A cell-free biochemical assay for protein lipidation identifies the ER–Golgi intermediate compartment as a key early station in the formation of an autophagosome.

A comprehensive study of human transcription factors reveals that a greater number of these proteins bind to methylated DNA sequences than previously thought.

Evidence that certain proteins can be transported between Golgi via structures that resemble COPI vesicles suggests that these vesicles could also be involved in the transport of proteins from the cis to the trans face of the Golgi.

The theory of Buffered Qualitative Stability uses the importance of biological robustness to explain many features of gene regulatory networks in a wide range of organisms, and has implications for diverse biological phenomena including the ability of bacteria and cancer cells to ‘loosen’ their robustness and hence evade treatment.

Protein heptosyltransferases modify a group of bacterial autotransporters for virulence function and employ a novel structural mechanism for the processive hyperglycosylation of the autotransporter.

Somatically derived genomic mosaicism in the form of increased DNA content and APP copy number in single neurons plausibly has a function in sporadic Alzheimer’s disease and points to functions for single-neuron gene copy number changes.

The oncogenic potential of the serine threonine kinase AKT is not exclusively dependent on catalytic activity, but also involves the non-catalytic function of the pleckstrin homology domain.

A systematic analysis of gene–gene dependencies using high-throughput imaging of cells detects causal and temporal relationships between genes.

Conventional studies have focused on enzymatic residues directly involved in catalysis; dissecting a potential interaction network within which these ‘catalytic residues’ are embedded provides insights fundamental to enzyme function, evolution, and engineering.

Quantitative behavioral assays and modeling show that acoustic duetting in Drosophila during courtship relies on the detection of precisely timed cues via multiple sensory channels.