Ion channels: functional expression and therapeutic potential in cancer. Colloquium on Ion Channels and Cancer

It is becoming increasingly clear that TRP channels are involved in cancer progression (Bödding, 2007; Prevarskaya et al, 2007). In relation to prostate cancer, N. Prevarskaya (Villeneuve d'Ascq, France) describe...

Variations on complexity

Down to atomic-scale intracellular water dynamics

Water constitutes the intracellular matrix in which biological molecules interact. Understanding its dynamic state is a main scientific challenge, which continues to provoke controversy after more than 50 years of study....

Atypical ubiquitin chains: new molecular signals. ‘Protein Modifications: Beyond the Usual Suspects' Review Series

Ubiquitin (Ub) is a small protein modifier that regulates many biological processes, including gene transcription, cell-cycle progression, DNA repair, apoptosis, virus budding and receptor endocytosis. Ub can be conjugat...

T-cell antigen receptor triggering and lipid rafts: a matter of space and time scales. Talking Point on the involvement of lipid rafts in T-cell activation

T-cell antigen receptor triggering mechanisms and lipid rafts are of broad interest, but are also controversial topics. Here, we review some recent progress in these two research fields, which has been accomplished mostl...