Viewpoints:

Dispatches from the Frontlines of Research - edited by John W. Nelson

Joan L. Cmarik

From Bioinformatics to Bioassays: Gleaning Insights into Protein Structure-Function from Disease-Associated nsSNPs
Mol. Interv. 2008 8: 162-164. [Summary] [Full Text] [PDF]  

R E V I E W S:

Colin T. Walsh, Dwayne Stupack, and Joan Heller Brown

G Protein-Coupled Receptors Go Extracellular: RhoA Integrates the Integrins
Mol. Interv. 2008 8: 165-173. [Summary] [Full Text] [PDF]  

G protein–coupled receptors are a mainstay of pharmacology and remain the most targeted molecules in clinical history. Typcially, soluble ligands reach GPCRs and initiate cascades of protein–protein and enzymic interactions that affect cytoplasmic and nuclear metabolism. Migration, survival, and proliferation are some of the basic cell functions that are regulated by means of GPCR signaling. Increasingly, the extracellular matrix has become appreciated for its active role in nuancing these functions and integrating cell–cell communication essential to tissue physiology. The matricellular protein CYR61/CCN1 has recently been shown to be expressed in response to canonical GPCR-activated signaling pathways. Furthermore, secreted CYR61/CNN1 interacts with integrins and other elements of the ECM and thereby adds a novel dynamic to GPCR and ECM signaling. Recognition of CYR61/CCN1 as a regulator of crosstalk between intra- and extracellular signaling pathways also opens up new opportunities for experimental therapeutics.

Brian T. Kawasaki, Elaine M. Hurt, Tashan Mistree, and William L. Farrar

Targeting Cancer Stem Cells with Phytochemicals
Mol. Interv. 2008 8: 174-184. [Summary] [Full Text] [PDF]  

Recent research into the origins of cancers suggests the cancer stem cell is the source of both initial tumor formation and eventual patient relapse. Cancer stem cells have the ability to self-renew as well as to give rise to the multiple cell types present within the tumor. Investigations into the biology of cancer stem cells have revealed that they express large amounts of drug pumps and have active self-renewal and anti-apoptosis pathways that involve the participation of well-characterized signaling proteins and transcription factors. These characteristics may render cancer stem cells susceptible to pharmacological intervention. Intriguingly, certain plant-derived compounds interfere with the capacity of cancer stem cells to pump out cytotoxic agents, differentiate, or resist programmed cell death. Indeed, many phytochemicals are currently under evaluation in clinical trials and may prove themselves as valuable adjuncts to front-line cancer therapies.

D E P A R T M E N T S:

Reflections:

Science in the cultural context

Stanley Scheindlin

The Drug That Launched A Thousand Sleds
Mol. Interv. 2008 8: 152-158. [Full Text] [PDF]  

Nascent Transcripts:

Emerging concepts from the recent literature
Mol. Interv. 2008 8: 159. [Full Text] [PDF]  

Significant Deciles:

Dayle Houston

1981–1990
Mol. Interv. 2008 8: 160-161. [Full Text] [PDF]  

Beyond the Bench:

Representations of pharmacology and science in the media

Dan Collinge

Smell You Later: Behind the Curtains of the Perfume Industry
Mol. Interv. 2008 8: 185-186. [Full Text] [PDF]  

Net Results:

Sites of interest on the World Wide Web

Sites of interest on the World Wide Web—edited by David L. Roman
Mol. Interv. 2008 8: 187. [Full Text] [PDF]  

Outliers:

Cartoon

Outliers
Mol. Interv. 2008 8: 196. [Full Text] [PDF]  

To see an article, click its [Full Text] link. To review many summaries, check the boxes to the left of the titles you want, and click the 'Get All Checked Summary(s)' button. To see one summary at a time, click its [Summary] link.