eLife

Latest preprint reviews

1. Binding Entropy Can Be Predicted by Crystallographic Ensembles

   This article has 2 authors:

   1. Charlotte A Miller
   2. Stephanie A Wankowicz

   This article has been curated by 1 group:

   • Curated by eLife

     eLife Assessment

     This study provides a useful demonstration that, at least for the systems examined, aspects of the entropic contribution to protein-ligand binding can be inferred directly from crystallographic data. In doing so, it strengthens a view of crystal structures as heterogeneous ensembles that are amenable to statistical-mechanical analysis rather than purely static models. The analytical approaches are carefully developed and transparently discussed, with thoughtful consideration of both successful and less effective methods, lending solid support to the central conclusions. However, because the analysis is based on a relatively small and narrowly sampled set of protein-ligand complexes, the generality of these findings remains speculative and will require broader validation.

   Reviewed by eLife

2. Brainwide dopamine dynamics across sleep-wake transitions

   This article has 13 authors:

   1. Changwan Chen
   2. Xun Tu
   3. Lihui Lu
   4. Cody Pham
   5. Xiaofan Zhang
   6. Rachel Su
   7. Ella Li
   8. Zihan Jin
   9. Wenqing Cao
   10. Yipching Yang
   11. Matthew Kihiczak
   12. Kristal Hui
   13. Dana Darmohray

   This article has been curated by 1 group:

   • Curated by eLife

     eLife Assessment

     This study provides important insights regarding the temporal dynamics of dopamine across sleep/wake transitions in several brain areas. Using multi-site fiber photometry combined with EEG/EMG recordings, the study revealed heterogenous dynamics across both cortical and several subcortical areas. Although the evidence for these observations is solid, evidence for the proposed mechanisms driving DA dynamics is incomplete. Overall, the study may have a substantial impact on several fields working on the neurobiology of DA signaling.

   Reviewed by eLife

3. Actin-membrane interface stress regulates Arp2/3-branched actin density during lamellipodial protrusion

   This article has 5 authors:

   1. Mitchell T Butler
   2. Max A Hockenberry
   3. Harrison H Truscott
   4. Wesley R Legant
   5. James E Bear

   This article has been curated by 1 group:

   • Curated by eLife

     eLife Assessment

     This study provides direct and compelling evidence that lamellipodial protrusions dynamically adjust Arp2/3 complex incorporation in response to mechanical counterforces, while also modulating cellular responsiveness to upstream signals like Rac GTPase. By combining endogenous labeling, live-cell imaging, and optogenetic signaling activation, the work demonstrates how adhesion state and physicochemical perturbations reproducibly alter branched actin organization, offering a fundamental advance over previous works. The findings deliver significant insights that will resonate broadly with cell biologists and biochemists studying actin dynamics and mechanotransduction.

   Reviewed by eLife

4. Light-entrained chromatin priming poises rapid metamorphosis in a marine sponge

   This article has 5 authors:

   1. Huifang Yuan
   2. Oceane Blard
   3. Zac Pujic
   4. Bernard M Degnan
   5. Sandie M Degnan

   This article has been curated by 1 group:

   • Curated by eLife

     eLife Assessment

     In this study, Yuan and colleagues perform transcriptomic and epigenomic experiments to study open chromatin regions and transcripts that change upon larval settlement in the sponge Amphimedon. The authors present compelling evidence to show that sponge larvae prepare for receiving an environmental cue (sunset) by extensively modifying their chromatin accessibility in the vicinity of genes that are going to be regulated during metamorphosis. The study represents a fundamental advance in understanding the fine genetic control of larval settlement and has significance beyond the immediate field of sponge larval biology.

   Reviewed by eLife

5. We couldn't get details of this article at this time:
   10.64898/2026.02.12.705656

6. We couldn't get details of this article at this time:
   10.64898/2026.02.12.705626

7. Nicotine-driven hyperactivation of larval locomotion

   This article has 8 authors:

   1. Stephanie Dancausse
   2. Jocelyn Robles
   3. Jenna Fitzpatrick
   4. Carolyn Garcia
   5. Oshani Fernando
   6. Anastasiia Evans
   7. James D Baker
   8. Mason Klein

   This article has been curated by 1 group:

   • Curated by eLife

     eLife Assessment

     The study presents useful findings on the behavioral effects of nicotine exposure, suggesting the Drosophila larva as a potential model organism for studying underlying neural circuits. However, the evidence supporting the claims of the authors is incomplete and would benefit from more rigorous analysis and explanations. The study falls short of identifying the neural mechanisms and is therefore of interest to those with an interest in pharmacology and behavior.

   Reviewed by eLife

8. Ancestral secretory programs underlie the evolution of morphological innovations across Spiralia

   This article has 7 authors:

   1. Yitian Bai
   2. Kunyin Jiang
   3. Hong Yu
   4. Lingfeng Kong
   5. Shaojun Du
   6. Shikai Liu
   7. Qi Li

   This article has been curated by 1 group:

   • Curated by eLife

     eLife Assessment

     This manuscript examines the evolution of molluscan shells using single-cell analyses of the adult mantle of Crassostrea gigas and compares these data with previous datasets from embryonic and larval stages of this species and other spiralians. The authors provide important support for a scenario in which secretory cells are broadly conserved across spiralians, and the incorporation of lineage-restricted genes contributes to the evolution of molluscan shells. While some of the conclusions of the authors are convincing, many aspects of the manuscript remain incomplete and could be improved, especially aspects of cell-type classification and validation.

   Reviewed by eLife

9. We couldn't get details of this article at this time:
   10.64898/2026.02.15.705975

10. The Training Village: an open platform for continuous testing of rodents in cognitive tasks

    This article has 10 authors:

    1. Balma Serrano-Porcar
    2. Rafael Marin-Campos
    3. Javier Rodríguez
    4. Caterina Barezzi
    5. Harshkumar Vasoya
    6. Donna Kean
    7. Duncan Pottinger
    8. Alex Taylor
    9. Hernando Martínez Vergara
    10. Jaime de la Rocha

    This article has been curated by 1 group:

    • Curated by eLife

      eLife Assessment

      This study introduces the "Training Village," a valuable system for which solid evidence shows that it enables group-housed rodents to autonomously learn complex tasks while preserving natural social interactions. The platform is flexible, allowing animals to learn multiple tasks sequentially and supporting applications in continual learning. This approach is likely to be of broad interest to behavioral researchers using rodent models in systems and cognitive neuroscience.

    Reviewed by eLife