Shows
Policy OutsiderEp. 110. Sweeping Health Policy ChangesFederal health policy is undergoing its most significant changes since the Affordable Care Act was signed into law more than 15 years ago. The health policy team at the Rockefeller Institute is tracking these changes closely and has written extensively on how provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act and related rule-based changes may impact New York State. On this episode of Policy Outsider, we invite the authors of these recent analyses to discuss the shifting health policy landscape and share what they are keeping an eye on as the impact of these changes comes into focus....
2025-09-1030 min
Genius Loves CompanyRaised to Rise: Ashley McCarthy's Journey from Rockland to RockefellerIn this episode of Genius Loves Company, Laura Esposito interviews Ashley McCarthy, Co-Chief Legal Officer at Rockefeller Capital Management. Ashley reflects on her upbringing in Rockland County, where she was raised by a working mom whose example of grit and grace shaped Ashley’s values and work ethic. From Columbia to Cornell Law, through Big Law and into leadership at Rockefeller, Ashley shares insights on mentorship, resilience, and balancing career and family. A powerful story of growth and purpose. To learn more about Rockefeller Capital Management, visit Rockco.com, keep up with us on LinkedIn or Instagram, an...
2025-09-0336 minPolicy OutsiderEp. 107. Reforming the NYC Property Tax SystemNew York City's major property tax law was enacted decades ago. On this episode of Policy Outsider, we take a deep dive into the law's limitations and challenges to reforming it. Our guests are Rockefeller Institute President Bob Megna, Carol O’Cleireacain, a Richard P. Nathan Public Policy Fellow at the Institute, and Preston Niblack, commissioner of the New York City Department of Finance.Guests Robert Megna, President, Rockefeller Institute of Government Carol O’Cleireacain, Richard P. Nathan Public Policy Fellow, Rockefeller Institute of Government Preston Niblack, Commissioner, New York City Department of Finance
2025-07-2956 min
Genius Loves CompanyValerie Rockefeller: Living With Legacy - Upholding Family Tradition and Carving a New Path as an EducatorIn the seventh episode of Genius Loves Company, Laura Esposito, Rockefeller’s Head of Enterprise Client Coverage Group, sits down with Valerie Rockefeller, an educator, philanthropist, and fifth-generation member of the Rockefeller family. Valerie’s passion for education carried her from the world of West Virginia politics to leading her own classroom in New York as a special education teacher at Central Park East Secondary School in East Harlem. Currently, she sits on the board of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, one of the world’s largest philanthropic services organizations. In a wide-ranging conversation, Valerie shares what it was l...
2024-05-3034 minPolicy OutsiderEp. 92. 100 Years of Executive BudgetsIn the early 1980s, the New York State Division of the Budget released a retrospective on the executive budget process. The book, The Executive Budget in New York State: A Half-Century Perspective, describes how the executive budget process came to be, how it evolved over 50 years, and how it helped the state function through the Great Depression, World War II, the postwar period, and the 60s and 70s. Now, as we sit in view of 100 years of executive budgets in New York, the Division, in collaboration with the Rockefeller Institute, is beginning the process of telling the story of t...
2024-05-1525 minPolicy OutsiderEp. 79. The Politics of TrashPrior to the late 19th century, trash in many American cities accumulated in streets, in backyards, in privies, in empty lots, and in crawlspaces underneath homes. There were no organized municipal efforts to remove the trash and, as they grew in size and density, cities became smelly, foul, and unhealthy places to live. In their book, The Politics of Trash: How Governments Used Corruption to Clean Cities, 1890–1929, authors Patricia Strach, professor of political science and public administration & policy at the University at Albany and a fellow at the Rockefeller Institute, and Kathleen Sullivan, associate professor of political science at Oh...
2023-10-0544 minPolicy OutsiderEp. 75. Biden, SCOTUS, and Student Loan Debt ReliefIn August 2022, the Biden administration announced a plan to cancel up to $20,000 in student loan debt for eligible borrowers. The plan, legally challenged almost immediately, was struck down in early July by the Supreme Court, ruling the Executive had overreached its authority. Then, on July 14, the Biden administration announced its latest move: using the negotiated rulemaking process under the Higher Education Act to forgive student loans, revising income-driven repayment plans, and providing more than 800,000 qualifying borrowers with nearly $40 billion in loan forgiveness. On the latest episode of Policy Outsider, Rockefeller Institute Director of Education Policy Studies Brian Backstrom and...
2023-07-2518 min
Rockefeller Client InsightsRuchir Sharma ReturnsThis week Greg Fleming, President and CEO of Rockefeller Capital Management is joined again by Founder and CIO of Breakout Capital and Chairman of Rockefeller International, Ruchir Sharma. Join us as Greg and Ruchir discuss break down their Top 10 Global Trends of 2023. Introduction by Tom Martella, VP, Platform Development at Rockefeller Capital Management. Originally recorded and broadcast live on February 23 2022.
2023-02-0158 minRockefeller Client InsightsChris Barnes, Jean Hoefliger and Philippe MelkaJoin us this week for another installment of the RCM Client Insights Podcast series, where Rockefeller Capital Management President and CEO Greg Fleming sits down with CEO of Proof Loyalty, Chris Barnes and world-renowned winemakers Jean Hoefliger and Philippe Melka to discuss the art of wine and its connection to the environment and society. Introduction by Tom Martella, VP, Platform Development at Rockefeller Capital Management. Originally recorded and broadcast live from 45 Rockefeller Plaza on June 8, 2022.
2022-06-091h 08Rockefeller Client InsightsRuchir SharmaThis week Greg Fleming, President and CEO of Rockefeller Capital Management is joined by former Head of Emerging Markets and Chief Global Strategist for Morgan Stanley Investment Management and current Founder and CIO of Breakout Capital and Chairman of Rockefeller International, Ruchir Sharma.Join us as Greg and Ruchir discuss their long-time working relationship, Ruchir's recent move to Rockefeller, and many more pertinent contemporary topics. Introduction by Tom Martella, VP, Platform Development at Rockefeller Capital Management. Originally recorded and broadcast live on February 23 2022.
2022-02-231h 01Rockefeller Client InsightsJimmy Chang ReturnsJoin us for our first episode of 2022, Rockefeller Capital Management President and CEO Greg Fleming sits down for a conversation with Rockefeller Global Family Office CIO Jimmy Chang. Introduction by Tom Martella, VP, Platform Development at Rockefeller Capital Management. Originally recorded and broadcast live on January 5 2022.
2022-01-061h 00Rockefeller Client InsightsDikembe MutomboJoin us for our final episode of 2021, Rockefeller Capital Management President and CEO Greg Fleming sits down for a conversation with NBA Hall of Famer, 8x NBA All Star and Chairman and President of the Dikembe Mutombo Foundation, Inc., Dikembe Mutombo. Introduction by Tom Martella, VP, Platform Development at Rockefeller Capital Management. Originally recorded and webcast live from 45 Rockefeller Center on December 9 2021.
2021-12-131h 03Rockefeller Client InsightsAvery Sheffield, Dr. Ankur Crawford, Nick DavidoffJoin us this week as Greg Fleming, President & CEO of Rockefeller Capital Management, sits down with three distinguished portfolio managers, Avery Sheffield, Co-Founder & CIO of VantageRock at Rockefeller Asset Management, Dr. Ankur Crawford, EVP & Portfolio Manager at Alger, and Nick Davidoff, Founder & CIO at Entrada Management. Introduction by Thomas Martella, VP, Platform Development at Rockefeller Capital Management. Originally broadcast live on October 15 2021.
2021-11-0559 minRockefeller Client InsightsDr. Raj ShahListen in this week as Rockefeller Capital Management President and CEO Greg Fleming sits down for a conversation with President of the Rockefeller Foundation, Dr. Raj Shah. Greg and Dr. Shah discuss the Rockefeller legacy, some of Dr. Shah's career history working with The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and many more contemporaneous topics over their hour-long discussion. Introduction by Thomas Martella, Vice President, Rockefeller Capital Management. Originally broadcast live September 8, 2021.
2021-09-101h 03Policy OutsiderEp. 33. Policy and the ElectionIn this episode of Policy Outsider, Rockefeller Institute researchers and fellows share remarks on the important policy issues facing the winner of the presidential election. Researchers in economic development, education, climate, gun policy, and healthcare present some of the key questions, concerns, and policy challenges that lie before the nation and consider the approach the next presidential administration may take to address them.
Guests:
Laura Schultz, executive director of research at the Rockefeller Institute
Brian Backstrom, director of educational policy studies at the Rockefeller Institute
Laura Rabinow, deputy director of research...
2020-10-2832 minPolicy OutsiderEp. 27. Back to SchoolAs students return to school amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, school districts are using different models to balance instructional and safety needs ranging from fully in-person to fully remote with a spectrum of hybrid approaches in between. On this episode of Policy Outsider, Brian Backstrom, director of education policy studies at the Rockefeller Institute, and Leigh Wedenoja, senior policy analyst at the Rockefeller Institute, highlight various instructional models and discuss how parents and caregivers can prepare for a school year of uncertainty. The discussion of parent strategies will focus on access to and effective use of technology, communicating with...
2020-09-0825 minRockefeller Client InsightsDavid Rockefeller Jr., Melissa A. Berman, Sir Ronald Cohen, and Dr. Cecilia A. ConradIn this special episode of Rockefeller Client Insights David Rockefeller Jr., moderates a conversation between Melissa A. Berman, President & CEO of Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors; Sir Ronald Cohen, Chairman of Global Steering Group for Impact Investment, Co-Founder Apax Partners; and Dr. Cecilia A. Conrad, CEO of Lever for Change, MacArthur Foundation; for a wide-ranging dialogue surrounding the commitment to positive change throughout the world.
2020-06-2258 minRockefeller Client InsightsConnie Ledoux Book, Brian Casey, and Dr. Mary Schmidt CampbellIn this 10th episode of Rockefeller Client Insights we get to listen in as Greg Fleming has a dialogue with Connie Ledoux Book, President of Elon University, Brian Casey, President of Colgate University and Dr. Mary Schmidt Campbell, President of Spelman College about the current state of higher education amidst the COVID-19 landscape and what preparations each leader is taking for their respective institutions and communities looking forward into the Fall season. Introduction by Thomas Martella, AVP, Platform Development at Rockefeller Capital Management. Originally broadcast live June 5, 2020.
2020-06-051h 01Rockefeller Client InsightsDr. Jason KellyIn this ninth installment of Rockefeller Client Insights, Greg Fleming interviews Ginkgo Bioworks Co-Founder and CEO, Dr. Jason Kelly. The dialogue focuses on private sector innovation surrounding COVID-19. Introduction by Thomas Martella, AVP, Platform Development at Rockefeller Capital Management. Originally broadcast live May 28, 2020.
2020-05-2956 minRockefeller Client InsightsDavid RubensteinIn this fifth installment of Rockefeller Client Insights Greg Fleming, President and CEO of Rockefeller Capital Management and David Rubenstein, a world renowned financier and philanthropist and Co-Founder and Co-Executive Chairman of The Carlyle Group, interview each other and trade opinions and insights over a wide-range of topics. Introduction by Thomas Martella AVP, Platform Development. Originally broadcast live May 1, 2020.
2020-05-041h 03Rockefeller Client InsightsAndrea Jung, Paul Myners and Marty MannionThis week's episode has Rockefeller Capital Management's President and CEO Greg Fleming in conversation with Andrea Jung, President and CEO of Grameen America, Paul Myners, Chair and Partner of Cevian Capital and Former UK Minister of Treasury, and Marty Mannion, Senior Advisor and Former Managing Director of Summit Partners. Listen in as these prominent leaders discuss the retail sector, asset management and a deeper dive into private equity in episode four of Rockefeller Client Insights. Originally broadcast live April 24, 2020.
2020-05-041h 01Rockefeller Client InsightsVivek RamaswamyListen in as Rockefeller Capital Management's CEO Greg Fleming interviews Roviant Sciences Founder and CEO Vivek Ramaswamy. In addition, Jimmy Chang, Rockefeller Asset Management's Chief Investment Strategist, will provide his latest perspectives on "Asia Today" and the markets. Introduction by Joseph Martella, Managing Director and Head of Technology Support. Originally broadcast live on April 3, 2020.
2020-04-1850 minRockefeller Client InsightsDr. Miles Varn and Jimmy ChangJoin Rockefeller Capital Management's President and CEO Greg Fleming as he speaks with Dr. Miles Varn, CEO and Chief Medical Officer of PinnacleCare and Rockefeller Asset Management's Chief Investment Strategist, Jimmy Chang. The conversation is a wide-ranging round-table dialogue regarding the Coronavirus. Listen in as they discuss topics ranging from public health and the US Healthcare System, the global economy and investor portfolios in turbulent markets. Introduction by Joseph Martella, Head of Technology and Support Services at Rockefeller Capital Management. Originally broadcast live March 20, 2020.
2020-04-1857 minRockefeller Client InsightsIntroduction: Rockefeller Client InsightsIntroduction to the Client Insights Series by Rockefeller Capital Management.
2020-04-1600 min
Rocky TalkRocky Talk - Episode One with Reverend Liz TheoharisA conversation with Reverend Liz Theoharis, director of the Kairos Center for Religions, Rights, and Social Justice and Co-Chair of the Poor People's Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival.
She was on campus as part of the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration at Dartmouth College. Her talk, "What Has Become of His Dreams: Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, The Poor People's Campaign, and Building a Movement for Today" was co-sponsored by the Rockefeller Center with the Tucker Center. Interview by Dartmouth student Ben Vagle '22. Music: Debussy Arabesque no 1. Composer: Claude Debussy
The views expressed in this podcast are...
2020-03-0419 minPolicy OutsiderEp. 15. Vaping in Real TimeOn the latest episode of Policy Outsider, guests Heather Trela, director of operations and fellow at the Rockefeller Institute, and Trevor Craft, graduate research assistant, share insights from their research on the national vaping crisis. Trela and Craft discuss how the growth of vaping tobacco products in teens and the emergence of a vaping-related lung injury created what we now call the vaping crisis. The episode explores what actions local, state, and federal governments are taking to address the crisis and how their responses are complicated by unusual regulations surrounding vaping and marijuana.
Guests:
2019-12-0319 minPolicy OutsiderEp. 14. Detecting DyslexiaOn the latest episode, Brian Backstrom, director of education policy studies, shares insights from a recent Rockefeller Institute forum on effective early intervention in dyslexia. Backstrom discusses what dyslexia is, the needs of students with dyslexia and of teachers who teach them, what impacts could be in store for New York if a universal dyslexia screening program is enacted, and the experiences of other states implementing this approach.
The episode also features audio from the Institute-hosted forum that brought together dyslexia research experts Dr. Bennett Shaywitz and Dr. Sally Shaywitz, co-founders and co-directors of...
2019-11-0521 minPolicy OutsiderEp. 13. Gun Policy 101This special edition of "Policy Outsider" was recorded live at a forum hosted by the Rockefeller Institute of Government and features distinguished scholar Robert J. Spitzer's presentation on gun policy. Spitzer notes that gun ownership continues to decline, and that the gun safety movement is newly invigorated, motivated, and financed. He also points out that there is substantial public support for most of the more common gun policy proposals, even among gun owners. At the same time, federal courts are proving more conservative in their rulings and agitating for broad interpretation of gun rights under the Second Amendment.
2019-10-0359 minPolicy OutsiderEp. 9. How to Reduce Gun HomicidesThe debate about gun violence in the U.S. seems to be dominated by division and policy paralysis. But it doesn't have to be. Some of the most effective policies in reducing gun homicides are also the most popular — among gun owners and proponents of gun control alike. We talk with the author of the most recent report from the Regional Gun Violence Research Consortium, a multistate initiative coordinated by the Rockefeller Institute of Government, about which policies have the best chances of making a difference.
Guests:
Michael Siegel is a professor of community health sci...
2019-05-3145 minPolicy OutsiderEp. 8. In the Weeds II - A Gateway Drug for FederalismWhat happened to legalized adult-use marijuana in New York and New Jersey? We sit down with Rockefeller Institute Chief of Staff and Fellow Heather Trela to understand why legalization efforts seem to have stalled in both states, and where we can expect things to go from here.
Learn more: In the Weeds
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Policy Outsider from the Rockefeller Institute of Government explores and explains how decisions of law and policy shape our everyday lives. Created in 1981, the Rockefeller Institute of Government is the public policy research arm of the State University of Ne...
2019-04-2623 minPolicy OutsiderEp. 7. Learning to Research Like a ProThe Rockefeller Institute's Center for Law & Policy Solutions partners undergraduate research interns from the University at Albany with policy experts at the Institute to investigate a single issue of pressing state or national importance each semester. We sat down with three former interns to discuss what it was like to be thrown into the deep end of policy research -- and how they learned to swim.
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Policy Outsider from the Rockefeller Institute of Government explores and explains how decisions of law and policy shape our everyday lives. Created in 1981, the Rockefeller Institute of Go...
2019-04-0122 minPolicy OutsiderEp. 6. Digging into Student Debt in New YorkForty-two percent of college graduates in New York State carry some amount student debt, with an average debt load of about $30,000. We sit down with Rockefeller Institute Director of Education Policy Studies Brian Backstrom to break down those numbers and learn what states are doing -- and can do -- to ease the burden of student debt.
Learn more: A Deeper Look at Student Loan Debt in New York State
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Policy Outsider from the Rockefeller Institute of Government explores and explains how decisions of law and policy shape our everyday lives. Cr...
2019-02-2223 minPolicy OutsiderEp. 5. Who Gives and Who GetsIn the balance of payments between states and the federal government, some states "win" and some states "lose." We speak with the authors of our new report, "Giving or Getting? New York's Balance of Payments with the Federal Government," about the factors that shape these funding flows.Read the full report here.***Policy Outsider from the Rockefeller Institute of Government explores and explains how decisions of law and policy shape our everyday lives. Created in 1981, the Rockefeller Institute of Government is the public policy research arm of the State University o...
2019-01-1816 minPolicy OutsiderEp. 4. Mankind v. MachinesArtificial intelligence and automation technologies are bringing massive change to labor, the economy, ethics, and society. The question now is how to harness those technologies rather than being overwhelmed by them -- or overwhelmed by those who embrace them sooner. We break down the 20-year outlook with Laura Schultz, director of fiscal analysis and chief economist at the Rockefeller Institute of Government.
Learn more: The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on the Labor Force in New York State
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Policy Outsider from the Rockefeller Institute of Government explores and explains how decisions of law and...
2019-01-1028 minPolicy OutsiderEp. 3. Dynamite YouthWe take a trip to Sullivan County, New York, with the researchers behind the Rockefeller Institute's long-term study of the opioid epidemic to hear from the people on the front lines of the crisis. Follow their research in real time with the Stories from Sullivan series.
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Policy Outsider from the Rockefeller Institute of Government explores and explains how decisions of law and policy shape our everyday lives. Created in 1981, the Rockefeller Institute of Government is the public policy research arm of the State University of New York. It conducts cutting-edge, nonpartisan research and po...
2018-11-2135 minPolicy OutsiderEp. 2. From the Glass Ceiling to the Sticky Floor: Closing the Pay Equity Gap from the Bottom UpWhereas the "glass ceiling" refers to the last barriers a woman faces on the corporate ladder, the "sticky floor" refers to the first barriers that women and people color face when entering the workforce -- barriers that often keep them in low-paying, low-prestige, but highly necessary jobs. This special edition of "Policy Outsider" was recorded live at a forum hosted by the Rockefeller Institute of Government and the New York State Council on Women and Girls. The guests and panelists include: Catherine White Berheide, professor of sociology at Skidmore College and principal investigator for the National Science Foundation ADVANCE...
2018-10-301h 40Policy OutsiderEp. 1. In the Weeds with Heather TrelaHow can states legalize something that is illegal under federal law? Rockefeller Institute Chief of Staff and Fellow Heather Trela explains the growing tension between states and the federal government over marijuana policy, and where it may lead.
Learn more: Clash of Laws: The Growing Dissonance between State and Federal Marijuana Policies
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Policy Outsider from the Rockefeller Institute of Government explores and explains how decisions of law and policy shape our everyday lives. Created in 1981, the Rockefeller Institute of Government is the public policy research arm of the State University of New York. It...
2018-10-1921 min
biosightsbiosights: June 4, 2018Lymphatic exosomes help dendritic cells find their way Under inflammatory conditions, antigen-presenting dendritic cells are attracted to lymphatic vessels by chemokines secreted from the basolateral surface of lymphatic endothelial cells. Brown et al. reveal that lymphatic endothelial cells also release exosomal vesicles that, by inducing the formation of cellular protrusions, improve the ability of dendritic cells to detect guidance cues and navigate their way through complex tissue environments. This biosights episode presents the paper by Brown et al. from the June 4th, 2018, issue of the Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with one of the...
2018-06-0406 min
biosightsbiosights: May 7, 2018BBSome trains provide receptors a passage out of cilia Many G protein–coupled receptors accumulate in the membrane of primary cilia and then exit this sensory organelle when their signaling pathway is activated. Ye et al. reveal that the BBSome complex facilitates the signal-dependent exit of GPCRs by moving them across a diffusion barrier located at the ciliary transition zone, although the receptors must then cross a second, periciliary diffusion barrier to completely exit the cilium. This biosights episode presents the paper by Ye et al. from the May 7th, 2018, issue of the Journal of Cell Biology and in...
2018-05-0708 min
biosightsbiosights: April 2, 2018Dia1-dependent adhesions help epithelia branch out The actin cytoskeleton and its regulators play key roles in the maturation and stabilization of focal adhesions but how adhesion maturation affects tissue morphogenesis is largely unknown. Fessenden et al. reveal that the actin-nucleating formin protein Dia1 promotes branching morphogenesis by stabilizing adhesions that are required for epithelial tissues to initiate invasion. This biosights episode presents the paper by Fessenden et al. from the April 2nd, 2018, issue of the Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Margaret Gardel (University of Chicago). Produced by Caitlin Sedw...
2018-04-0206 min
biosightsbiosights: March 5, 2018The nucleus comes through in the clutch In addition to its roles in DNA replication and gene expression, the nucleus has an important physical impact on cellular behavior. Graham et al. reveal that, although the nucleus is dispensable for cell polarization and migration on 2D surfaces, it is crucial for regulating the cell's responses to mechanical cues. This biosights episode presents the paper by Graham et al. from the March 5th, 2018, issue of the Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's first author, David Graham, and its two senior authors, Jim Bear and Keit...
2018-03-0507 min
biosightsbiosights: February 5, 2018Cytotoxic T cells use Flower power In order to efficiently kill multiple target cells, cytotoxic T lymphocytes must endocytose and recycle cytotoxic granule membrane components from the immunological synapse. Chang et al. reveal that a protein called Flower facilitates granule endocytosis in a calcium-dependent manner. This biosights episode presents the paper by Chang et al. from the February 5th, 2018, issue of the Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with one of the paper's senior authors, Jens Rettig (Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for det...
2018-02-0507 min
biosightsbiosights: January 2, 2018Ring out your dead: MRCKα cleavage triggers epithelial extrusion Dying epithelial cells are extruded from the tissue by a basal actomyosin ring formed in neighboring, healthy cells. Gagliardi et al. reveal that epithelial extrusion is also driven by actin rearrangements in the apoptotic cell, where cleavage of the kinase MRCKα induces the assembly of an apical actin ring that collapses the cell body and moves the dying cell upward. This biosights episode presents the paper by Gagliardi et al. from the January 2nd, 2018, issue of the Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's first au...
2018-01-0207 min
biosightsbiosights: December 4, 2017Adult neuroblasts DOCK into position In the postnatal/adult brain, interneuron precursors, or neuroblasts, migrate along the rostral migratory stream by undergoing cycles of leading process extension followed by somal translocation. Nakamuta et al. reveal that the Rac/Cdc42 guanine nucleotide exchange factor DOCK7 coordinates this migratory cycle by regulating both Rac-dependent leading process extension and p116Rip-dependent actin assembly at the cell rear. This biosights episode presents the paper by Nakamuta et al. from the December 4th, 2017, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Linda Van Aelst (Col...
2017-12-0406 min
biosightsbiosights: November 6, 2017Cancer-associated fibroblasts lay the tracks for directional migration Cancer-associated fibroblasts, or CAFs, regulate tumor progression by secreting chemokines and remodeling the extracellular matrix. Erdogan et al. reveal that the CAF-dependent alignment of fibronectin promotes directional cancer cell migration. This biosights episode presents the paper by Erdogan et al. from the November 6th, 2017, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with two of the paper's authors, Begum Erdogan and Mingfang Ao (Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to sup...
2017-11-0608 min
biosightsbiosights: August 7, 2017Synaptic activity shifts dendritic lysosomes Lysosomes are known to exist in both the cell body and axon of neurons, but whether they also localize to dendrites is unclear. Goo et al. reveal that lysosomes do exist in dendrites and dendritic spines, and that their trafficking in this region of neurons is regulated by synaptic activity. This biosights episode presents the paper by Goo et al. from the August 7th, 2017, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Gentry Patrick (University of California, San Diego). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben...
2017-08-0706 min
biosightsbiosights: July 3, 2017Myosins team up to help secretory granules integrate Actomyosin contractility drives a variety of membrane remodeling events, including the integration of secretory granules into the apical plasma membrane after exocytosis. By visualizing granule integration in the salivary glands of live mice, Milberg et al. reveal that myosin IIA and myosin IIB act at different stages of the process and that the activation and assembly of these myosin isoforms into contractile filaments is regulated by the F-actin scaffold, which assembles on secretory granules and recruits myosin light chain kinase. This biosights episode presents the paper by Milberg et al...
2017-06-2607 min
biosightsbiosights: June 5, 2017Broken chromosomes stay on the safe side in mitosis Unrepaired DNA double strand breaks can generate chromosome fragments that lack centromeres but, surprisingly, these acentric chromosomes can nevertheless segregate to spindle poles during mitosis. Karg et al. reveal that, in Drosophila melanogaster neuroblasts, acentric chromosomes segregate along interpolar microtubules at the spindle periphery that are organized by the chromokinesin motor protein Klp3a. This biosights episode presents the paper by Karg et al. from the June 5th, 2017, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, William Sullivan (University of Califo...
2017-06-0507 min
biosightsbiosights: May 1, 2017The cell cortex makes use of plastin's connections Cortical actomyosin contractility regulates a variety of morphogenetic processes at both the cellular and tissue-based levels. Ding et al. reveal that, in the Caenorhabditis elegans zygote, the actin cross-linking protein plastin optimizes connectivity within the cortical actomyosin network to coordinate large-scale contractile processes that drive cell polarization and cytokinesis. This biosights episode presents the paper by Ding et al. from the May 1st, 2017, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Ronen Zaidel-Bar (National University of Singapore). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Be...
2017-05-0107 min
biosightsbiosights: April 3, 2017How Chlamydia help mitochondria keep it together The obligate intracellular bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis must keep its host cell alive, even though it produces reactive oxygen species that expose the host cell to oxidative stress. Chowdhury et al. reveal that Chlamydia mitigates this oxidative stress by down-regulating the mitochondrial fission protein DRP1 via a microRNA- and p53-dependent pathway, thereby maintaining the mitochondrial network and ATP production to promote host cell survival and bacterial growth. This biosights episode presents the paper by Chowdhury et al. from the April 3rd, 2017, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an intervi...
2017-04-0306 min
biosightsbiosights: March 6, 2017Actin isoforms divide their responsibilities in motoneurons Actin dynamics are crucial for axon growth and branching, but most studies have only focused on the role of β-actin. Moradi et al. reveal that α-, β-, and γ-actin have different functions in motoneuron axons; locally translated α-actin forms stable actin filaments that promote the formation of axonal branches, whereas β-actin regulates growth cone dynamics. This biosights episode presents the paper by Moradi et al. from the March 6th, 2017, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Michael Sendtner (University Hospital Würzburg, Wür...
2017-03-0606 min
biosightsbiosights: February 6, 2017Localizing mTORC2 activity The mTORC2 complex regulates cell growth and proliferation by phosphorylating the protein kinase Akt, but where in the cell mTORC2 is active, and how growth factors direct its activity towards Akt, remains unclear. Ebner et al. use a novel reporter to show that endogenous mTORC2 activity localizes to plasma membrane, mitochondrial, and endosomal pools with distinct sensitivities to PI3 kinase and growth factor signaling, and that growth factors induce Akt phosphorylation by promoting Akt's recruitment to the plasma membrane. This biosights episode presents the paper by Ebner et al. from the February 6th, 2017, issue of...
2017-02-0607 min
biosightsbiosights: January 2, 2017Tumor cells feel the pressure after protease inhibition Primary fibroblasts use a high pressure, “nuclear piston” mode of migration to move through highly cross-linked 3D extracellular matrices. Petrie et al. reveal that tumor cells with high levels of matrix metalloproteinase activity generally migrate by forming lamellipodia but, when their protease activity is inhibited, they can switch to the nuclear piston mechanism to force their nuclei through small gaps in the extracellular matrix. This biosights episode presents the paper by Petrie et al. from the January 2nd, 2017, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the...
2017-01-0208 min
biosightsbiosights: December 19, 2016How NK cells avoid collateral damage Before secreting their lytic granules to kill transformed or virally infected cells, natural killer cells converge these lysosome-related organelles around the microtubule-organizing center. Hsu et al. reveal that, by promoting the granules' directed secretion at the immunological synapse, convergence both enhances the efficiency of target cell killing and limits the death of healthy bystander cells. This biosights episode presents the paper by Hsu et al. from the December 19th, 2016, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Jordan Orange (Baylor College of Medicine, Hous...
2016-12-1908 min
biosightsbiosights: October 24, 2016Retinal ganglion cells have a backup plan Retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) are born at the apical side of the retinal neuroepithelium before they translocate to the basal side and send out axons to form the optic nerve. Icha et al. reveal that, in the zebrafish retina, RGC translocation is expedited by basal process attachment and a population of stable microtubules. If necessary, however, RGCs can switch to a backup, multipolar migratory mode to ensure that they reach the basal lamina in time to support the later stages of retinal development. This biosights episode presents the paper by Ic...
2016-10-2408 min
biosightsbiosights: September 26, 2016An iron hand controls endosome-mitochondria contacts In erythroid cells, endocytosed iron is directly transferred into mitochondria at dynamic endosome-mitochondria contacts. Das et al. reveal that this process also occurs in epithelial cells, and that the motility of endosomes, and the duration of their interactions with mitochondria, is modulated by intra-endosomal iron release from transferrin. This biosights episode presents the paper by Das et al. from the September 26th, 2016, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper’s senior author, Margarida Barroso (Albany Medical College, Albany, NY). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Sh...
2016-09-2605 min
biosightsbiosights: August 29, 2016 Septins step in to promote macropinosome fusion After they are formed by the closure of membrane ruffles, macropinosomes mature by fusing with each other and with endosomes, before eventually delivering their fluid phase cargo to lysosomes. Dolat and Spiliotis reveal that septin filaments promote macropinosome maturation and lysosomal delivery by facilitating macropinosome/endosome fusion. This biosights episode presents the paper by Dolat and Spiliotis from the August 29th, 2016, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Elias Spiliotis (Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See...
2016-08-2908 min
biosightsbiosights: August 1, 2016 The midbody enables ciliogenesis Fibroblasts initiate ciliogenesis inside the cell, but polarized epithelial cells form a primary cilium at the apical cell surface through a mechanism that is largely uncharacterized. Bernabé-Rubio et al. reveal that, in polarized MDCK cells, a remnant of the cytokinetic midbody moves to the center of the apical surface, where it encounters the centrosome and enables cilium formation. This biosights episode presents the paper by Bernabé-Rubio et al. from the August 1, 2016, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Miguel Alonso (Universidad Autónoma de M...
2016-08-0107 min
biosightsbiosights: July 4, 2016 Mobilizing mitochondria aids axon regeneration In mature neurons, the axonal transport of mitochondria is suppressed by the expression of the mitochondrial anchoring protein syntaphilin. Zhou et al. reveal that enhancing mitochondrial transport in mature neurons rescues energy deficits and facilitates axon regeneration after injury. This biosights episode presents the paper by Zhou et al. from the July 4th, 2016, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Zu-Hang Sheng (National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, MD). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB f...
2016-07-0407 min
biosightsbiosights: June 6, 2016 Neural crest cells stay within versican's confines Spatial confinement enhances collective cell migration in vitro, but whether it promotes collective migration in vivo is unclear. Szabó et al. reveal that the extracellular matrix protein versican confines neural crest cells to enhance their collective migration during Xenopus laevis embryogenesis. This biosights episode presents the paper by Szabó et al. from the June 6th, 2016, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Roberto Mayor (University College London, London, England, UK). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB f...
2016-06-0607 min
biosightsbiosights: May 9, 2016 Surf's uptake! Exosomes ride filopodia into cells Exosomes are small, extracellular vesicles that transfer lipid, protein, and RNA cargoes between cells, but relatively little is known about how they are taken up and processed by their target cells. Heusermann et al. reveal that exosomes "surf" along recipient cell filopodia before being efficiently endocytosed and targeted to the endoplasmic reticulum. This biosights episode presents the paper by Heusermann et al. from the April 25, 2016, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Nicole Meisner-Kober (Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland). Prod...
2016-05-0906 min
biosightsbiosights: April 11, 2016 Sac1 works its contacts The plasma membrane phosphoinositide PI(4,5)P2 is derived from PI(4)P, whose levels are controlled by the essential lipid phosphatase Sac1. Sac1 is an integral ER membrane protein, but Dickson et al. reveal that it localizes to dynamic ER–plasma membrane contact sites to regulate plasma membrane PI(4)P and PI(4,5)P2 levels. This biosights episode presents the paper by Dickson et al. from the April 11th, 2016, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's corresponding author, Eamonn Dickson (University of Washington School of Medicine, Seattle, WA). Produced...
2016-04-1108 min
biosightsbiosights: March 14, 2016 Fat2 whips fly eggs into shape During Drosophila oogenesis, the collective migration of egg chamber follicle cells drives the chambers' rotation and elongation. Squarr et al. reveal that the atypical cadherin Fat2 recruits the WAVE regulatory complex to tricellular junctions to induce the formation of whip-like actin protrusions that control collective migration and tissue rotation. This biosights episode presents the paper by Squarr et al. from the February 29th, 2016, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Sven Bogdan (University of Münster, Münster, Germany). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick...
2016-03-1406 min
biosightsbiosights: February 15, 2016 Chipping away at the problems of cardiac stem cell therapy Though stem cells transplanted into heart attack patients can develop into cardiomyocytes and integrate with undamaged host tissue, preclinical studies and clinical trials have only shown limited improvements in cardiac function. Using a simplified, in vitro, "muscle on-a-chip" system, Aratyn-Schaus et al. reveal that mechanical forces aren't transmitted efficiently between weaker, stem cell–derived cardiomyocytes and stronger, more mature host cells. This biosights episode presents the paper by Aratyn-Schaus et al. from the February 15th, 2016, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with one of...
2016-02-1506 min
AK RockefellerAK Rockefeller Live Set (5-15-15)This set was performed by AK Rockefeller at The Mint in Los Angeles on May 15, 2015. The show was a benefit in support of the Free West Papua movement. Also performing that night were the legendary Big Mountain and Australian reggae band Blue King Brown.
Tracks:
1. West Papua Will Be Free (0:00-4:16)
2. Zero and Up (4:17-11:55)
3. Elsewheres (11:56-16:32)
4. Yeux Glauques(16:33-18:41)
5. Margaret is the Revolution (18:42-25:52)
6. Merdeka(25:53-30:40)
2016-01-2130 min
biosightsbiosights: January 18, 2016P-cadherin provides the driving force for collective cell migration Collective cell migration is an important process in normal development, wound repair, and tumor metastasis. Plutoni et al. reveal that the cell adhesion molecule P-cadherin promotes collective cell migration via the small GTPase Cdc42, inducing cell polarization and increasing the strength and orientation of mechanical forces. This biosights episode presents the paper by Plutoni et al. from the January 18th, 2016, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Cécile Gauthier-Rouvière (Centre de Recherche de Biochimie Macromoléculaire, Centre Nat...
2016-01-1807 min
biosightsbiosights: December 21, 2015How catastrophes help oocytes avoid disaster During meiosis, oocytes must attach homologous chromosomes to opposite spindle poles, but the cells take several hours to assemble a bipolar spindle. Gluszek et al. reveal that, in Drosophila oocytes, the microtubule catastrophe–promoting protein Sentin delays the formation of stable kinetochore–microtubule attachments until spindle assembly is complete, thereby preventing homologous chromosomes from incorrectly attaching to the same spindle pole. This biosights episode presents the paper by Głuszek et al. from the December 21st, 2015, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior autho...
2015-12-2107 min
biosightsbiosights: November 23, 2015Cells migrate on the crest of a wave Cells move through complex 3D environments in vivo, but studying 3D modes of migration in vitro remains a major challenge. Guetta-Terrier et al. examine the movement of cells along suspended nanofibers that mimic 3D fibrillar matrices and find that their migration is guided by fin-like protrusions that propagate away from the cell body to extend the leading edge. This biosights episode presents the paper by Guetta-Terrier et al. from the November 9th, 2015, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's corresponding authors, Benoit...
2015-11-2308 min
biosightsbiosights: October 26, 2015CLIP-170 tips its hand in viral transport After entering a cell, many viruses move toward the nucleus by binding to the microtubule-based motor protein dynein. Jovasevic et al. reveal, however, that herpes simplex virus must first associate with the plus ends of microtubules in a process that requires the dynein accessory factor dynactin and the plus end tracking proteins EB1 and CLIP-170. This biosights episode presents the paper by Jovasevic et al. from the October 26th, 2015, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's corresponding author, Derek Walsh (Northwestern University, Chicago...
2015-10-2606 min
biosightsbiosights: September 28, 2015Maintaining the link between spindle and furrow position The cytokinetic cleavage furrow must be carefully aligned with the spindle midzone during asymmetric cell division. Pacquelet et al. discover a pathway that maintains the connection between spindle and furrow position in one-cell C. elegans embryos by inhibiting the accumulation of myosin at the anterior cortex during cytokinesis. This biosights episode presents the paper by Pacquelet et al. from the September 28, 2015, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's corresponding author, Anne Pacquelet (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique and Institut de Gén...
2015-09-2807 min
biosightsbiosights: August 31, 2015Pushing the envelope on spindle assembly During mitosis, numerous proteins accumulate around the mitotic spindle to help it assemble and segregate sister chromatids correctly. Schweizer et al. reveal that a membranous spindle envelope facilitates the accumulation of these proteins by excluding large organelles from the spindle region. This biosights episode presents the paper by Schweizer et al. from the August 31st, 2015, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Helder Maiato (University of Porto, Porto, Portugal). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB fo...
2015-08-3105 min
biosightsbiosights: August 3, 2015Endocytosis brings closure to epithelial wounds Epithelial cells bordering a wound respond by forming two types of actin-based structure: dynamic membrane protrusions that help the cells crawl into the wound and/or seal it and an actomyosin cable that encircles the wound and closes it like a purse string. Matsubayashi et al. reveal that the endocytic remodeling of intercellular adherens junctions promotes Drosophila epidermal wound healing by coordinating the activity of multiple actin regulators at the wound edge. This biosights episode presents the paper by Matsubayashi et al. from the August 3rd, 2015, issue of The Journal of...
2015-08-0307 min
biosightsbiosights: July 6, 2015Interphase centrosomes flare up Centrosomes undergo dramatic changes in size and structure during the rapid cell cycles of early Drosophila embryos. Lerit et al. reveal that a scaffold formed by the proteins centrosomin and PLP is required to maintain the activity of interphase centrosomes, which is essential for nuclear spacing and proper chromosome segregation. This biosights episode presents the paper by Lerit et al. from the July 6th, 2015, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with two of the paper's authors, Dorothy Lerit and Nasser Rusan (National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, Bethesda...
2015-07-0608 min
biosightsbiosights: June 8, 2015Melanosomal cargoes BLOC'd off from alternate routes The BLOC-2 complex contains three subunits encoded by genes mutated in Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome, a disease caused by defects in the trafficking pathways that form melanosomes and other lysosome-related organelles. Dennis et al. reveal that the BLOC-2 complex promotes the delivery of melanosomal cargo by targeting recycling endosomal tubules to maturing melanosomes. This biosights episode presents the paper by Dennis et al. from the May 25, 2015, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with one of the paper's senior authors, Michael Marks (University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA). Produced...
2015-06-0806 min
biosightsbiosights: May 11, 2015Formin' actin at adherens junctions Actin assembly promotes the formation of intercellular adherens junctions, but the role of actin-nucleating formin proteins in this process remains unclear. Grikscheit et al. reveal that, in breast epithelial cells cultured in 3D, the formin FMNL2 stimulates junctional actin assembly downstream of the small GTPase Rac1. This biosights episode presents the paper by Grikscheit et al. from the May 11, 2015, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Robert Grosse (University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated...
2015-05-1106 min
biosightsbiosights: April 13, 2015A motif that helps myosin II-B lead from behind Myosin II-A and myosin II-B play distinct roles in establishing the front–back polarity of migrating mesenchymal cells. Juanes-Garcia et al. identify a short, serine-rich motif in the non-helical tail domain of myosin II-B that enables this isoform to form stable actomyosin bundles that define the cell rear. This biosights episode presents the paper by Juanes-Garcia et al. from the April 13, 2015, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Miguel Vicente-Manzanares (Universidad Autonoma de Madrid, Madrid, Spain). Produced by Caitlin Se...
2015-04-1306 min
biosightsbiosights: March 16, 2015PAPC separates tissues at a Snail's pace Brachet's cleft separates the ectoderm and mesoderm of early Xenopus and zebrafish embryos. Luu et al. reveal that, in conjunction with the transcription factor Snail1, the protocadherin PAPC promotes tissue separation by down-regulating planar cell polarity proteins at the ectoderm-mesoderm boundary. This biosights episode presents the paper by Luu et al. from the March 16, 2015, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with one of the paper's senior authors, Rudolf Winklbauer (University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper...
2015-03-1607 min
biosightsbiosights: February 16, 2015Filopodia point the way for haptotaxis Migrating fibroblasts maintain or change their direction by branching off new lamellipodia from existing protrusions at the cell's leading edge. Johnson et al. reveal that filopodial protrusions initiate and orient these lamellipodia, helping fibroblasts navigate gradients of immobilized guidance cues. This biosights episode presents the paper by Johnson et al. from the February 16, 2015, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Jason Haugh (North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for...
2015-02-1607 min
biosightsbiosights: January 19, 2015Tubulin transport pumps up cilia The assembly of cilia and flagella requires the delivery of large amounts of tubulin to the growing ends of the organelles' microtubules. Craft et al. reveal that tubulin loading onto intraflagellar transport particles is specifically upregulated in growing cilia. This biosights episode presents the paper by Craft et al. from the January 19, 2015, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Karl Lechtreck (University of Georgia, Athens, GA). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the...
2015-01-1906 min
biosightsbiosights: December 22, 2014Osmotic gradient is just the tonic for wounded epithelia Rapid wound repair is generally thought to be initiated by intrinsic cues, such as changes in the structure or mechanics of damaged tissues. Gault et al. reveal that an extrinsic signal — the osmolarity of the external environment — can stimulate wound closure in zebrafish by inducing epithelial cell migration. This biosights episode presents the paper by Gault et al. from the December 22, 2014, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Philipp Niethammer (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York). Produced by Cait...
2014-12-2206 minbiosightsbiosights: November 24, 2014Dynein helps centrioles stick together Dynein has numerous functions in mitosis, but the function of the motor complex's light intermediate chains is poorly understood. Jones et al. reveal that dynein's light intermediate chains are required to maintain centrosome integrity during mitosis, preventing the premature separation of mother-daughter centrioles and the formation of multipolar spindles. This biosights episode presents the paper by Jones et al. from the November 24, 2014, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior authors, Viki Allan and Sarah Woolner (University of Manchester, UK). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and...
2014-11-2408 minbiosightsbiosights: October 27, 2014Cdc42 prompts a change of heart The apical surfaces of polarized epithelia are covered by short, actin-rich protrusions called microvilli, but what happens to these structures when cells detach from a monolayer during development or disease is unclear. Klingner et al. reveal that non-confluent epithelial cells form longer, more dynamic microvilli on their apical surface that connect to a cortical actomyosin network. This biosights episode presents the paper by Klingner et al. from the October 13, 2014, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with the paper's senior author, Roland Wedlich-Söldner (University of Müns...
2014-10-2707 minbiosightsbiosights: September 29, 2014Cdc42 prompts a change of heart The Drosophila heart is a simple tubular structure with a central lumen. Vogler et al. reveal that the small GTPase Cdc42 and actin-nucleating formin proteins promote lumen formation by regulating the dynamics of non-muscle myosin in cardioblasts during heart morphogenesis. This biosights episode presents the paper by Vogler et al. from the September 29, 2014, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with two of the paper's authors, Georg Vogler and Rolf Bodmer (Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, La Jolla, CA). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the...
2014-09-2907 minbiosightsbiosights: September 1, 2014Deploying exosomes in a battle of the sexes The paired accessory glands of male Drosophila secrete multiple signaling factors into the seminal fluid that promote reproductive success by altering the recipient female's physiology and behavior. This biosights episode presents the paper by Corrigan et al. from the September 1, 2014, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with corresponding author Alexander Bershadsky (Weizmann Institute, Israel, and Mechanobiology Institute, National University of Singapore). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original...
2014-09-0108 minbiosightsbiosights: August 4, 2014Rok keeps its finger on the pulse of apical constriction Early in Drosophila embryogenesis, contractile pulses of myosin assembly and disassembly constrict the apical domains of a group of epithelial cells to drive their invagination into a ventral furrow. Vasquez et al. reveal that Rho kinase and myosin phosphatase dynamically regulate these myosin pulses and that the stepwise constriction resulting from this helps maintain tissue integrity during epithelial invagination. This biosights episode presents the paper by Vasquez et al. from the August 4, 2014, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with two of the...
2014-08-0408 minbiosightsbiosights: July 7, 2014The fluid dynamics of collective cell migration During development and tumor metastasis, cells prepare to migrate by undergoing an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition that loosens their connections to neighboring cells. But some cell types then migrate en masse to their final destinations, indicating that their intercellular adhesions aren't disrupted completely. Kuriyama et al. reveal that the phospholipid lysophosphatidic acid promotes the collective migration of Xenopus neural crest cells by downregulating the surface expression of N-cadherin, granting the cells fluid-like properties that enhance their movement through embryonic tissues. This biosights episode presents the paper by Kuriyama et al. from the...
2014-07-0708 minbiosightsbiosights: June 9, 2014Rab18 tilts the balance of ER structure The endoplasmic reticulum consists of peripheral tubular networks connected to sheet-like domains surrounding the nucleus. Gerondopoulos et al. reveal that the Rab3GAP complex, which is mutated in the neurodevelopmental disorder Warburg Micro Syndrome, is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor that activates the small GTPase Rab18 (also mutated in Warburg Micro Syndrome) to control the balance between ER tubules and sheets. This biosights episode presents the paper by Gerondopoulos et al. from the June 9, 2014, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with senior author Francis Barr...
2014-06-0907 minbiosightsbiosights: May 12, 2014Phosphoinositides get cells in shape Early Drosophila embryos undergo 13 rounds of rapid nuclear division before enclosing each nucleus into an individual, membrane-bound cell. Reversi et al. describe how the phosphoinositides PI(4,5)P2 and PI(3,4,5)P3 control the resulting cell shapes by coordinating actomyosin contractility with plasma membrane expansion. This biosights episode presents the paper by Reversi et al. from the May 12, 2014, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with senior author Stefano De Renzis (EMBL, Heidelberg, Germany). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on th...
2014-05-1209 minbiosightsbiosights: April 14, 2014An actin lever flattens out the cell The lamella is a broad, flat region that forms at the front of migrating cells and adheres to the underlying substrate. Burnette et al. reveal that cells flatten out the lamella by mechanically coupling a contractile actomyosin network at the dorsal surface to ventral cell adhesions. This biosights episode presents the paper by Burnette et al. from the April 14, 2014, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with authors Dylan Burnette (Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN) and Jennifer Lippincott-Schwartz (NICHD, Bethesda, MD). Produced by Caitlin...
2014-04-1407 minbiosightsbiosights: March 17, 2014Blebs lead the way in Dictyostelium chemotaxis Membrane blebs can help the leading edge of migrating cells protrude forwards, but the contribution of blebs to the motility of Dictyostelium cells is unclear. Zatulovskiy et al. reveal that blebs form at the front of chemotaxing Dictyostelium cells, particularly when the cells are faced with a mechanically resistant environment, and that this process is guided by a PI3-kinase-dependent signaling pathway. This biosights episode presents the paper by Zatulovskiy et al. from the March 17, 2014, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with senior author Robert...
2014-03-1708 minbiosightsbiosights: February 17, 2014Shroom takes embryos to new dimensions During development, the planar polarized distribution of Rho kinase and Myosin II helps Drosophila germ-band cells intercalate so that the embryo extends along its anterior-posterior axis. Simões et al. reveal how Rho GTPase and the actin-binding protein Shroom combine to regulate the localization of Rho kinase and actomyosin contractility during axis elongation. This biosights episode presents the paper by Simões et al. from the February 17, 2014, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with first author Sérgio de Matos Simões (formerly at Memorial Sloan Kett...
2014-02-1710 minbiosightsbiosights: January 20, 2014Motors give a new twist to platelet activation The discoid shape of resting platelets is maintained by a peripheral ring of bundled microtubules called the marginal band. Diagouraga et al. reveal that, upon platelet activation, the motor protein dynein slides microtubules apart, inducing marginal band coiling and the conversion of platelets to a spherical shape. This biosights episode presents the paper by Diagouraga et al. from the January 20, 2014, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with senior author Karin Sadoul (Institut Albert Bonniot, Grenoble, France). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See...
2014-01-2007 minbiosightsbiosights: December 23, 2013Tumor cells WASH away the extracellular matrix Tumor cells invade through extracellular matrices by forming actin-rich structures called invadopodia, which contain the transmembrane matrix metalloproteinase MT1-MMP. Monteiro et al. reveal that the Arp2/3 activating protein WASH works with the exocyst complex to deliver MT1-MMP from late endosomes to the invadopodial plasma membrane. This biosights episode presents the paper by Monteiro et al. from the December 23, 2013, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with senior author Philippe Chavrier (Institut Curie, Paris, France). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper...
2013-12-2307 minbiosightsbiosights: November 25, 2013Caspases work as branch managers When a growing axon nears its target, it arborizes, or branches, to form numerous synaptic connections. Campbell and Okamoto reveal that localized caspase activation downstream of Slit-Robo signaling promotes arbor dynamics and restricts arbor growth. This biosights episode presents the paper by Campbell and Okamoto from the November 25, 2013, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with lead author Douglas Campbell (formerly at the RIKEN Brain Science Institute, Japan, and currently at the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Germany). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the...
2013-11-2508 minbiosightsbiosights: October 28, 2013A framework for understanding muscle microtubules The microtubules of skeletal muscle fibers are arranged into an orthogonal grid, but how this network is formed is unknown. Oddoux et al. reveal that the network is built by dynamic microtubules nucleated from Golgi elements. This biosights episode presents the paper by Oddoux et al. from the October 28, 2013, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with senior author Evelyn Ralston (NIH, Bethesda, MD). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on the funding provided to support this original resear...
2013-10-2807 minbiosightsbiosights: September 30, 2013The nodal network In addition to specialized actin structures such as lamellipodia and stress fibers, cells are thought to contain a contractile actomyosin matrix that maintains cell shape. Luo et al. describe the organization and dynamics of an actomyosin network that may fulfill this function. This network is formed by actin nodes that contain the formin DAAM1 and the crosslinker filamin A, and that are connected to each other by myosin II. This biosights episode presents the paper by Luo et al. from the September 30, 2013, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with...
2013-09-3009 minbiosightsbiosights: September 2, 2013Shrinking microtubules pull the centrosome into place When a T cell encounters a target antigen-presenting cell, it moves its centrosome to the immunological synapse that connects the two cells. Yi et al. reveal that centrosome repositioning is a biphasic process driven by the dynein-dependent capture and depolymerization of microtubules. This biosights episode presents the paper by Yi et al. from the September 2, 2013, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with senior author John Hammer (NHLBI, Bethesda, MD). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick and Ben Short. See the associated paper in JCB for details on...
2013-09-0208 minbiosightsbiosights: August 5, 2013Epithelia restored by healing waves Epithelial cells around the edge of a wound assemble an actomyosin cable that constricts to draw the wound closed, but the events that precede cable formation are largely unknown. Antunes et al. reveal that wounding induces a wave of actomyosin assembly and cell constriction that flows toward the wound edge to promote cable assembly and tissue repair. This biosights episode presents the paper by Antunes et al. from the July 22, 2013, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with senior author Antonio Jacinto (NOVA, Lisbon, Portugal). Produced by Caitlin...
2013-08-0506 minbiosightsbiosights: July 8, 2013Vinculin delivers a clutch performance At the leading edge of migrating cells, actin assembly and membrane protrusion are closely coupled with the formation of integrin-based focal adhesions that attach to the extracellular matrix. Thievessen et al. reveal that the focal adhesion protein vinculin acts as part of a molecular clutch that engages actin flow to coordinate actin and focal adhesion dynamics. This biosights episode presents the paper by Thievessen et al. from the July 8, 2013, issue of The Journal of Cell Biology and includes an interview with senior author Clare Waterman (NHLBI, Bethesda, MD). Produced by Caitlin Sedwick...
2013-07-0808 minbiosightsbiosights: June 10, 2013Netrin Throws Anchor Cells into the Breach Cell invasion through basement membranes is crucial for both normal development and cancer metastasis but relatively little is known about the process because it is difficult to observe in vivo. By imaging the invasion of anchor cells during C. elegans development, Hagedorn et al. reveal that, after invadopodia-like structures form an initial breach in the basement membrane, localized netrin signaling helps generate a stable invasive protrusion that widens the gap and directs the cell across the extracellular barrier. This biosights episode presents the paper by Hagedorn et al. from the...
2013-06-1008 min