Preventing premature interactions between microtubules and protein-based structures called kinetochores ensures that chromosomes are segregated by meiosis rather than mitosis in reproductive cells.

By using immune cells called dendritic cells to deliver drugs, it is possible to target and kill specific members of another class of immune cell, known as T cells, and to prevent these cells from attacking the body's own tissues in cases of autoimmune disease.

The sequencing of microbial genomes reveals that the presence of a particular microbial species in the gut may increase the risk of the autoimmune disease rheumatoid arthritis.

A signalling cascade involving PI3K/Akt1 remodels the extra-cellular matrix to achieve atypical cellular responses and control cell fate specification within the embryonic endoderm.

Systems-level analysis in vertebrate ciliated epithelial cells shows that the network of genes activated by the transcription factor Rfx2 controls the development, migration, insertion and function of these cells.

Analysis of multiple guanine exchange factors shows that Rab activation can occur via a number of mechanistically distinct GDP-release pathways.

Endocytosis is switched off in dividing cells because actin is not available to assist the clathrin machinery at a time when membrane tension is increased.

A novel innate defense mechanism of cell lysis involves the coordinated oligomerization of a defensin by interaction with the membrane lipid, phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate.

Fluorescent sensors for the hormone abscisic acid have been developed using a high-throughput platform, and used to monitor hormone dynamics in plant roots and leaves.