Cell Biology

The microcephaly protein WDR62 regulates cellular purine metabolism through the HSP70/HSP90 chaperone machinery

1. Matthew J. Morris
2. Yvonne Y. Yeap
3. Chi Chen
4. S. Sean Millard
5. Julia K. Pagan
6. Dominic C. H. Ng

Reviewed by Review Commons

The Arp2/3 complex maintains genome integrity and survival of epidermal Langerhans cells

1. Maria-Graciela Delgado
2. Ann-Kathrin Burkhart
3. Javiera Villar
4. Roberto Amadio
5. Vanessa S. Racz
6. Doriane Sanséau
7. Nilushi De Silva
8. Livia Lacerda Mariano
9. Anna Shmakova
10. Anna Chipont
11. Mabel San Roman
12. Giulia Bracchetti
13. Vincent Calmettes
14. Zahraa Alraies
15. Mathieu Maurin
16. Aurelien Dauphin
17. Coralie Guerin
18. Florent Ginhoux
19. Nicolas Manel
20. Daniele Fachinetti
21. Federica Benvenuti
22. Sandra Iden
23. Ana-Maria Lennon-Duménil

Reviewed by Review Commons

Identification of Wnt regulated genes that are repressed by, or independent of, β-catenin

1. Shiyang Liu
2. Sara Haghani
3. Enrico Petretto
4. Babita Madan
5. Nathan Harmston
6. David M Virshup

Reviewed by Review Commons

Engineered Migrasomes: Harnessing Core Migrasome Machinery and Hypotonic Shock to Develop a Robust and Thermally Stable Vaccine Platform

1. Dongju Wang
2. Haifang Wang
3. Wei Wan
4. Zihui Zhu
5. Takami Sho
6. Yi Zheng
7. Xing Zhang
8. Longyu Dou
9. Qiang Ding
10. Li Yu
11. Zhihua Liu

• Curated by eLife

  eLife Assessment

  This study, from the group that pioneered migrasome, describes a novel vaccine platform of engineered migrosomes that behave like natural migrasomes. Importantly, this platform has the potential to overcome obstacles associated with cold chain issues for vaccines such as mRNA. In the revised version, the authors have addressed previous concerns and the results from additional experiments provide compelling evidence that features methods, data, and analyses more rigorous than the current state-of-the-art. Although the findings are important with practical implications for the vaccine technology, results from additional experiments would make this an outstanding study.

Reviewed by eLife

Dominant spinal muscular atrophy linked mutations in the cargo binding domain of BICD2 result in altered interactomes and dynein hyperactivity

1. Hannah Neiswender
2. Rajalakshmi Veeranan-Karmegam
3. Jessica E Pride
4. Phylicia Allen
5. Grace Neiswender
6. Avneesh Prabakar
7. Caili Hao
8. Xingjun Fan
9. Graydon B Gonsalvez

• Curated by eLife

  eLife Assessment

  In their study, Neiswender et al. provide important insights into how BicD2 variants linked to spinal muscular atrophy alter dynein activity and cargo specificity. While the findings suggest disease-relevant changes in BicD2's binding partners, the evidence connecting these changes to disease mechanisms remains incomplete and would benefit from further experimental validation. The work lays a strong foundation for future research, but could be strengthened by deeper functional analysis of key interactions, such as the BicD2/HOPS complex.

Reviewed by eLife

Hexokinase regulates Mondo-mediated longevity via the PPP and organellar dynamics

1. Raymond Laboy
2. Marjana Ndoci
3. Syed Shamsh Tabrez
4. Maximilian Vonolfen
5. Eugen Ballhysa
6. Tim Droth
7. Klara Schilling
8. Anna Löhrke
9. Ilian Atanassov
10. Adam Antebi

• Curated by eLife

  eLife Assessment

  This important study utilizes the nematode C. elegans and mammalian cell culture to investigate the role of MML-1/Mondo in conserved regulation of metabolism and aging. The evidence supporting the conclusions is convincing and covers a range of areas including localization, upstream pathways, and conservation. The paper will be of interest to a broad range of biologists studying aging, metabolism, and transcriptional regulation.

Reviewed by eLife

SMC5/6-Mediated Plasmid Silencing is Directed by SIMC1-SLF2 and Antagonized by LT

1. Martina Oravcová
2. Minghua Nie
3. Takanori Otomo
4. Michael N Boddy

• Curated by eLife

  eLife Assessment

  This Research Advance manuscript further elucidates the roles of SMC5/6 loader proteins and associated factors in the silencing of extrachromosomal circular DNA by the SMC5/6 complex. While the findings are largely in line with expectations, they are useful, representing a meaningful advance beyond the recent study (reference 33), contributing to a growing foundation for further comparative and mechanistic investigations. Solid evidence is presented for a role for SIMC1/SLF2 in the localization of the SMC5/6 complex to plasmid DNA, and the distinct requirements, as compared to the recruitment of SMC5/6 to chromosomal DNA lesions.

Reviewed by eLife

Forward genetics in C. elegans reveals genetic adaptations to polyunsaturated fatty acid deficiency

1. Delaney Kaper
2. Uroš Radović
3. Per-Olof Bergh
4. August Qvist
5. Marcus Henricsson
6. Jan Borén
7. Marc Pilon

• Curated by eLife

  eLife Assessment

  This fundamental study investigates the role of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in physiology and membrane biology, using a unique model to perform a thorough genetic screen that demonstrates that PUFA synthesis defects cannot be compensated for by mutations in other pathways. These findings are supported by compelling evidence from a high quality genetic screen, functional validation of their hits, and lipid analyses. This study will appeal to researchers in membrane biology, lipid metabolism, and C. elegans genetics.

Reviewed by eLife

Rho-ROCK liberates sequestered claudin for rapid de novo tight junction formation

1. Yuma Cho
2. Akari Taniguchi
3. Akiharu Kubo
4. Junichi Ikenouchi

• Curated by eLife

  eLife Assessment

  This paper identifies a crucial step in the regulation of tight junction formation by identifying Rho-ROCK activity-dependent activation of the serine protease Matriptase, making Claudins available for tight junction formation. The reviewers were satisfied with the revisions and found the work important and the approach convincing.

Reviewed by eLife

Targeting the WSB2-NOXA Axis in Cancer Cells for Enhanced Sensitivity to BCL-2 Family Protein Inhibitors

1. Dongyue Jiao
2. Kun Chang
3. Jiamin Jin
4. Yingji Chen
5. Ren Mo
6. Yucong Zhang
7. Kun Gao
8. Yaoting Xu
9. Lixin Wang
10. Chenji Wang

• Curated by eLife

  eLife Assessment

  This study reports a fundamental observation concerning cell death regulation by the anti-apoptotic BCL2 family NOXA. The authors convincingly demonstrate that NOXA is destabilized through the interaction with WSB2, a substrate receptor in CRL5 ubiquitin ligase complex, sensitizing the cells to treatments. These are key findings for cell biologists and cancer researchers as they identified a new target impacting drug responsiveness in cancer therapies.

Reviewed by eLife