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		Review Generation and physiological roles of linear ubiquitin chains Henning Walczak, Kazuhiro Iwai, Ivan Dikic BMC Biology 2012, 10:23 (15 March 2012) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Editor’s summary Henning Walczak, Kazuhiro Iwai and Ivan Dikic explain what is known of the assembly of linear ubiquitin chains, and discuss the evidence for their role in the regulation of inflammatory immune responses.
		Editorial Ubiquitin ligases and beyond Ivan Dikic, Miranda Robertson BMC Biology 2012, 10:22 (15 March 2012) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Editor’s summary Ivan Dikic and Miranda Robertson introduce a new series on the assembly and many functions of ubiquitin chains.
		Commentary A novel approach for finding ring species: look for barriers rather than rings Darren E Irwin BMC Biology 2012, 10:21 (12 March 2012) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Editor’s summary Darren Irwin discusses the rare phenomenon of ring speciation, and explores how a novel global topographic model could be used to uncover new examples of ring species by pinpointing the geographic barriers associated with them.
		Research article Ring distributions leading to species formation: a global topographic analysis of geographic barriers associated with ring species William B Monahan, Ricardo J Pereira, David B Wake BMC Biology 2012, 10:20 (12 March 2012) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Cited on BioMed Central \| Editor’s summary A novel topographic model is created to identify the geographic barriers that favour the evolutionary processes leading to ring speciation, a fascinating but seemingly rare phenomenon.
		Forum What does the concept of the stem cell niche really mean today? Arthur D Lander, Judith Kimble, Hans Clevers, Elaine Fuchs, Didier Montarras, Margaret Buckingham, Anne L Calof, Andreas Trumpp, Thordur Oskarsson BMC Biology 2012, 10:19 (9 March 2012) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Editor’s summary How do current researchers view the stem cell niche? Eight experts from different fields provide their perspective, and ask how stem cells evolve in such an environment, launching a new Forum article type within the cross-journal collection on stem cells.
		Commentary A view to kill Thomas W Holstein BMC Biology 2012, 10:18 (5 March 2012) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Editor’s summary The sting cells of cnidarians discharge their coiled barbs at high speeds to catch prey. Thomas Holstein discusses new data that shed light on this process and its controls, and how this might relate to the origins of neurosensory systems at the dawn of metazoan evolution.
		Research article Cnidocyte discharge is regulated by light and opsin-mediated phototransduction David C Plachetzki, Caitlin R Fong, Todd H Oakley BMC Biology 2012, 10:17 (5 March 2012) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Cited on BioMed Central \| Editor’s summary Sting cell discharge in the eyeless cnidarian hydra is regulated by opsin-mediated phototransduction, a pathway used in vision in other animals.
		Research article Imbalance of heterologous protein folding and disulfide bond formation rates yields runaway oxidative stress Keith EJ Tyo, Zihe Liu, Dina Petranovic, Jens Nielsen BMC Biology 2012, 10:16 (1 March 2012) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed
		Commentary Salamanders and fish can regenerate lost structures - why can't we? Hans-Georg Simon BMC Biology 2012, 10:15 (27 February 2012) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Editor’s summary Experiments reported by Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte in BMC Developmental Biology call into question the role of muscle dedifferentiation in limb regeneration. Commenting on the paper, Simon speculates on the importance of the extracellular matrix in unlocking intrinsic regenerative processes.
		Commentary Hsp90 depletion goes wild Mark L Siegal, Joanna Masel BMC Biology 2012, 10:14 (27 February 2012) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Editor’s summary Protein chaperone Hsp90 can 'hide' genetic variation from selection, but this cryptic variation will be expressed all at once in Hsp90's absence. Does this mean a recently-discovered wild Hsp90 downregulation polymorphism is evolutionarily relevant, and is Hsp90 unique as a candidate capacitor?
		Commentary Do we still need supertrees? Arndt von Haeseler BMC Biology 2012, 10:13 (27 February 2012) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Editor’s summary There has been disagreement over the value of 'supertree' versus 'supermatrix' approaches to constructing large-scale phylogenies, where it is inevitable that some data will be missing. Arndt von Haeseler outlines the issues and concludes that for now, both approaches are valuable.
		Research article Updating the evolutionary history of Carnivora (Mammalia): a new species-level supertree complete with divergence time estimates Katrin Nyakatura, Olaf RP Bininda-Emonds BMC Biology 2012, 10:12 (27 February 2012) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Cited on BioMed Central \| Editor’s summary A new "supertree" phylogeny covering all carnivore species has been constructed, with revised groupings representing the advances in phylogenetic practice since the previous complete tree was published in 1999.
		Research article Parasitic wasp responses to symbiont-based defense in aphids Kerry M Oliver, Koji Noge, Emma M Huang, Jaime M Campos, Judith X Becerra, Martha S Hunter BMC Biology 2012, 10:11 (24 February 2012) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Editor’s summary Aphids are protected from parasitizing wasps by endosymbiotic bacteria that kill the wasp larvae, saving the lives of their hosts. But now it seems that wasps can detect the endosymbiotic bacteria and retaliate by laying more eggs, overcoming this defense.
		Commentary Ethylene and the regulation of plant development G Schaller BMC Biology 2012, 10:9 (20 February 2012) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Editor’s summary G. Eric Schaller explores the question of how plants integrate hormonal signals into particular developmental pathways, discussing research in BMC Biology on a role for the transcription factor FUSCA3, in concert with ethylene, in timing the conversion of juvenile to adult leaves.
		Research article The embryonic leaf identity gene FUSCA3 regulates vegetative phase transitions by negatively modulating ethylene-regulated gene expression in Arabidopsis Shelley Lumba, Yuichiro Tsuchiya, Frederic Delmas, Jodi Hezky, Nicholas J Provart, Qing Shi Lu, Peter McCourt, Sonia Gazzarrini BMC Biology 2012, 10:8 (20 February 2012) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Cited on BioMed Central \| Editor’s summary The transcription factor FUSCA3 is a temporal regulator of plant development, usually acting in the early embryo, but activation after germination results in interaction with ethylene signaling to control the timing of adult leaf development.
		Comment Dangerous for ferrets: lethal for humans? Peter C Doherty, Paul G Thomas BMC Biology 2012, 10:10 (20 February 2012) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Editor’s summary Research on how highly pathogenic H5N1 viruses might become transmissible between humans has ignited heated debate on the balance of risks and benefits of such experiments. Peter Doherty and Paul Thomas give their view.
		Commentary A novel role for microglia in minimizing excitotoxicity Mariko L Howe, Ben A Barres BMC Biology 2012, 10:7 (31 January 2012) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Editor’s summary Ramified microglia, previously branded as 'resting', protect hippocampal neurons against excitotoxicity according to research published in Journal of Neuroinflammation. Mariko Howe and Ben Barres discuss how these findings add to a growing recognition of active roles for microglia in health and disease.
		Question and Answer Q&A: What is a pathogen? A question that begs the point Liise-anne Pirofski, Arturo Casadevall BMC Biology 2012, 10:6 (31 January 2012) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| 1 comment \| Editor’s summary Arturo Casadevall and Liise-anne Pirofski explain in Q&A format the emergent properties of microbial pathogenesis that make the question impossible to answer, and the emergence of new pathogens almost impossible to predict.
		Research article Involvement of Plasmodium falciparum protein kinase CK2 in the chromatin assembly pathway Eeshita G Dastidar, Guillem Dayer, Zoe M Holland, Dominique Dorin-Semblat, Aurélie Claes, Arnaud Chêne, Amit Sharma, Romain Hamelin, Marc Moniatte, Jose-Juan Lopez-Rubio, Artur Scherf, Christian Doerig BMC Biology 2012, 10:5 (31 January 2012) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed
		Research article Single vesicle imaging indicates distinct modes of rapid membrane retrieval during nerve growth Jacob H Hines, Steven J Henle, Lucas P Carlstrom, Mohammad Abu-Rub, John R Henley BMC Biology 2012, 10:4 (30 January 2012) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed
		Research article Global transgenerational gene expression dynamics in two newly synthesized allohexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum) lines Bao Qi, Wei Huang, Bo Zhu, Xiaofang Zhong, Jianhua Guo, Na Zhao, Chunming Xu, Huakun Zhang, Jinsong Pang, Fangpu Han, Bao Liu BMC Biology 2012, 10:3 (26 January 2012) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Cited on BioMed Central
		Commentary Protein dynamics and conformational selection in bidirectional signal transduction Ruth Nussinov, Buyong Ma BMC Biology 2012, 10:2 (25 January 2012) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Editor’s summary Sixteen new conformations of the ligand-binding domain of the cell:cell signaling receptor EphrinA4 are identified in research published in BMC Biophysics. Nussinov and Ma discuss how such conformational diversity allows binding of different ligands to propagate distinct signals through secondary conformational change.
		Methodology article Detailed interrogation of trypanosome cell biology via differential organelle staining and automated image analysis Richard J Wheeler, Keith Gull, Eva Gluenz BMC Biology 2012, 10:1 (3 January 2012) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed
		Commentary Difficult phylogenetic questions: more data, maybe; better methods, certainly Hervé Philippe, Béatrice Roure BMC Biology 2011, 9:91 (29 December 2011) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Editor’s summary Niels Bohr said that 'Prediction is very difficult, especially about the future,' but phylogeneticists would just be happy with the past. Philippe and Roure discuss some methods for dealing with particularly difficult evolutionary problems, and how corroboration is the key to success.
		Commentary The bending of cell sheets - from folding to rolling Ray Keller, David Shook BMC Biology 2011, 9:90 (29 December 2011) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Editor’s summary Keller and Shook explore how cell shape changes, junctional interactions and epithelial morphogenetic processes drive early development, including data from a recent analysis by Hoehn and Hallmann of a relatively unexplored inversion process in the multicellular alga Volvox globator.

	All
		Review Generation and physiological roles of linear ubiquitin chains Henning Walczak, Kazuhiro Iwai, Ivan Dikic BMC Biology 2012, 10:23 (15 March 2012) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Editor’s summary Henning Walczak, Kazuhiro Iwai and Ivan Dikic explain what is known of the assembly of linear ubiquitin chains, and discuss the evidence for their role in the regulation of inflammatory immune responses.
		Editorial Ubiquitin ligases and beyond Ivan Dikic, Miranda Robertson BMC Biology 2012, 10:22 (15 March 2012) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Editor’s summary Ivan Dikic and Miranda Robertson introduce a new series on the assembly and many functions of ubiquitin chains.
		Commentary A novel approach for finding ring species: look for barriers rather than rings Darren E Irwin BMC Biology 2012, 10:21 (12 March 2012) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Editor’s summary Darren Irwin discusses the rare phenomenon of ring speciation, and explores how a novel global topographic model could be used to uncover new examples of ring species by pinpointing the geographic barriers associated with them.
		Research article Ring distributions leading to species formation: a global topographic analysis of geographic barriers associated with ring species William B Monahan, Ricardo J Pereira, David B Wake BMC Biology 2012, 10:20 (12 March 2012) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Cited on BioMed Central \| Editor’s summary A novel topographic model is created to identify the geographic barriers that favour the evolutionary processes leading to ring speciation, a fascinating but seemingly rare phenomenon.
		Forum What does the concept of the stem cell niche really mean today? Arthur D Lander, Judith Kimble, Hans Clevers, Elaine Fuchs, Didier Montarras, Margaret Buckingham, Anne L Calof, Andreas Trumpp, Thordur Oskarsson BMC Biology 2012, 10:19 (9 March 2012) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Editor’s summary How do current researchers view the stem cell niche? Eight experts from different fields provide their perspective, and ask how stem cells evolve in such an environment, launching a new Forum article type within the cross-journal collection on stem cells.
		Commentary A view to kill Thomas W Holstein BMC Biology 2012, 10:18 (5 March 2012) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Editor’s summary The sting cells of cnidarians discharge their coiled barbs at high speeds to catch prey. Thomas Holstein discusses new data that shed light on this process and its controls, and how this might relate to the origins of neurosensory systems at the dawn of metazoan evolution.
		Research article Cnidocyte discharge is regulated by light and opsin-mediated phototransduction David C Plachetzki, Caitlin R Fong, Todd H Oakley BMC Biology 2012, 10:17 (5 March 2012) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Cited on BioMed Central \| Editor’s summary Sting cell discharge in the eyeless cnidarian hydra is regulated by opsin-mediated phototransduction, a pathway used in vision in other animals.
		Research article Imbalance of heterologous protein folding and disulfide bond formation rates yields runaway oxidative stress Keith EJ Tyo, Zihe Liu, Dina Petranovic, Jens Nielsen BMC Biology 2012, 10:16 (1 March 2012) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed
		Commentary Salamanders and fish can regenerate lost structures - why can't we? Hans-Georg Simon BMC Biology 2012, 10:15 (27 February 2012) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Editor’s summary Experiments reported by Juan Carlos Izpisua Belmonte in BMC Developmental Biology call into question the role of muscle dedifferentiation in limb regeneration. Commenting on the paper, Simon speculates on the importance of the extracellular matrix in unlocking intrinsic regenerative processes.
		Commentary Hsp90 depletion goes wild Mark L Siegal, Joanna Masel BMC Biology 2012, 10:14 (27 February 2012) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Editor’s summary Protein chaperone Hsp90 can 'hide' genetic variation from selection, but this cryptic variation will be expressed all at once in Hsp90's absence. Does this mean a recently-discovered wild Hsp90 downregulation polymorphism is evolutionarily relevant, and is Hsp90 unique as a candidate capacitor?
		Commentary Do we still need supertrees? Arndt von Haeseler BMC Biology 2012, 10:13 (27 February 2012) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Editor’s summary There has been disagreement over the value of 'supertree' versus 'supermatrix' approaches to constructing large-scale phylogenies, where it is inevitable that some data will be missing. Arndt von Haeseler outlines the issues and concludes that for now, both approaches are valuable.
		Research article Updating the evolutionary history of Carnivora (Mammalia): a new species-level supertree complete with divergence time estimates Katrin Nyakatura, Olaf RP Bininda-Emonds BMC Biology 2012, 10:12 (27 February 2012) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Cited on BioMed Central \| Editor’s summary A new "supertree" phylogeny covering all carnivore species has been constructed, with revised groupings representing the advances in phylogenetic practice since the previous complete tree was published in 1999.
		Research article Parasitic wasp responses to symbiont-based defense in aphids Kerry M Oliver, Koji Noge, Emma M Huang, Jaime M Campos, Judith X Becerra, Martha S Hunter BMC Biology 2012, 10:11 (24 February 2012) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Editor’s summary Aphids are protected from parasitizing wasps by endosymbiotic bacteria that kill the wasp larvae, saving the lives of their hosts. But now it seems that wasps can detect the endosymbiotic bacteria and retaliate by laying more eggs, overcoming this defense.
		Commentary Ethylene and the regulation of plant development G Schaller BMC Biology 2012, 10:9 (20 February 2012) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Editor’s summary G. Eric Schaller explores the question of how plants integrate hormonal signals into particular developmental pathways, discussing research in BMC Biology on a role for the transcription factor FUSCA3, in concert with ethylene, in timing the conversion of juvenile to adult leaves.
		Research article The embryonic leaf identity gene FUSCA3 regulates vegetative phase transitions by negatively modulating ethylene-regulated gene expression in Arabidopsis Shelley Lumba, Yuichiro Tsuchiya, Frederic Delmas, Jodi Hezky, Nicholas J Provart, Qing Shi Lu, Peter McCourt, Sonia Gazzarrini BMC Biology 2012, 10:8 (20 February 2012) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Cited on BioMed Central \| Editor’s summary The transcription factor FUSCA3 is a temporal regulator of plant development, usually acting in the early embryo, but activation after germination results in interaction with ethylene signaling to control the timing of adult leaf development.
		Comment Dangerous for ferrets: lethal for humans? Peter C Doherty, Paul G Thomas BMC Biology 2012, 10:10 (20 February 2012) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Editor’s summary Research on how highly pathogenic H5N1 viruses might become transmissible between humans has ignited heated debate on the balance of risks and benefits of such experiments. Peter Doherty and Paul Thomas give their view.
		Commentary A novel role for microglia in minimizing excitotoxicity Mariko L Howe, Ben A Barres BMC Biology 2012, 10:7 (31 January 2012) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Editor’s summary Ramified microglia, previously branded as 'resting', protect hippocampal neurons against excitotoxicity according to research published in Journal of Neuroinflammation. Mariko Howe and Ben Barres discuss how these findings add to a growing recognition of active roles for microglia in health and disease.
		Question and Answer Q&A: What is a pathogen? A question that begs the point Liise-anne Pirofski, Arturo Casadevall BMC Biology 2012, 10:6 (31 January 2012) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| 1 comment \| Editor’s summary Arturo Casadevall and Liise-anne Pirofski explain in Q&A format the emergent properties of microbial pathogenesis that make the question impossible to answer, and the emergence of new pathogens almost impossible to predict.
		Research article Involvement of Plasmodium falciparum protein kinase CK2 in the chromatin assembly pathway Eeshita G Dastidar, Guillem Dayer, Zoe M Holland, Dominique Dorin-Semblat, Aurélie Claes, Arnaud Chêne, Amit Sharma, Romain Hamelin, Marc Moniatte, Jose-Juan Lopez-Rubio, Artur Scherf, Christian Doerig BMC Biology 2012, 10:5 (31 January 2012) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed
		Research article Single vesicle imaging indicates distinct modes of rapid membrane retrieval during nerve growth Jacob H Hines, Steven J Henle, Lucas P Carlstrom, Mohammad Abu-Rub, John R Henley BMC Biology 2012, 10:4 (30 January 2012) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed
		Research article Global transgenerational gene expression dynamics in two newly synthesized allohexaploid wheat (Triticum aestivum) lines Bao Qi, Wei Huang, Bo Zhu, Xiaofang Zhong, Jianhua Guo, Na Zhao, Chunming Xu, Huakun Zhang, Jinsong Pang, Fangpu Han, Bao Liu BMC Biology 2012, 10:3 (26 January 2012) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Cited on BioMed Central
		Commentary Protein dynamics and conformational selection in bidirectional signal transduction Ruth Nussinov, Buyong Ma BMC Biology 2012, 10:2 (25 January 2012) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Editor’s summary Sixteen new conformations of the ligand-binding domain of the cell:cell signaling receptor EphrinA4 are identified in research published in BMC Biophysics. Nussinov and Ma discuss how such conformational diversity allows binding of different ligands to propagate distinct signals through secondary conformational change.
		Methodology article Detailed interrogation of trypanosome cell biology via differential organelle staining and automated image analysis Richard J Wheeler, Keith Gull, Eva Gluenz BMC Biology 2012, 10:1 (3 January 2012) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed
		Commentary Difficult phylogenetic questions: more data, maybe; better methods, certainly Hervé Philippe, Béatrice Roure BMC Biology 2011, 9:91 (29 December 2011) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Editor’s summary Niels Bohr said that 'Prediction is very difficult, especially about the future,' but phylogeneticists would just be happy with the past. Philippe and Roure discuss some methods for dealing with particularly difficult evolutionary problems, and how corroboration is the key to success.
		Commentary The bending of cell sheets - from folding to rolling Ray Keller, David Shook BMC Biology 2011, 9:90 (29 December 2011) Abstract \| Full text \| PDF \| PubMed \| Editor’s summary Keller and Shook explore how cell shape changes, junctional interactions and epithelial morphogenetic processes drive early development, including data from a recent analysis by Hoehn and Hallmann of a relatively unexplored inversion process in the multicellular alga Volvox globator.