Biophysics

Detergent-Triggered Membrane Remodelling Monitored via Intramembrane Fluorescence De-Quenching

1. Claudia M. F. Andrews
2. Christopher M. Hofmair
3. Lauryn Roberts
4. Emily James
5. Katie Morris
6. Kevin Kramm
7. Mark C. Leake
8. Yue Wang
9. Steven D. Quinn

Reviewed by preLights

DNA tensiometer reveals catch-bond detachment kinetics of kinesin-1, -2 and -3

1. Crystal R Noell
2. Tzu-Chen Ma
3. Rui Jiang
4. Scott A McKinley
5. William O Hancock

• Curated by eLife

  eLife Assessment

  The authors use a convincing methodology to investigate the detachment and reattachment kinetics of kinesin-1, 2, and 3 motors against loads oriented parallel to the microtubule. The findings are useful to the field in providing a clearer view of kinesin function under load. However, as the manuscript stands, the conclusions drawn from the experiments, as well as the overall interpretation of the results, are only partially supported by the presented data, and the novelty relative to previous reports appears less clear.

Reviewed by eLife

Dynamic Architecture of Mycobacterial Outer Membranes Revealed by All-Atom Simulations

1. Turner P Brown
2. Matthieu Chavent
3. Wonpil Im

• Curated by eLife

  eLife Assessment

  In their study, Brown et. al. provide an important advance in understanding the architecture of the mycobacterial outer membrane. Using all-atom simulations of model mycomembranes, the work reports compelling structural insights into how α-mycolic acids and outer leaflet lipids (PDIM and PAT) shape membrane organisation. The work revealed membrane heterogeneity with ordered inner leaflets and disordered outer leaflets that provide a molecular explanation for the resilience of the mycobacterial envelope.

Reviewed by eLife

Inorganic phosphate in Arp2/3 complex acts as a rapid switch for the stability of actin filament branches

1. Jiu Xiao
2. Rebecca Pagès
3. Guillaume Romet-Lemonne
4. Antoine Jégou

Reviewed by Review Commons

Interrogating the structure and function of the human voltage-gated proton channel (hHv1) with a fluorescent noncanonical amino acid

1. Emerson M Carmona
2. William N Zagotta
3. Sharona E Gordon

• Curated by eLife

  eLife Assessment

  This important study presents a convincing methodological approach to probe the structural features of the full-length human Hv1 channel as a purified protein. The method is supported by rigorous biochemical assays and spectral FRET analysis, which will interest biophysicists and physiologists studying Hv1 and other ion channels and membrane proteins. Overall, the work introduces an interesting labeling strategy and provides a methodology that is of value in investigating hHV1 in particular and can be extended to other ion channels. The authors also provide preliminary observations regarding conformational changes induced by zinc.

Reviewed by eLife

Transforming a Fragile Protein Helix into an Ultrastable Scaffold via a Hierarchical AI and Chemistry Framework

1. Jun Qiu
2. Guojin Tang
3. Tianfu Feng
4. Bin Zheng
5. Yuanhao Liu
6. Peng Zheng

• Curated by eLife

  eLife Assessment

  This important work describes systematic computational and experimental approaches to turn a moderately stable α-helical bundle into a very stable fold. The authors advance our understanding of α-helix stabilization providing a convenient framework that has general implications for the protein design field. The main claims have convincing support through a sound methodology, with strong specific conclusions for designing mechanically, thermally, and chemically stable α-helical bundles.

Reviewed by eLife

Enhanced bacterial chemotaxis in confined microchannels: Optimal performance in lane widths matching circular swimming radius

1. Caijuan Yue
2. Chi Zhang
3. Rongjing Zhang
4. Junhua Yuan

• Curated by eLife

  eLife Assessment

  This important work examines the effects of side-wall confinement on chemotaxis of swimming bacteria in a shallow microfluidic channel. The authors present convincing experimental evidence, combined with geometric analysis and numerical simulations of simplified models, showing that chemotaxis is enhanced when the distance between the side walls is comparable to the intrinsic radius of chiral circular swimming near open surfaces. This study should be of interest to scientists specializing in bacteria-surface interactions.

Reviewed by eLife

Should I stay or should I go? Spatiotemporal dynamics of bacterial biofilms in confined flows

1. Massinissa Benbelkacem
2. Gabriel Ramos
3. Fatima El Garah
4. Yara Abidine
5. Christine Roques
6. Yohan Davit

• Curated by eLife

  eLife Assessment

  This important study combines microfluidic experiments with mathematical modeling to elucidate the reciprocal interplay between flow dynamics and biofilm growth and detachment. Using Pseudomonas aeruginosa as a model organism, the authors identify several key regimes and stages of biofilm development. Overall, the comparison between experimental observations of biofilm behavior under varying flow conditions and corresponding theoretical predictions forms a compelling understanding of the processes involved in biofilm dynamics. The results will be of interest to researchers studying biofilms and their technological and biological applications.

Reviewed by eLife

Adaptor protein supersaturation drives innate immune signaling and cell fate

1. Alejandro Rodriguez Gama
2. Tayla Miller
3. Shriram Venkatesan
4. Jeffrey J Lange
5. Jianzheng Wu
6. Xiaoqing Song
7. William D Bradford
8. Malcolm Cook
9. Jay R Unruh
10. Randal Halfmann

• Curated by eLife

  eLife Assessment

  This important study investigates the self-assembly activity of all 109 human death-fold domains. The data collected using advanced microscopy and distributed amphifluoric FRET-based flow cytometry methods are compelling to support the "phase change battery" model that explains how signal amplification can occur without ATP consumption. This paper provides new insight into the thermodynamic control of protein phase behaviors within cells and will be of interest to those studying a variety of biological pathways involved in inflammatory responses and various forms of cell death.

Reviewed by eLife

RNA Selectively Modulates Activity of Virulent Amyloid PSMα3 and Host Defense LL-37 via Phase Separation and Aggregation Dynamics

1. Bader Rayan
2. Eilon Barnea
3. Rinat Indig
4. Christian F Pantoja
5. Jesse Gayk
6. Yael Lupu- Haber
7. Alexander Upcher
8. Amir Argoetti
9. Jacob Aunstrup Larsen
10. Alexander K Buell
11. Markus Zweckstetter
12. Meytal Landau

• Curated by eLife

  eLife Assessment

  This study investigates how RNA molecules modulate phase separation, aggregation, and cytotoxicity of the staphylococcal virulent peptide PSMα3 and the human host‑defence peptide LL‑37 using an array of biophysical and cell‑based assays. If validated, these findings would be important, as they suggest that nucleic acids can tune the material state and bioactivity of amyloids, with implications for host-pathogen interactions and for the design of therapeutics that target phase behaviour. However, the evidence is incomplete: many key claims rest on qualitative imaging and contested assumptions about "functional" amyloids, and the absence of quantitative binding data, phase diagrams, and appropriate controls limits confidence in the conclusions.

Reviewed by eLife