extracellular matrix

[Scientific Reports] Investigators uncovered evidence that cellular FLICE-like Inhibitory Protein (c-FLIP), a well-known anti-apoptotic protein, was often downregulated in tumor tissue when compared to adjacent normal tissue. Detachment from ECM served as a signal to elevate c-FLIP transcription and oncogenic signaling blocked ECM-detachment-induced c-FLIP elevation.

[Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America] Scientists demonstrated that the autoimmunity caused by the the Drosophila tuSz1 mutant strain was the result of two mutations: a mutation in the GCS1 gene that disrupted N-glycosylation of ECM proteins covering the fat body, and a mutation in the Drosophila Janus Kinase ortholog that caused precocious activation of hemocytes.

[PLoS Biology] Investigators demonstrated a critical role for RNA-binding proteins on chromatin to maintain stem and progenitor cell fate by dictating the expression of specific classes of genes.

[Cell] Scientists showed that nuclear envelope ruptures induced DNA damage that promoted senescence in non-transformed cells and induced an invasive phenotype in human breast cancer cells.

[NPJ Regenerative Medicine] Using SPRY4 gene delivery into healthy and degenerated chondrocytes, investigators elucidated the role of SPRY4 in preventing chondrocyte hypertrophy. In addition to using the human cartilage tissues with the destabilization of the model in Sprague-Dawley rats, the role of SPRY4 in cartilage tissues and chondrocytes was explored through their molecular and histological analysis.

[Communications Biology] The authors demonstrated that TC10, a member of a Cdc42 subfamily of p21 small GTPases, regulated the membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase-driven extracellular matrix degradation at invadopodia.