eLife

Latest preprint reviews

1. Tissue-specific responses to TFAM and mtDNA copy number manipulation in prematurely ageing mice

   This article has 9 authors:

   1. Laura Sophie Kremer
   2. Guanbin Gao
   3. Giovanni Rigoni
   4. Roberta Filograna
   5. Mara Mennuni
   6. Rolf Wibom
   7. Ákos Végvári
   8. Camilla Koolmeister
   9. Nils-Göran Larsson

   This article has been curated by 1 group:

   • Curated by eLife

     eLife Assessment

     This is an important study that examines the role of TFAM, a protein that helps maintain mtDNA, in mtDNA mutator mice. With convincing evidence, the authors have demonstrated that TFAM's counteractive role in mtDNA mutator mice is tissue-specific. The study does a thorough job of assessing the impact of modulating TFAM levels in a polg mutator mouse model of aging. The authors have thoroughly addressed all the points raised during the first round of review.

   Reviewed by eLife

2. Synthetic gene circuits that selectively target RAS-driven cancers

   This article has 3 authors:

   1. Gabriel Valentin Senn
   2. Leon Nissen
   3. Yaakov Benenson

   This article has been curated by 1 group:

   • Curated by eLife

     eLife Assessment

     This important study demonstrates the potential of synthetic gene circuits to detect and target aberrant RAS activity in cancer cell lines. The circuit design is novel and the evidence supporting the claims is convincing. As a proof-of-concept, this will be of broad interest to researchers in synthetic biology and therapeutics development, while future work will be required to help translate this technology toward clinical applications in cancer therapeutics and address potential limitations of the strategy.

   Reviewed by eLife

3. Interpreting prediction intervals and distributions for decoding biological generality in meta-analyses

   This article has 5 authors:

   1. Yefeng Yang
   2. Daniel WA Noble
   3. Alistair M Senior
   4. Malgorzata Lagisz
   5. Shinichi Nakagawa

   This article has been curated by 1 group:

   • Curated by eLife

     eLife Assessment

     This useful study provides a novel perspective on assessing the generalizability of meta-analytic findings by introducing prediction intervals (and distributions) as tools to evaluate whether future studies will likely yield non-zero effects. The methodology is generally solid, with a thorough exploration of a large set of published meta-analyses that broadens our understanding of between-study heterogeneity. However, some critical details are incomplete, requiring refinement to ensure statistical rigor.

   Reviewed by eLife

4. Genome Restructuring around Innate Immune Genes in Monocytes in Alcohol-associated Hepatitis

   This article has 7 authors:

   1. Adam Kim
   2. Megan R McMullen
   3. Annette Bellar
   4. David Streem
   5. Jaividhya Dasarathy
   6. Nicole Welch
   7. Srinivasan Dasarathy

   This article has been curated by 1 group:

   • Curated by eLife

     eLife Assessment

     The manuscript addresses the 3D chromatin architecture in monocytes from patients with alcohol-associated hepatitis and its relationship to enhanced transcription of innate immune genes. While the concept and methodological approach are appealing, the evidence is incomplete as a result of insufficient sample sizes as well as other significant analytical concerns.

   Reviewed by eLife

5. Bridging the Gap in Cancer Cell Behavior Against Matrix Stiffening: Insights from a Trizonal Model

   This article has 6 authors:

   1. Mohammad E Torki
   2. Fan Liu
   3. Rongguang Xu
   4. Yunfeng Chen
   5. Jeffery Fredberg
   6. Zi Chen

   This article has been curated by 1 group:

   • Curated by eLife

     eLife Assessment

     This study presents a valuable nonlinear mathematical model that addresses how cell shape transitions in response to ECM stiffness. The evidence supporting the claims of the authors is solid, although additional work is required to improve the manuscript. For instance, the authors should improve the overall readability of the text and amend the experimental validation section. The work will be of interest to scientists working on a spectrum of fields including cell mechanics, cell behaviors, and cancer research.

   Reviewed by eLife

6. Structure of METTL3-METTL14 with an m6A nucleotide reveals insights into m6A conversion and sensing

   This article has 12 authors:

   1. Shan Qi
   2. Abhay Kumar
   3. Shuang Chen
   4. Shuo Zhou
   5. Manish Parihar
   6. Carmen Villalobos
   7. Navom Gupta
   8. Siu-Hong Chan
   9. Manjeet K Rao
   10. Stanton F McHardy
   11. Shozeb Haider
   12. Yogesh K Gupta

   This article has been curated by 1 group:

   • Curated by eLife

     eLife Assessment

     The manuscript by Qi et al. provides valuable insights into the structural basis of RNA methylation by the METTL3-METTL14 complex, revealing a novel cryptic pocket critical for m6A recognition. The solid experimental approach, integrating crystallography, molecular simulations, and functional assays, supports a proposed two-step mechanism for enzymatic activity. Refining structural data and addressing binding kinetic inconsistencies would further enhance clarity and impact. This manuscript will interest researchers in RNA modification, cancer biology, and therapeutic drug development.

   Reviewed by eLife

7. DGKα and ζ Deficiency Causes Regulatory T-Cell Dysregulation, Destabilization, and Conversion to Pathogenic T-Follicular Helper Cells to Trigger IgG1-Predominant Autoimmunity

   This article has 10 authors:

   1. Lei Li
   2. Hongxiang Huang
   3. Hongxia Wang
   4. Yun Pan
   5. Huishan Tao
   6. Shimeng Zhang
   7. Peer WF Karmaus
   8. Michael B Fessler
   9. John W Sleasman
   10. Xiao-Ping Zhong

   This article has been curated by 1 group:

   • Curated by eLife

     eLife Assessment

     This study presents an important finding on the signaling mechanisms underlying Treg cell homeostasis by identifying the simultaneous requirement of diacylglycerol (DAG) kinases (DGK) alpha and zeta for Foxp3+ Treg cell function and follicular responses, with implications for the pathogenesis of some autoimmune diseases. Whereas data based on the characterization of double knock-out mice (for DGK alpha and zeta) is solid, showing the emergence of autoimmune manifestations, the study has gaps in its experimental approaches since it is not clear what can be attributed to the simultaneous DKGα and ζ deficiency, versus the individual deficiency of either one. Experiments on the pathogenic potential of the DKO Tregs in the absence of other T-cells were not presented and results on the role of CD25 downregulation and CD28-independent activation of Treg cells were not properly discussed. Nonetheless, the reported data would be of interest to immunologists working on T-cell intracellular signaling and autoimmunity.

   Reviewed by eLife

8. Social rank-order stability of mice revealed by a novel food competition paradigm in combination with available space competition paradigms

   This article has 3 authors:

   1. Meiqiu Liu
   2. Yue Chen
   3. Rongqing Chen

   This article has been curated by 1 group:

   • Curated by eLife

     eLife Assessment

     This study proposes a useful assay to identify relative social ranks in mice incorporating the competitive drive for two basic resources - food and living space. Using this new protocol, the authors provide solid evidence of stable ranking among male and female pairs, while reporting more fluctuant hierarchies among triads of males. The evidence is, however, limited by the lack of ethologically based validation, assessment of the influence of competitor recognition, and proof of concept of application to neuroscience. This manuscript may be of interest to those interested in social behavior and related neuroscience.

   Reviewed by eLife

9. Probing the role of synaptic adhesion molecule RTN4RL2 in setting up cochlear connectivity

   This article has 13 authors:

   1. Nare Karagulyan
   2. Maja Überegger
   3. Yumeng Qi
   4. Norbert Babai
   5. Florian Hofer
   6. Lejo Johnson Chacko
   7. Fangfang Wang
   8. Maria Luque
   9. Rudolf Glueckert
   10. Anneliese Schrott-Fischer
   11. Yunfeng Hua
   12. Tobias Moser
   13. Christine Bandtlow

   This article has been curated by 1 group:

   • Curated by eLife

     eLife Assessment

     In this work, the authors characterize the synaptic adhesion molecule RTN4RL2, demonstrating its critical involvement in the development and function of auditory synapses between inner hair cells and spiral ganglion neurons. This study is important because it offers potential insights into therapeutic strategies for hearing loss associated with synaptic dysfunction. The findings are solid, because they are supported by the use of multiple advanced techniques, including FISH and SBEM imaging.

   Reviewed by eLife

10. Identification of a sub-population of synovial mesenchymal stem cells with enhanced treatment efficacy in a rat model of osteoarthritis

    This article has 12 authors:

    1. Nedaa Al-Jezani
    2. Asmaa Affan
    3. Catherine Leonard
    4. Nabangshu Das
    5. Luiz Gustavo Almeida
    6. Daniel Young
    7. Anand O Masson
    8. Antoine Dufour
    9. Paul Salo
    10. Pam Railton
    11. James N Powell
    12. Roman J Krawetz

    This article has been curated by 1 group:

    • Curated by eLife

      eLife Assessment

      This important study characterized and identified clonal MSC populations from human synovium. The authors provide convincing evidence that clonal MSC populations can be isolated and expanded from both normal and osteoarthritic synovium and that CD47 represents a potential marker for improved chondrogenic potential of MSC sub-populations. These findings could provide new avenues for osteoarthritis treatment in the future and deeper mechanistic understanding of the factors involved in the repair.

    Reviewed by eLife