Biochemistry

Syntaxin-6 delays prion protein fibril formation and prolongs the presence of toxic aggregation intermediates

1. Daljit Sangar
2. Elizabeth Hill
3. Kezia Jack
4. Mark Batchelor
5. Beenaben Mistry
6. Juan M Ribes
7. Graham S Jackson
8. Simon Mead
9. Jan Bieschke

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  The authors attempted to show that syntaxin 6 (Stx6) delays PrP fibril formation and in presence of Stx6, PrP forms amorphous aggregates which are more toxic to neuronal cells, indicative of Stx6's anti-chaperone activity. This useful study has potential to provide important understanding of the molecular mechanism of PrP aggregation and neurotoxicity. However, the evidence supporting the physiological relevance and robustness of the assays is incomplete.

Reviewed by eLife

The effect of linker conformation on performance and stability of a two-domain lytic polysaccharide monooxygenase

1. Zarah Forsberg
2. Anton A. Stepnov
3. Giulio Tesei
4. Yong Wang
5. Edith Buchinger
6. Sandra K. Kristiansen
7. Finn L. Aachmann
8. Lise Arleth
9. Vincent G.H. Eijsink
10. Kresten Lindorff-Larsen
11. Gaston Courtade

Reviewed by Arcadia Science

On the role of nucleotides and lipids in the polymerization of the actin homolog MreB from a Gram-positive bacterium

1. Wei Mao
2. Lars D Renner
3. Charlène Cornilleau
4. Ines Li de la Sierra-Gallay
5. Sana Afensiss
6. Sarah Benlamara
7. Yoan Ah-Seng
8. Herman Van Tilbeurgh
9. Sylvie Nessler
10. Aurélie Bertin
11. Arnaud Chastanet
12. Rut Carballido-Lopez

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  The authors make the case that the assembly of MreB from Geobacillus, a Gram-positive organism differs substantially from MreB from the Gram-negative model organism, Escherichia coli. Although the conclusion of this valuable study would represent a major advance if correct, the evidence is currently incomplete, and significant additional work is necessary to ensure both rigor and impact.

Reviewed by eLife

Carotenoid assembly regulates quinone diffusion and the Roseiflexus castenholzii reaction center-light harvesting complex architecture

1. Jiyu Xin
2. Yang Shi
3. Xin Zhang
4. Xinyi Yuan
5. Yueyong Xin
6. Huimin He
7. Jiejie Shen
8. Robert E Blankenship
9. Xiaoling Xu

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  This is a valuable analysis of the structure of Roseiflexus castenholzii native and carotenoid-depleted light harvesting complexes. The authors have investigated the relationship between Carotenoid pigment depletion in the photosynthesis-related light harvesting complex, the assembly of the prokaryotic reaction center LH complex, and quinone exchange in Roseiflexus castenholzii, a chlorosome-less filamentous anoxygenic phototroph that forms the deepest branch of photosynthetic bacteria. The evidence supporting the claims is solid, with application of rigorous biochemical and biophysical techniques, including cryo-electron microscopy of the purified of the RC-LH complexes with or depleted of carotenoids. This study will be of interest to biologists working on the evolution and diversity of prokaryotic photosynthetic apparatus.

Reviewed by eLife

A Rationally Designed Antimicrobial Peptide from Structural and Functional Insight of Clostridium difficile Translation Initiation Factor 1

1. Elvira Alanis
2. Faith Aguilar
3. Niaz Banaei
4. Frank B. Dean
5. Miguel Alanis
6. James M. Bullard
7. Yonghong Zhang

Reviewed by Arcadia Science

Torsion angles to map and visualize the conformational space of a protein

1. Helen Mary Ginn

Reviewed by PREreview

Novel regulators of islet function identified from genetic variation in mouse islet Ca2+ oscillations

1. Christopher H Emfinger
2. Lauren E Clark
3. Brian Yandell
4. Kathryn L Schueler
5. Shane P Simonett
6. Donnie S Stapleton
7. Kelly A Mitok
8. Matthew J Merrins
9. Mark P Keller
10. Alan D Attie

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  The authors provide a fundamental resource, detailing genetic variation of nutrient-responsive islet calcium regulation in mice through the lens of proteomics. The evidence for the mechanisms identified using this resource is compelling and strongly supported by integration with results from genome-wide association studies in humans. The construction of a streamlined and searchable web interface for the data will maximize their accessibility and utilization by the community.

Reviewed by eLife

Genetically engineered mesenchymal stem cells as a nitric oxide reservoir for acute kidney injury therapy

1. Haoyan Huang
2. Meng Qian
3. Yue Liu
4. Shang Chen
5. Huifang Li
6. Zhibo Han
7. Zhong-Chao Han
8. Xiang-Mei Chen
9. Qiang Zhao
10. Zongjin Li

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  This important study combines engineered mesenchymal stem cells together with mouse models of kidney injury to determine the ability of these cells to reduce kidney damage upon acute kidney injury. The evidence supporting the claims is solid, although the inclusion of more than one type of stem cell and the use of male mice which are more prone to acute kidney injury, would strengthen the study. This work will be of interest to both basic scientists and clinicians working on mechanisms of kidney injury and repair.

Reviewed by eLife

A stress-responsive p38 signaling axis in choanoflagellates

1. Florentine U.N. Rutaganira
2. Maxwell C. Coyle
3. Alex P. Scopton
4. Arvin C. Dar
5. Nicole King

Reviewed by Arcadia Science

The adherens junction proteins α-catenin, vinculin and VASP cooperate to promote actin assembly

1. Rayan Said
2. Hong Wang
3. Julien Pernier
4. Hemalatha Narassimprakash
5. Stéphane Roméro
6. Alexis M. Gautreau
7. René-Marc Mège
8. Christophe Le Clainche

Reviewed by Arcadia Science