The Rho-family GEF FARP2 is activated by aPKCiota to control polarity and tight junction formation.

The elaboration of polarity is central to organismal development and to the maintenance of functional epithelia. Amongst the controls determining polarity are the PAR proteins, PAR6/aPKCiota-PAR3, regulating both known and unknown effectors. Here we identify FARP2 as a "RIPR" motif dependent partner and substrate of aPKCiota that is required for efficient polarisation and junction formation. Binding is conferred by a FERM/FA domain-Kinase domain interaction and detachment promoted by aPKCiota dependent phosphorylation. FARP2 is shown to promote GTP loading of Cdc42 consistent with upstream regulation of the polarising PAR6-aPKCiota complex. However, it is shown that aPKCiota acts to promote the localised activity of FARP2 through phosphorylation. We conclude that this aPKCiota FARP2 complex formation acts as a positive feedback control to drive polarisation through aPKCiota and other Cdc42 effectors. Ahmed , Yixiao , Mathias , Philippe , Ray S. , Selene K. Roberts, Chris Tynan, Roger George, Svend Kjaer, Marisa L. Martin-Fernandez, Barry J. Thompson, Neil Q. McDonald, Peter J. Parke

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Complete Genome Sequence of the Ammonia-Oxidizing Bacterium and Obligate Chemolithoautotroph Nitrosomonas europaea

Nitrosomonas europaea (ATCC 19718) is a gram-negative obligate chemolithoautotroph that can derive all its energy and reductant for growth from the oxidation of ammonia to nitrite. Nitrosomonas europaea participates in the biogeochemical N cycle in the process of nitrification. Its genome consists of a single circular chromosome of 2,812,094 bp. The GC skew analysis indicates that the genome is divided into two unequal replichores. Genes are distributed evenly around the genome, with ∼47% transcribed from one strand and ∼53% transcribed from the complementary strand. A total of 2,460 protein-encoding genes emerged from the modeling effort, averaging 1,011 bp in length, with intergenic regions averaging 117 bp. Genes necessary for the catabolism of ammonia, energy and reductant generation, biosynthesis, and CO(2) and NH(3) assimilation were identified. In contrast, genes for catabolism of organic compounds are limited. Genes encoding transporters for inorganic ions were plentiful, whereas genes encoding transporters for organic molecules were scant. Complex repetitive elements constitute ca. 5% of the genome. Among these are 85 predicted insertion sequence elements in eight different families. The strategy of N. europaea to accumulate Fe from the environment involves several classes of Fe receptors with more than 20 genes devoted to these receptors. However, genes for the synthesis of only one siderophore, citrate, were identified in the genome. This genome has provided new insights into the growth and metabolism of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria