Nature Genetics

doi: 10.1038/ng.2755pmid: 23985680

Three disciplines—cancer genomics, functional analysis of cancer cells and nuclear reprogramming—have come together to focus on the basic biology of cell commitment in our Nature Conference with the Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research held 25–27 September in Oxford, UK.

Kuong, Kawai J; Loeb, Lawrence A

doi: 10.1038/ng.2736pmid: 23985681

Recent evidence has implicated APOBEC3B as a source of mutations in cervical, bladder, lung, head and neck, and breast cancers. APOBEC enzymes normally function in innate immune responses, including those that target retroviruses, suggesting links between mutagenesis, immunity and viral infection in the process of cancer development.

Nagy, Gabor; Ackerman, Susan L

doi: 10.1038/ng.2738pmid: 23985682

Rett syndrome is caused by mutations in the gene encoding the transcriptional regulator MECP2. A new study demonstrates that cholesterol homeostasis is disrupted in Mecp2 mutant mice and suggests new therapeutic options for this disease.

Gow, Neil A R

doi: 10.1038/ng.2737pmid: 23985683

Candida albicans is a frequent pathogen of immunologically compromised individuals, but it is an even more common commensal of healthy humans, where it resides in the gut in a benign state. A new study shows that a specific commensal form of the fungus is induced in the gut through a developmental program that downregulates virulence factors and induces metabolic functions, enabling it to thrive on the nutrients that are available in the large intestine without damaging its host.

Bahcall, Orli

doi: 10.1038/ng.2753pmid: N/A

Feliciano, Pamela

doi: 10.1038/ng.2751pmid: N/A

Bahcall, Orli

doi: 10.1038/ng.2752pmid: N/A

Niemitz, Emily

doi: 10.1038/ng.2749pmid: N/A

Feliciano, Pamela

doi: 10.1038/ng.2750pmid: N/A

Roberts, Steven A; Lawrence, Michael S; Klimczak, Leszek J; Grimm, Sara A; Fargo, David; Stojanov, Petar; Kiezun, Adam; Kryukov, Gregory V; Carter, Scott L; Saksena, Gordon; Harris, Shawn; Shah, Ruchir R; Resnick, Michael A; Getz, Gad; Gordenin, Dmitry A