Molecular Biology

Txnip deletions and missense alleles prolong the survival of cones in a retinitis pigmentosa mouse model

1. Yunlu Xue
2. Yimin Zhou
3. Constance L Cepko

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  This fundamental study advances our understanding of the cell specific treatment of cone photoreceptor degeneration by Txnip. The evidence supporting the conclusions is compelling with rigorous genetic manipulation of Txnip mutations. The work will be of broad interest to vision researchers, cell biologists and biochemists.

Reviewed by eLife

Inhibition of miR-199b-5p reduces pathological alterations in osteoarthritis by potentially targeting Fzd6 and Gcnt2

1. Tong Feng
2. Qi Zhang
3. Si-Hui Li
4. Yan-ling Ping
5. Mu-qiu Tian
6. Shuan-hu Zhou
7. Xin Wang
8. Jun-Meng Wang
9. Fan-Rang Liang
10. Shu-Guang Yu
11. Qiao-Feng Wu

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  This valuable study reports that miR-199b-5p is elevated in human osteoarthritis patients. There is solid evidence for the finding that inhibiting miR-199b-5p alleviates symptoms in mice with knee osteoarthritis. Additionally, potential targets of miR-199b-5p are identified but whether miR-199b-5p truly functions through Fzd6 and/or Gcnt2 requires further investigation.

Reviewed by eLife

Whole blood transcriptional profiles and the pathogenesis of tuberculous meningitis

1. Hoang Thanh Hai
2. Le Thanh Hoang Nhat
3. Trinh Thi Bich Tram
4. Do Dinh Vinh
5. Artika P Nath
6. Joseph Donovan
7. Nguyen Thi Anh Thu
8. Dang Van Thanh
9. Nguyen Duc Bang
10. Dang Thi Minh Ha
11. Nguyen Hoan Phu
12. Ho Dang Trung Nghia
13. Le Hong Van
14. Michael Inouye
15. Guy E Thwaites
16. Nguyen Thuy Thuong Thuong

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  In this valuable study, the authors investigate the transcriptional landscape of tuberculous meningitis. They reveal potentially significant molecular differences contributed by HIV co-infection, and derive a prognostic model to predict mortality combining a gene expression signature with clinical parameters. Whilst some of the evidence presented is compelling, the bioinformatics analysis remains limited and cannot be used to make causal inferences and conclusions about immunopathogenesis for tuberculous meningitis. The work will be of broad interest to the infectious disease community however, further validation of the findings is critical for future utility.

Reviewed by eLife

CDK-mediated phosphorylation of PNKP is required for end-processing of single-strand DNA gaps on Okazaki fragments and genome stability

1. Kaima Tsukada
2. Rikiya Imamura
3. Tomoko Miyake
4. Kotaro Saikawa
5. Mizuki Saito
6. Naoya Kase
7. Lingyan Fu
8. Masamichi Ishiai
9. Yoshihisa Matsumoto
10. Mikio Shimada

Reviewed by Review Commons

OGT prevents DNA demethylation and suppresses the expression of transposable elements in heterochromatin by restraining TET activity genome-wide

1. Hugo Sepulveda
2. Xiang Li
3. Leo J. Arteaga-Vazquez
4. Isaac F. López-Moyado
5. Melina Brunelli
6. Lot Hernández-Espinosa
7. Xiaojing Yue
8. J. Carlos Angel
9. Caitlin Brown
10. Zhen Dong
11. Natasha Jansz
12. Fabio Puddu
13. Aurélie Modat
14. Jamie Scotcher
15. Páidí Creed
16. Patrick H. Kennedy
17. Cindy Manriquez-Rodriguez
18. Samuel A. Myers
19. Robert Crawford
20. Geoffrey J. Faulkner
21. Anjana Rao

Reviewed by preLights

Regulated mRNA recruitment in dinoflagellates is reflected in hyper-variable mRNA spliced leaders and novel eIF4Es

1. Grant D. Jones
2. Ernest P. Williams
3. Saddef Haq
4. Tsvetan R. Bachvaroff
5. M. Basanta Sanchez
6. Allen R. Place
7. Rosemary Jagus

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  This important study provides previously unappreciated insights into the functions of protist eIF4E 5'mRNA cap-binding protein family members, thereby contributing to a better understanding of translation regulation in these organisms. The authors provide solid evidence to support the major conclusions of the article. However, the study may further benefit from establishing whether all of the eIF4E family members are indeed involved in translation and more direct evidence for the selectivity of their binding.

Reviewed by eLife

Clusters of lineage-specific genes are anchored by ZNF274 in repressive perinucleolar compartments

1. Martina Begnis
2. Julien Duc
3. Sandra Offner
4. Delphine Grun
5. Shaoline Sheppard
6. Olga Rosspopoff
7. Didier Trono

Reviewed by preLights

The substrate-binding domains of the osmoregulatory ABC importer OpuA transiently interact

1. Marco van den Noort
2. Panagiotis Drougkas
3. Cristina Paulino
4. Bert Poolman

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  The OpuA Type I ABC importer uses two substrate binding domains to capture extracellular glycine betaine and present the substrate to the transmembrane domain for subsequent transport and correction of internal dehydration. This study presents valuable findings addressing the question of whether the two substrate binding domains of OpuA dock and physically interact in a salt-dependent manner. The single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer and cryogenic electron microscopy data that are presented provide convincing support for the existence of a transient interaction between the substrate binding domains that depends on ionic strength, laying a foundation for future studies exploring how this interaction is involved in the overall transport mechanism.

Reviewed by eLife

Circadian oscillation of perireceptor events influence olfactory sensitivity in diurnal and nocturnal mosquitoes

1. Tanwee Das De
2. Julien Pelletier
3. Satyajeet Gupta
4. Madhavinadha Prasad Kona
5. Om P. Singh
6. Rajnikant Dixit
7. Rickard Ignell
8. Krishanpal Karmodiya

Reviewed by Review Commons

Mapping the molecular motions of 5-HT3 serotonin-gated channel by voltage-clamp fluorometry

1. Laurie Peverini
2. Sophie Shi
3. Karima Medjebeur
4. Pierre-Jean Corringer

• Curated by eLife

  eLife assessment

  This valuable study applies voltage clamp fluorometry to provide new information about the function of serotonin-gated ion channels 5-HT3AR. The authors convincingly investigate structural changes inside and outside the orthosteric site elicited by agonists, partial agonists, and antagonists, helping to annotate existing cryo-EM structures. This work confirms that the activation of 5-HT3 receptors is similar to other members of this well-studied receptor superfamily. The work will be of interest to scientists working on channel biophysics but also drug development targeting ligand-gated ion channels.

Reviewed by eLife