Biophysics

CryoEM structures of Kv1.2 potassium channels, conducting and non-conducting

1. Yangyu Wu
2. Yangyang Yan
3. Youshan Yang
4. Shumin Bian
5. Alberto Rivetta
6. Ken Allen
7. Fred J Sigworth

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  This important manuscript presents several structures of the Kv1.2 voltage-gated potassium channel, based on state-of-the-art cryoEM techniques and algorithms. The authors present solid evidence for structures of an inactivating mutant of Kv1.2, DTX-bound Kv1.2 and of Kv1.2 in potassium-free solution (with presumably sodium ions bound within the selectivity filter). These structures advance our knowledge of the molecular basis of the slow inactivation process of potassium channels.

Reviewed by eLife

Hypersensitivity of the vimentin cytoskeleton to net-charge states and Coulomb repulsion

1. Bret A Unger
2. Chun Ying Wu
3. Alexander A Choi
4. Changdong He
5. Ke Xu

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  This valuable study provides new insight into the disassembly of vimentin filaments and the dependence of this mechanism on net charge, albeit with incomplete evidence. In particular, the experimental replicates are limited (in most cases n=1), there is a lack of quantitative analysis to substantiate claims, inconsistency of the proposed mechanisms with previously published work, and lack of biochemical evidence supporting the observations in cells. Addressing these concerns would strengthen the manuscript and help support the proposed hypothesis on vimentin disassembly.

Reviewed by eLife

Spiral-eyes: A soft active matter model of in vivo corneal epithelial cell migration

1. Kaja Kostanjevec
2. Rastko Sknepnek
3. Jon Martin Collinson
4. Silke Henkes

Reviewed by preLights

Unveiling Cas8 Dynamics and Regulation within a transposon-encoded Cascade-TniQ Complex

1. Amun C. Patel
2. Souvik Sinha
3. Pablo R. Arantes
4. Giulia Palermo

Reviewed by PREreview

Dynamics and Activation of Membrane-Bound B Cell Receptor Assembly

1. Hung N. Do
2. Mingfei Zhao
3. S. Munir Alam
4. S. Gnanakaran

Reviewed by PREreview

Dynamic basis of lipopolysaccharide export by LptB2FGC

1. Marina Dajka
2. Tobias Rath
3. Nina Morgner
4. Benesh Joseph

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  This study provides an important advance in the molecular understanding of the lipopolysaccharide export mechanism and machinery in bacteria. By using advanced spectroscopy approaches, the experiments provide convincing biophysical support for the dynamic behavior of the multisubunit Lpt transport system. This work has implications for understanding bacterial cell envelope biogenesis and developing drugs that target Gram negative pathogens.

Reviewed by eLife

Single turnover transient state kinetics reveals processive protein unfolding catalyzed by Escherichia coli ClpB

1. Jaskamaljot Kaur Banwait
2. Liana Islam
3. Aaron L Lucius

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  This valuable study presents the development of a single turnover stopped-flow fluorescence experiment to study the kinetics of substrate unfolding and translocation by the bacterial ClpB disaggregase. Using non-physiological nucleotides to bypass the physiological regulation mechanism of ClpB, the authors convincingly show that the ClpB disaggregase is a processive motor with a slow unfolding step preceding rapid translocation. The results of this analysis are of value for future mechanistic studies on energy-dependent unfolding, degradation, and disaggregation molecular machines.

Reviewed by eLife

Should I stay or should I go? Spatio-temporal 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 integrates microfluidic experiments and mathematical modeling to investigate how flow dynamics and biofilm growth and detachment influence each other. Using Pseudomonas aeruginosa as a model organism, the study identifies several key effects and stages in biofilm development, albeit with some weaknesses in clearly defining the setup and some of their interpretations. The comparison between experimental results and theoretical models is convincing, providing a robust analysis of the biofilm's behavior under varying flow conditions. The findings will be helpful for researchers working on biofilms and their applications.

Reviewed by eLife

Robust optogenetic inhibition with red-light-sensitive anion-conducting channelrhodopsins

1. Johannes Oppermann
2. Andrey Rozenberg
3. Thomaz Fabrin
4. Cristian González-Cabrera
5. Rafael Parker
6. Oded Béjà
7. Matthias Prigge
8. Peter Hegemann

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  This important study describes the discovery and further engineering of a red light-activated, chloride-conducting Channelrhodopsin (ACR) that could be used to inhibit neuronal activity. The evidence for the spectral confirmation and biophysical characterization of MsACR and raACR, and ion selectivity are solid; however, the evidence supporting the use of the tools in vivo is incomplete and missing proper controls. In addition, benchmarking against other inhibitory tools is somewhat missing. With the in vivo part strengthened, this paper would interest neuroscientists seeking more efficient ways to inhibit neuronal activity.

Reviewed by eLife

The exchange dynamics of biomolecular condensates

1. Yaojun Zhang
2. Andrew GT Pyo
3. Ross Kliegman
4. Yoyo Jiang
5. Clifford P Brangwynne
6. Howard A Stone
7. Ned S Wingreen

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  This valuable contribution studies factors that impact molecular exchange between dense and dilute phases of biomolecular condensates through continuum models and coarse-grained simulations. The authors provide convincing evidence that interfacial resistance can cause molecules to bounce off the interface and limit mixing. Results like these can inform how experimental results in the field of biological condensates are interpreted.

Reviewed by eLife