Homma san:
1, Science # 6047, page 1262
The title: A gustotopic map of taste qualities in the mammalian brain
They researched the logic of taste coding in the brain by examining how sweet, bitter, umami, and salty qualities are represented in the primary taste cortex of mice. They used in vivo two-photon calcium imaging to demonstrate the reflection of taste exist in different region of the gustatory cortex. Because each taste quality is represented in its own separate cortical field, they revealed the existence of a gustotopic map in the brain.
2, Science #6043, page 758
The title: Structural basis for tail-anchored membrane protein biogenesis by the Get3-receptor complex.
As shown in title, the authors determined crystal structures of Get3 in complex with the cytosolic domains of associated proteins. It is my first time to hear Get3, which is responsible for the biogenesis of tail-anchored protein in eukaryotic cells. Together with biochemical experiments, they proposed a model for tail-anchored protein insertion.
Terauchi san:
PNAS Vol.18 #15, page 6151
The title: An actin cytoskeleton with evolutionarily conserved functions in the absence of canonical actin-binding proteins
Giardia intestinalis is a human intestinal parasite. It contained the most divergent eukaryotic actin identified and is first eukaryote known to lack all canonical actin-binding proteins. So they investigated the properties and function of the actin cytoskeleton in Giardia intestinalis. they found the commonly used actin-disrupting drugs do not depolymerize the actin in Giardia intestinalis. The actin independent of canonical actin-binding proteins would explain the above results.