APC and Smad7 link TGFβ type I receptors to the microtubule system to promote cell migration.

Cell migration occurs by activation of complex regulatory pathways that are spatially and temporally integrated in response to extracellular cues. Binding of adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) to the microtubule plus ends in polarized cells is regulated by glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK-3β). This event is crucial for establishment of cell polarity during directional migration.

TRAF6 ubiquitinates TGFβ type I receptor to promote its cleavage and nuclear translocation in cancer.

Transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) is a pluripotent cytokine promoting epithelial cell plasticity during morphogenesis and tumour progression. TGFβ binding to type II and type I serine/threonine kinase receptors (TβRII and TβRI) causes activation of different intracellular signaling pathways. TβRI is associated with the ubiquitin ligase tumor necrosis factor receptor (TNFR)-associated factor 6 (TRAF6).

TGFbeta1-induced activation of ATM and p53 mediates apoptosis in a Smad7-dependent manner.

ATM, a DNA-damage sensitive kinase and p53, are frequently inactivated in a variety of cancers as they together with gammaH2AX are critical guardians against DNA damage. Here, we report of a functional cross-talk between the cytokine TGFbeta and p53, leading to apoptosis of epithelial cells, involving Smad7, a TGFbeta target gene p38 MAP kinase, and ATM. Using ectopic expression of p53, siRNA for Smad7, p38alpha-/- deficient cells and specific inhibitors, we show that TGF-beta induces apoptosis via ATM and p53 in epithelial cells.

The tyrosine kinase FRK/RAK participates in cytokine-induced islet cell cytotoxicity.

Hallmarks of the inflammatory process in Type I diabetes are macrophage activation, local release of beta-cell-toxic cytokines and infiltration of cytotoxic T lymphocytes. We have observed recently that mice overexpressing active FRK (fyn-related kinase)/RAK (previously named GTK/Bsk/IYK, where GTK stands for gut tyrosine kinase, Bsk for beta-cell Src-homology kinase and IYK for intestinal tyrosine kinase) in beta-cells exhibit increased susceptibility to beta-cell-toxic events, and therefore, we now attempt to find a more precise role for FRK/RAK in these processes. Phosphopeptide mapping of baculovirus-produced mouse FRK/RAK revealed an autophosphorylation pattern compatible with Tyr-394 being the main site.

18S rDNA phylogeny of the Tubificidae (Clitellata) and its constituent taxa: dismissal of the Naididae.

The phylogeny of the Tubificidae, and of most of its subfamilies and some of its genera, is revisited, on the basis of sequences of 18S ribosomal DNA in a selection of species. Forty-six new 18S sequences of Naididae (6), Tubificidae (37), Phreodrilidae (1), Lumbriculidae (1), and Enchytraeidae (1) are reported and aligned together with corresponding sequences of 21 previously studied taxa. The 18S gene of Insulodrilus bifidus provides the first molecular evidence that phreodrilids are closely related to tubificids, corroborating previous conclusions based on morphology.