Biophysics

Piezo1 ion channels inherently function as independent mechanotransducers

1. Amanda H Lewis
2. Jörg Grandl

• Curated by eLife

  Evaluation Summary:

  The work, when completed, will provide important mechanistic detail on how Piezo channels, the most important and versatile mechanoreceptor molecules, functionally interact in the plane of the plasma membrane. It will be of interest to the field of mechanobiology and sensory mechanotransduction.

  (This preprint has been reviewed by eLife. We include the public reviews from the reviewers here; the authors also receive private feedback with suggested changes to the manuscript. The reviewers remained anonymous to the authors.)

Reviewed by eLife

The timing of natural killer cell response in coronavirus infection: a concise model perspective

1. Xiaochan Xu
2. Kim Sneppen

Reviewed by ScreenIT

Elucidation of SARS-Cov-2 Budding Mechanisms through Molecular Dynamics Simulations of M and E Protein Complexes

1. Logan Thrasher Collins
2. Tamer Elkholy
3. Shafat Mubin
4. David Hill
5. Ricky Williams
6. Kayode Ezike
7. Ankush Singhal

Reviewed by ScreenIT

Understanding the role of memory re-activation and cross-reactivity in the defense against SARS-CoV-2

1. Viola Denninger
2. Catherine K. Xu
3. Georg Meisl
4. Alexey S. Morgunov
5. Sebastian Fiedler
6. Alison Ilsley
7. Marc Emmenegger
8. Anisa Y. Malik
9. Monika A. Piziorska
10. Matthias M. Schneider
11. Sean R. A. Devenish
12. Vasilis Kosmoliaptsis
13. Adriano Aguzzi
14. Heike Fiegler
15. Tuomas P. J. Knowles

Reviewed by ScreenIT

Differential Interactions between Human ACE2 and Spike RBD of SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Concern

1. Seonghan Kim
2. Yi Liu
3. Zewei Lei
4. Jeffrey Dicker
5. Yiwei Cao
6. X. Frank Zhang
7. Wonpil Im

Reviewed by ScreenIT

Minimal-invasive enhancement of auditory perception by terahertz wave modulation

1. Xiaoxuan Tan
2. Kaijie Wu
3. Shuang Liu
4. Yifang Yuan
5. Chao Chang
6. Wei Xiong

• Curated by eLife

  Evaluation Summary:

  The work investigates cochlear physiology by applying terahertz wave modulation to the outer hair cells (OHCs). Improved cochlea sensitivity and a change in potassium membrane current is demonstrated. The work is of clear interest to auditory neuroscientists and has the potential for future clinical interest.

  (This preprint has been reviewed by eLife. We include the public reviews from the reviewers here; the authors also receive private feedback with suggested changes to the manuscript. Reviewer #1 agreed to share their name with the authors.)

Reviewed by eLife

Molecular determinants of phase separation for Drosophila DNA replication licensing factors

1. Matthew W Parker
2. Jonchee A Kao
3. Alvin Huang
4. James M Berger
5. Michael R Botchan

• Curated by eLife

  Evaluation Summary:

  This paper studies the role of phase separation in replication initiation, with a focus on Cdt1. Sorting out the relative roles of phase separation and other mechanisms will require a detailed dissection of the amino acids driving phase separation, which can then be used to probe the role of phase separation in cells. Here the authors perform extensive and comprehensive analyses that are well done and that set the scene for a full dissection of the role of condensation in replication initiation inside cells.

  (This preprint has been reviewed by eLife. We include the public reviews from the reviewers here; the authors also receive private feedback with suggested changes to the manuscript. Reviewer #3 agreed to share their name with the authors.)

Reviewed by eLife

Functional architecture of pancreatic islets identifies a population of first responder cells that drive the first-phase calcium response

1. Vira Kravets
2. JaeAnn M. Dwulet
3. Wolfgang E. Schleicher
4. David J. Hodson
5. Anna M. Davis
6. Laura Pyle
7. Robert A. Piscopio
8. Maura Sticco-Ivins
9. Richard K. P. Benninger

• Curated by eLife

  Evaluation Summary:

  This paper provides interesting insights in the control of insulin secretion. The authors identify a subset of 'first responder' beta-cells (the cells that secrete insulin) that - possibly -influence the activity of other beta-cells. They characterise some of the properties of these cells and demonstrate the existence of a fascinating possible hierarchy within the islet. With the data consolidated by more rigorous statistical analyses, this paper will make a useful addition to the field.

  (This preprint has been reviewed by eLife. We include the public reviews from the reviewers here; the authors also receive private feedback with suggested changes to the manuscript. Reviewer #3 agreed to share their name with the authors.)

Reviewed by eLife

CTP promotes efficient ParB-dependent DNA condensation by facilitating one-dimensional diffusion from parS

1. Francisco de Asis Balaguer
2. Clara Aicart-Ramos
3. Gemma LM Fisher
4. Sara de Bragança
5. Eva M Martin-Cuevas
6. Cesar L Pastrana
7. Mark Simon Dillingham
8. Fernando Moreno-Herrero

• Curated by eLife

  Evaluation Summary:

  This study applies single-molecule the nanomechanical DNA manipulation together with the direct fluorescent visualization to examine the mechanism of assembly of bacterial partition/segregation complexes by the ParB protein and the ensuing condensation of parS-containing DNA. The experiments specifically show how this assembly and its DNA specificity are promoted by CTP. The authors convincingly show that following association at ParS, CTP-binding allowed ParB to diffusively spread along the DNA. ParB spreading along the DNA was in turn the prerequisite for DNA condensation mediated by this protein. Upon clarification of the ParB diffusive spreading mechanism and its activity under physiological circumstances, this study will be of broad interest to those studying protein-DNA interactions and cell division. The nanomechanical DNA condensation experiments together with the combined direct fluorescent visualization represent a helpful methodological development for future studies of this and similar systems.

  (This preprint has been reviewed by eLife. We include the public reviews from the reviewers here; the authors also receive private feedback with suggested changes to the manuscript. The reviewers remained anonymous to the authors.)

Reviewed by eLife

TMEM120A contains a specific coenzyme A-binding site and might not mediate poking- or stretch-induced channel activities in cells

1. Yao Rong
2. Jinghui Jiang
3. Yiwei Gao
4. Jianli Guo
5. Danfeng Song
6. Wenhao Liu
7. Mingmin Zhang
8. Yan Zhao
9. Bailong Xiao
10. Zhenfeng Liu

• Curated by eLife

  Evaluation Summary:

  The paper describes novel structures of a protein recently reported to function as a mechanosensitive ion channel. Surprisingly, the structures and functional data rather support the formerly suggested role of this protein in lipid metabolism. The paper is of relevance for ion channel field and for those interested in fatty acid metabolism.

  (This preprint has been reviewed by eLife. We include the public reviews from the reviewers here; the authors also receive private feedback with suggested changes to the manuscript. Reviewer #1 agreed to share their name with the authors.)

Reviewed by eLife