Medium-chain fatty acid receptor GPR84 deficiency leads to metabolic homeostasis dysfunction in mice fed high-fat diet.

Overconsumption of food, especially dietary fat, leads to metabolic disorders such as obesity and type 2 diabetes. Long-chain fatty acids, such as palmitoleate are recognized as the risk factors for these disorders owing to their high-energy content and lipotoxicity. In contrast, medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) metabolic benefits; however, their underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear.

Cancer-specific mutations in p53 induce the translation of Δ160p53 promoting tumorigenesis.

Wild-type p53 functions as a tumour suppressor while mutant p53 possesses oncogenic potential. Until now it remains unclear how a single mutation can transform p53 into a functionally distinct gene harbouring a new set of original cellular roles. Here we show that the most common p53 cancer mutants express a larger number and higher levels of shorter p53 protein isoforms that are translated from the mutated full-length p53 mRNA.

Rho family GTPases and dendrite plasticity.

Dendrite structures exert a profound influence on neuronal information processing. The Rho family GTPases have been implicated in the regulation of dendritic development. Among them, Rho, Rac, and Cdc42 have been characterized extensively, and Rac and Cdc42 promote dendrite growth and branching, whereas Rho acts as a negative regulator for dendrite growth.

M phase-specific kinetochore proteins in fission yeast: microtubule-associating Dis1 and Mtc1 display rapid separation and segregation during anaphase.

Background: Kinetochore microtubules are made early in mitosis and link chromosomal kinetochores to the spindle poles. They are required later to move the separated sister chromatids toward the opposite poles upon the onset of anaphase. Very little is known about proteins that are responsible for the connection between kinetochores and mitotic microtubules.