Issue Cover (August 2016)

Front cover: Heat map comparison of the expression of immunolabeled RhoA and surface labeled ɑ7 nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (ɑ7 nAChRs) showing co‐localization of the two proteins involved in regulating cytoskeletal growthmechanisms in differentiating PC12 cells. This study examined the ability of traditionally ionotropic ɑ7 nAChRs toactivate small G proteins, such as RhoA, through direct activation of the large heterotrimeric G protein Gɑq, leading tochanges in microtubule dynamics that regulate neurite growth. Activation of ɑ7 nAChRs, using the specific agonist choline,was found to attenuate neurite growth in both short and long term assays, while also leading to increased activationof RhoA in cells. This effect was lost in the presence of a dominant negative ɑ7 nAChR mutant that does not couple tolarge G proteins. These findings present novel evidence that stimulation of ɑ7 nAChRs can lead to activation of RhoAthat allows for direct short and long term modulation of the cytoskeleton during neurite growth.Read the full article ‘ Alpha 7 nicotinic receptor coupling to heterotrimeric G proteins modulates RhoA activation,cytoskeletal motility, and structural growth ’ by J. R. King and N. Kabbani (J. Neurochem. 2016, vol. 138 (4),pp. 532–545) on doi: 10.1111/jnc.13660