American Society For Cell Biology Research Articles

"Bioelectricity in Development, Regeneration, and Cancers" Cell Bio 2023: A Joint Meeting of the American Society of Cell Biology and European Molecular Biology Organization December 2-6, 2023, in Boston, MA, USA.

Cell Bio conferences-organized jointly by the American Society of Cell Biology (ASCB) and European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO)-showcase a diverse global community of the brightest researchers in Cell Biology and in emerging interdisciplinary topics, including bioelectricity. In this report, we briefly overview the Cell Bio 2023 subgroup meeting "Bioelectricity in Development, Regeneration, and Cancers." This subgroup meeting featured 12 talks (7 Principal Investigators and 5 junior scientists) exploring the role of bioelectricity in endogenous and diseased states in model systems ranging from cells in culture to single-cell organisms such as yeast all the way to mammalian systems (including tools and technology developed for exploring bioelectricity and electrotaxis in cells and tissues). The subgroup meeting concluded with a discussion on the current challenges and opportunities for the field of bioelectricity.

Saw Palmetto may fight prostate cancer.

Saw Palmetto may fight prostate cancer.

Challenges and opportunities in maintaining research momentum at a primarily undergraduate institution.

Conferences and meetings hosted by scientific societies usually include sessions on how to navigate the academic faculty job search and the initial setup of a laboratory, or how to identify and pursue early-career grant funding opportunities. However, there is not much professional development support available beyond this stage. Faculty may have set up the research lab and have recruited students to their groups but then might find themselves struggling to be successful in accomplishing their goals. In other words, how can we maintain the momentum once research activities are established? This Voices article summarizes a discussion carried out in the context of a round-table session at the American Society for Cell Biology's Cell Bio 2022. We sought to identify and articulate the challenges of carrying out research at primarily undergraduate institutions (PUIs), appreciate the role of undergraduate research in the science enterprise, develop strategies to overcome research challenges and recognize unique opportunities in this setting, with the ultimate goal of launching a community of "late-early" to mid-career PUI faculty.

Peter Satir (1936–2022), cell biology pioneer and mentor

Peter Satir (1936–2022), cell biology pioneer and mentor

Reflections on mentorship as an early career researcher.

It is my great honor to receive the 2022 Günter Blobel Early Career Award from the American Society for Cell Biology. Reflecting upon my research and career trajectory, I recognize the incredible support of my mentors and the hard work of everyone within my lab. I have always relied on a network of advisors and colleagues who supported me throughout my scientific journey. To better support my own trainees, I endeavor to pass on lessons learned while continuously developing and strengthening my own leadership potential. I am a relentless advocate for the success of my trainees, a legacy I pass on from my own mentors.

Intentional and unintentional benefits of minority writing accountability groups.

A faculty position can be a balancing act. Many new faculty, particularly minorities, struggle due to a lack of mentorship. Writing accountability groups (WAGs) offer new faculty an opportunity to glean advice from mentors and improve their writing skills and enhance their career development in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

A WICB 50th Favorite: Rapid lytic granule convergence to the MTOC in natural killer cells is dependent on dynein but not cytolytic commitment.

Molecular Biology of the CellVol. 33, No. 2 ASCB WICB 50th Anniversary FavoriteFree AccessA WICB 50th Favorite: Rapid lytic granule convergence to the MTOC in natural killer cells is dependent on dynein but not cytolytic commitmentAbigail E. Reed and Emily M. MaceAbigail E. ReedDepartment of Pediatrics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032Search for more papers by this author and Emily M. Mace*Address correspondence to: Emily Mace (E-mail Address: [email protected]).Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032Search for more papers by this authorErin D Goley, Monitoring EditorPublished Online:18 Jan 2022https://doi.org/10.1091/mbc.E21-04-0218AboutSectionsView PDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack Citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmail To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the American Society for Cell Biology's Women in Cell Biology Committee (WICB), members of WICB and the MBoC Editorial Board invited a diverse group of scientists to highlight MBoC papers by women that have had a scientific or personal impact on the authors of the highlight.Cytotoxic immune cells, including NK cells and T-cells, kill target cells through the mobilization of specialized secretory lysosomes containing perforin and granzymes, termed lytic granules (LG), that undergo directed secretion at the immunological synapse (IS). While polarization of LG had been previously described in concert with polarization of the microtubule- organizing center (MTOC) to the IS, the kinetic mechanisms of LG trafficking to the synapse were poorly understood.We have chosen this article, which has been cited more than 140 times since publication, for the WICB 50 collection to highlight the contribution of women to this study. Namely, three of the four authors were women. In addition, the first author, who was a graduate student and a member of a historically underrepresented group in science, benefited from a training environment in the senior authors’ labs that has continuously supported and promoted women and other underrepresented minority trainees.Using quantitative live cell confocal microscopy and mass spectrometry, the authors demonstrated that LG in human NK cells converged rapidly to the MTOC before its polarization to the IS. Further, this convergence was dependent on minus-ended transport of LG by dynein along microtubules but occurred independently of NK cell commitment to killing (Mentlik et al., 2010). Colocalization of dynein and LG throughout the convergence process, and disruption of this interaction, definitively demonstrated the requirement of dynein for the rapid movement of LG during convergence. This finding, made by a diverse and collaborative investigative team, defined LG convergence as a fundamental priming step for cytotoxicity that increases the efficiency of lytic function by promoting directed secretion.FOOTNOTESDOI:10.1091/mbc.E21-04-0218REFERENCEMentlik AN, Sanborn KB, Holzbaur EL, Orange JS (2010). Rapid lytic granule convergence to the MTOC in natural killer cells is dependent on dynein but not cytolytic commitment. Mol Biol Cell 21, 2241–2256. Link, Google ScholarFiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Vol. 33, No. 2 February 01, 2022 Metrics Downloads & Citations Downloads: 275 History Submitted: 5 November 2021 Revised: 12 November 2021 Accepted: 19 November 2021 Information© 2022 Mace and Reed. This article is distributed by The American Society for Cell Biology under license from the author(s). Two months after publication it is available to the public under an Attribution–Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International Creative Commons License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0).PDF download

2021 ASCB Annual Meeting abstracts.

Molecular Biology of the CellVol. 32, No. 22 ASCB Annual Meeting AbstractsFree Access2021 ASCB Annual Meeting abstractsThe American Society for Cell BiologyThe American Society for Cell Biology*Address correspondence to: (E-mail Address: [email protected]).Search for more papers by this authorPublished Online:29 Nov 2021https://doi.org/10.1091/mbc.E21-11-0545AboutSectionsView articleSupplemental MaterialView PDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack Citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmail View articleA searchable PDF of the abstracts of Cell Bio Virtual 2021, the online joint meeting of the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) and the European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO), is attached to this article as supplemental data.The ASCB and the Editor-in-Chief of Molecular Biology of the Cell (MBoC) have decided to present the Annual Meeting abstracts in this manner so that they will be clearly associated with the ASCB’s basic research journal and so that they can be properly archived. Each year since 2010, the abstracts have been published in the December 15 issue of the journal. The abstracts of the 2005–2009 ASCB annual meetings were published retroactively (American Society for Cell Biology, 2011).Archiving of meeting abstracts is important because they are often cited in the scientific literature. They need to be permanently available. Although the ASCB is committed to maintaining abstracts from its annual meetings since 2004 on its website, it is prudent to preserve such documents in multiple locations.All abstracts submitted for ASCB annual meetings are screened by the abstract programming committee to ensure that they meet minimum submission standards. However, theyarenot peer-reviewed.Abstracts are citable. Citation styles vary by publication, but as an example one way in which a 2021 ASCB|EMBO Meeting abstract may be cited is as follows:Smith AB, Jones CD (2021). Abstract title. Mol Biol Cell 32, xxxx (abstract #).FOOTNOTESDOI: 10.1091/mbc.E21-11-0545REFERENCEAmerican Society for Cell Biology (2011). 2005–2009 ASCB Annual Meeting abstracts. Mol Biol Cell 22, 3555. Link, Google ScholarAmerican Society for Cell Biology (2011). 2005–2009 ASCB Annual Meeting abstracts. Mol Biol Cell 22, 3555. Link, Google ScholarFiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Vol. 32, No. 22 December 01, 2021 Supplemental MaterialsMetrics Downloads & Citations Downloads: 1584 History Information© 2021 The American Society for Cell Biology. This article is distributed by The American Society for Cell Biology under license from the author(s). Two months after publication it is available to the public under an Attribution–Noncommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International Creative Commons License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0).PDF download

50 Years of Women in Cell Biology: Where have we been? Where are we going?

It’s been 50 years since Women in Cell Biology (WICB) was founded by junior women cell biologists who found themselves neither represented at the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) presentations nor receiving the information, mentoring, and sponsorship they needed to advance their careers. Since then, gender parity at ASCB has made significant strides: WICB has become a standing ASCB committee, women are regularly elected president of the ASCB, and half the symposia speakers are women. Many of WICB’s pioneering initiatives for professional development, including career panels, workshops, awards for accomplishments in science and mentoring, and career mentoring roundtables, have been incorporated and adapted into broader “professional development” that benefits all members of ASCB. The time has passed when we can assume that all women benefit equally from progress. By strategically, thoughtfully, and honestly recognizing the challenges to women of the past and today, we may anticipate those new challenges that will arise in the next 50 years. WICB, in collaboration with the ASCB, can lead in data collection and access and can promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. This work will be a fitting homage to the women who, half a century ago, posted bathroom stall invitations to the first Women in Cell Biology meetup.

Support for a career in science.

I am so very honored to receive the Women in Cell Biology Sandra K. Masur Senior Leadership Award from the American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB), particularly because many of the previous awardees have served as mentors and sources of inspiration throughout my own career. I also thank the ASCB for always striving to be maximally inclusive, in terms of both the scientists it supports and its broad vision of what constitutes cell biology. As a graduate student I gave one of my first talks at an ASCB meeting, and I am proud to have been an ASCB member for almost 30 years. In this essay, I describe my own career to illustrate the support that I believe is needed to achieve a career in science.

How a first research experience had an impact on my scientific journey.

As I look back to my scientific trajectory on the occasion of being the recipient of the E. B. Wilson Medal of the American Society for Cell Biology, I realize how much an early scientific experience had an impact on my research many years later. The major influence that the first scientific encounters can have in defining a scientist’s path makes the choice of the training environment so important for a future career.

A WICB 50th Favorite: A dynamic actin cytoskeleton functions at multiple stages of clathrin-mediated endocytosis.

Molecular Biology of the CellVol. 32, No. 19 ASCB WICB 50th Anniversary FavoriteFree AccessA WICB 50th Favorite: A dynamic actin cytoskeleton functions at multiple stages of clathrin-mediated endocytosisKristen SkruberKristen Skruber*Address correspondence to: Kristen Skruber (E-mail Address: [email protected]).Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143Search for more papers by this authorAvital Rodal, Monitoring EditorPublished Online:31 Aug 2021https://doi.org/10.1091/mbc.E21-04-0216AboutSectionsView PDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack Citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmail To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the American Society for Cell Biology's Women in Cell Biology Committee (WICB), members of WICB and the MBoC Editorial Board invited a diverse group of scientists to highlight MBoC papers by women that have had a scientific or personal impact on the authors of the highlight.While a primary role of actin polymerization is in cellular organization and motility, actin also provides the force and scaffold for trafficking processes such as endocytosis. Actin's role in endocytosis has been challenging to elucidate due to the small scale and transient nature of endocytic structures. Inhibiting actin polymerization in yeast completely halts endocytosis. However, until this landmark paper, the corollary process in mammalian cells was less clear, because ablating actin polymerization only partially stalled trafficking. Yarar et al. (2005) used a mixture of electron and fluorescence microscopy and biochemical methods to establish a clear role for actin polymerization during late stages of clathrin-mediated endocytosis. A clever combination of TIRF and wide-field fluorescence imaging allowed precise vesicle tracking. Importantly, understanding the differences in actin's contributions to endocytosis in yeast and metazoa opened up exciting questions about actin's role in plasma membrane tension and shape.FOOTNOTESDOI: 10.1091/mbc.E21-04-0216REFERENCEYarar D, Waterman-Storer CM, Schmid SL (2005). A dynamic actin cytoskeleton functions at multiple stages of clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Mol Biol Cell 16, 964–975. Link, Google ScholarFiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Vol. 32, No. 19 September 01, 20211793-1866 Metrics Downloads & Citations Downloads: 184 History Information© 2021 Skruber. This article is distributed by The American Society for Cell Biology under license from the author(s). Two months after publication it is available to the public under an Attribution–Noncommercial–Share Alike 3.0 Unported Creative Commons License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0).PDF download

Beyond Ticking Boxes: Holistic Assessment of Travel Award Programs Is Essential for Inclusivity

Beyond Ticking Boxes: Holistic Assessment of Travel Award Programs Is Essential for Inclusivity

Voices on Diversity: Combating Racial Inequality to Increase Diversity

As part of our commitment to amplifying the voices of underrepresented scientists, we are publishing the insights and experiences of a panel of underrepresented scientists in a series of questions and answers. Here, they discuss ways that the scientific community can combat racial inequality and increase diversity. These are the personal opinions of the authors and may not reflect the views of their institutions.

Mentoring in the time of Coronavirus.

Mentoring in the time of Coronavirus.

A well-engineered path into cell biology and academia.

Winning the American Society for Cell Biology’s Women in Cell Biology Mid-career Award is incredibly meaningful to me, as it validates that someone focusing on engineering and applications can be a “real” cell biologist, too. Single-minded devotion to studying a particular biological process is not a prerequisite for a career in science and academia. The more diverse the scientific styles and demographics of scientists who feel welcome, the stronger science will be.

In Memoriam: Duane L. Garner, PhD.

In Memoriam: Duane L. Garner, PhD.

Declaración de San Francisco de Evaluación de la Investigación DORA. Poniendo ciencia en la evaluación de la investigación

Este texto es la célebre Declaración sobre la Evaluación de la Investigación firmada en San Francisco, desarrollada por un grupo de editores de revistas académicas durante la Reunión anual de la American Society for Cell Biology(ASCB) en San Francisco, California, el 16 de diciembre de 2012. Este grupo desarrolló una serie de recomendaciones, conocidas como la Declaración de San Francisco sobre la Evaluación de la Investigación. La declaración DORA, que pide una serie de cambios fundamentales en el modo como se evalúa y se publica la ciencia y el conocimiento, ha sido asumida y respaldada por la inmensa mayoría de las publicaciones científicas en abierto, y buena parte de las cabeceras más prestigiosas de todos los ámbitos del conocimiento. En ella se acusa a los sistemas de evaluación e indexación de sesos debidos al interés comercial minoritario, y por ello, de perjuicio grave al avance de la investigación en todos los sectores. La Declaración recomienda una serie de actuaciones para preservar la difusión del avance investigador de la trama de intereses y distorsiones que hoy la amenazan.

Scientific Societies Advancing STEM Workforce Diversity: Lessons and Outcomes from the Minorities Affairs Committee of the American Society for Cell Biology.

Promoting diversity and inclusiveness in the STEM academic workforce remains a key challenge and national priority. Scientific societies can play a significant role in this process through the creation and implementation of programs to foster STEM academic workforce diversification, and by providing mentoring and skills development training that empower scientists from under-represented minority (URM) backgrounds to succeed in their communities of practice. In this article, we provide examples of challenges met by scientific societies in these areas and present data from the American Society for Cell Biology, highlighting the benefits received by trainees through long-term engagement with its programs. The success of these initiatives illustrates the impact of discipline-specific programming by scientific societies in supporting the development of URM scientists and an increasingly diverse and inclusive academic STEM community.

2019 ASCB Annual Meeting abstracts.

Molecular Biology of the CellVol. 30, No. 26 ASCB Annual Meeting AbstractsFree Access2019 ASCB Annual Meeting abstractsThe American Society for Cell BiologyThe American Society for Cell BiologyThe American Society for Cell Biology, Bethesda, MD 20814Search for more papers by this authorPublished Online:12 Dec 2019https://doi.org/10.1091/mbc.E19-11-0617AboutSectionsView articleSupplemental MaterialView PDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack Citations ShareShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditEmail View articleA searchable PDF of the abstracts of the 2019 American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) annual meeting (the ASCB|EMBO Meeting) is attached to this article as supplemental data.The ASCB and the Editor-in-Chief of Molecular Biology of the Cell (MBoC) have decided to present the annual meeting abstracts in this manner so that they will be clearly associated with the ASCB’s basic research journal and so that they can be properly archived. Each year since 2010, the abstracts have been published in the December 15 issue of the journal. The abstracts of the 2005–2009 ASCB annual meetings were published retroactively (American Society for Cell Biology, 2011).Archiving of meeting abstracts is important because they are often cited in the scientific literature. They need to be permanently available. Although the ASCB is committed to maintaining abstracts from its annual meetings since 2004 on its website, it is prudent to preserve such documents in multiple locations.All abstracts submitted for ASCB annual meetings are screened by the abstract programming committee to ensure that they meet minimum submission standards. However, they are not peer-reviewed.Abstracts are citable. Citation styles vary by publication, but as an example one way in which a 2019 ASCB|EMBO Meeting abstract may be cited is as follows:Smith AB, Jones CD (2019). Abstract title. Mol Biol Cell 30, xxxx (abstract #).FOOTNOTESDOI:10.1091/mbc.E19-11-0617REFERENCEAmerican Society for Cell Biology (2011). 2005–2009 ASCB Annual Meeting abstracts. Mol Biol Cell 22, 3555. Link, Google ScholarFiguresReferencesRelatedDetails Vol. 30, No. 26 December 15, 20193075-3160 Supplemental MaterialsMetrics Downloads & Citations Downloads: 974 History Information© 2019 The American Society for Cell Biology. This article is distributed by The American Society for Cell Biology under license from the author(s). Two months after publication it is available to the public under an Attribution–Noncommercial–Share Alike 3.0 Unported Creative Commons License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0).