have discovered an ever-increasing number of phenomena that exhibit wave-like behavior. Everything from the firing of neurons to the spread of a virus through a population can show a similar pattern: they emanate from … Continue reading →

Journal Club: Cellular context determines whether factor promotes or tamps down cancer

Posted on November 14, 2017 by Charlotte Schubert

Some cellular factors have an impressive multitude of roles. One prime example is LKB1 (Liver Kinase B1). It controls both cell metabolism and cell polarity, telling cells which end is which. It also appears to act as both a tumor … Continue reading →

Journal Club: Wheat’s molecular response to full sun exposure could suggest ways to increase yield

Posted on August 25, 2017 by Carrie Arnold

A recent study points to novel ways of improving crop yields and food production by elucidating how long it takes for wheat to return to full photosynthesis when making the transition from shade to sun exposure. The Green Revolution in … Continue reading →

Journal Club: Insights from 3-D images defy assumptions about how plant cells communicate

Posted on June 23, 2017 by Carolyn Beans

When plant cells communicate, plasmodesmata serve as crucial conduits. These channels cross cell walls, linking one cell to its neighbor. If a plant needs to grow larger or fight off a pathogen, molecular signals pass through plasmodesmata to keep cells … Continue reading →

Categories: Cell Biology | Journal Club | Plant Biology | Tagged Arabidopsis, cell communication, electron microscopy, plant cell, plasmodesmata | Leave a comment

Journal Club: Macrophages help regenerate ear parts in spiny mice

Posted on June 10, 2017 by Jyoti Madhusoodanan

Salamander tails and fish fins are oft-cited examples of animals’ ability to regenerate a lost limb or organ. But one mammal—the African spiny mouse—has also emerged as a model of regenerative abilities. In a recent study, Ashley Seifert of the University … Continue reading →

Journal Club: ATP could help proteins dissolve in cells, prompting a rethink about its function and evolution

Posted on May 27, 2017 by Jyoti Madhusoodanan

Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is widely considered biology’s “energy currency”. A crucial player in cell function, it stores and releases energy for enzymatic reactions in its phosphate bonds. But cells typically hoard amounts of ATP several hundred-fold higher than that needed … Continue reading →

Categories: Biochemistry | Cell Biology | Journal Club | Tagged Alzheimer's disease, Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, ATP, plaque | 1 Comment

Journal Club: Newfound avenue for disrupting peroxisome organelles could have big implications in the cell

Posted on February 18, 2017 by Charles Choi

Peroxisomes are packages of enzymes that help destroy toxins and digest fuels for cells. Disrupt the assembly of these organelles, and the results could be fatal for humans. Previously, all mutant proteins linked to such disorders were thought to be … Continue reading →

Categories: Biochemistry | Cell Biology | Journal Club | Tagged apoptosis, cancer, eukaryotes, mitochondria, peroxisome | Leave a comment

Journal Club: A new strategy for producing polio vaccine without live virus

Posted on February 6, 2017 by Carolyn Beans

The poliovirus, which once paralyzed children across the globe, is nearly eradicated in nature. There were just 74 cases of polio reported in 2015, according to the World Health Organization, down from an estimated 350,000 in 1988. Two vaccines contributed … Continue reading →