eLife

Latest preprint reviews

1. Thalamic regulation of ocular dominance plasticity in adult visual cortex

   This article has 7 authors:

   1. Yi Qin
   2. Mehran Ahmadlou
   3. Samuel Suhai
   4. Paul Neering
   5. Leander de Kraker
   6. J Alexander Heimel
   7. Christiaan N Levelt

   This article has been curated by 1 group:

   • Curated by eLife

     eLife assessment

     This study demonstrates that plasticity of ocular dominance of binocular neurons in the visual thalamus persists in adulthood. The evidence supporting the authors' conclusion is convincing, and the findings are an important contribution to a growing body of work identifying plasticity in the adult visual system. This work will interest those in the field of ocular dominance plasticity in the visual system as well as scientists investigating the function of synaptic plasticity in the brain.

   Reviewed by eLife

2. Exploring the K+ binding site and its coupling to transport in the neurotransmitter:sodium symporter LeuT

   This article has 4 authors:

   1. Solveig G Schmidt
   2. Andreas Nygaard
   3. Joseph A Mindell
   4. Claus J Loland

   This article has been curated by 1 group:

   • Curated by eLife

     eLife assessment

     The bacterial neurotransmitter:sodium symporter homoglogue LeuT is an well-established model system for understanding the fundamental basis for how human monoamine transporters, such as the dopamine and serotonin, couple ions with neurotransmitter uptake. Here the authors provide convincing data to show that K+ binding on the intraceullular side catalyses the return step of the transport cycle in LeuT by binding to one of the two sodium sites. The mechansitic consequences of K+ binding could either facilitate LeuT re-setting and/or prevent the rebinding and possible efflux of Na+ and substrate.

   Reviewed by eLife

3. Deletion of Neuroligins from Astrocytes Does Not Detectably Alter Synapse Numbers or Astrocyte Cytoarchitecture by Maturity

   This article has 7 authors:

   1. Samantha R Golf
   2. Justin H Trotter
   3. Jinzhao Wang
   4. George Nakahara
   5. Xiao Han
   6. Marius Wernig
   7. Thomas C Südhof

   This article has been curated by 1 group:

   • Curated by eLife

     eLife Assessment

     This fundamental study examines whether synaptic cell adhesion molecules neuroligin 1-3 resident on astrocytes, rather than neurons, exert effects on synaptic structure and function. With compelling evidence, including rigorous validation of neuroligin deletion efficiency in astrocytes and independent confirmation using human neuron-mouse glia co-cultures, the authors report that deletion of neuroligins 1-3 specifically in astrocytes does not alter synapse formation or astrocyte morphology in the hippocampus or visual cortex. This study provides definitive evidence highlighting the specific role of neuronal neuroligins rather than their astrocytic counterparts in synaptogenesis.

   Reviewed by eLife

4. Distinct hippocampal and cortical contributions in the representation of hierarchies

   This article has 3 authors:

   1. Robert Scholz
   2. Arno Villringer
   3. Mauricio J.D. Martins

   This article has been curated by 1 group:

   • Curated by eLife

     eLife assessment

     This valuable study investigates how hierarchies are processed in the brain, using a paradigm that intends to bridge disparate domains (e.g., language/music and memory). The main findings are that hippocampus and medial prefrontal cortex are sensitive to hierarchy position, while the response in inferior frontal gyrus seems to vary with amount of experience with the hierarchy. Evidence supporting these claims is solid, and would be strengthened by additional methodological clarifications (e.g., as to why the particular analyses are most appropriate for the research question) and further discussion of limitations related to the study design (e.g., the possibility that the task does not require hierarchical representations).

   Reviewed by eLife

5. Molecular dissection of PI3Kβ synergistic activation by receptor tyrosine kinases, GβGγ, and Rho-family GTPases

   This article has 5 authors:

   1. Benjamin R Duewell
   2. Naomi E Wilson
   3. Gabriela M Bailey
   4. Sarah E Peabody
   5. Scott D Hansen

   This article has been curated by 1 group:

   • Curated by eLife

     eLife assessment

     The manuscript describes the synergy among PI3Kbeta activators, providing compelling results concerning the mechanism of their activation. The particular strengths of the work arise to a great extend from the reconstitution system better mimicking the natural environment of the plasma membrane than previous setups have. The study will be a landmark contribution to the signaling field.

   Reviewed by eLife

6. An unconventional gatekeeper mutation sensitizes inositol hexakisphosphate kinases to an allosteric inhibitor

   This article has 9 authors:

   1. Tim Aguirre
   2. Gillian L Dornan
   3. Sarah Hostachy
   4. Martin Neuenschwander
   5. Carola Seyffarth
   6. Volker Haucke
   7. Anja Schütz
   8. Jens Peter von Kries
   9. Dorothea Fiedler

   This article has been curated by 1 group:

   • Curated by eLife

     eLife assessment

     This manuscript describes a fundamental strategy for developing isozyme-selective inhibitors of inositol hexakisphosphate kinases. The compelling evidence that subtle changes to the gatekeeper position can sensitize the inositol hexakisphosphate kinase mutant to allosteric inhibitors will undoubtedly inspire other analog-sensitive inhibitor studies. This manuscript will be of interest to researchers focusing on kinase regulation and inhibitor design.

   Reviewed by eLife

7. N-WASP-dependent branched actin polymerization attenuates B-cell receptor signaling by increasing the molecular density of receptor clusters

   This article has 5 authors:

   1. Anshuman Bhanja
   2. Margaret K Seeley-Fallen
   3. Michelle Lazzaro
   4. Arpita Upadhyaya
   5. Wenxia Song

   This article has been curated by 1 group:

   • Curated by eLife

     eLife assessment

     This is an important study highlighting a distinct role of WASP dependent actin foci in B cell antigen receptor signalling. The evidence supporting the conclusions is compelling. The proposal of higher molecular density in B cell receptor clustering leading to kinase exclusion and attenuated signalling is provocative as it contrasts with models for other antigen receptors.

   Reviewed by eLife

8. A concerted increase in readthrough and intron retention drives transposon expression during aging and senescence

   This article has 6 authors:

   1. Kamil Pabis
   2. Diogo Barardo
   3. Olga Sirbu
   4. Kumar Selvarajoo
   5. Jan Gruber
   6. Brian K Kennedy

   This article has been curated by 1 group:

   • Curated by eLife

     eLife assessment

     This study presents fundamental findings on the role of transcription readout and intron retention in transposon expression during aging in mammals. The evidence supporting the claims of the authors is compelling, strongly supporting the authors' claims. The work will be of interest to scientists studying aging, transcription regulation, and epigenetics.

   Reviewed by eLife

9. TCR-pMHC complex formation triggers CD3 dynamics

   This article has 8 authors:

   1. Floris J. van Eerden
   2. Aalaa Alrahman Sherif
   3. Mara Anais Llamas-Covarrubias
   4. Arthur Millius
   5. Xiuyuan Lu
   6. Shigenari Ishizuka
   7. Sho Yamasaki
   8. Daron M. Standley

   This article has been curated by 1 group:

   • Curated by eLife

     eLife assessment

     There was a range of opinion among three highly expert reviewers from different perspectives in the field. This is a significant topic and it was felt that the contribution at present is valuable to those in the field. However, it was agreed after consultation that the description of the simulation methodology was inadequate.

   Reviewed by eLife

10. Chromosome-level genome assembly of hadal snailfish reveals mechanisms of deep-sea adaptation in vertebrates

    This article has 16 authors:

    1. Wenjie Xu
    2. Chenglong Zhu
    3. Xueli Gao
    4. Baosheng Wu
    5. Han Xu
    6. Mingliang Hu
    7. Honghui Zeng
    8. Xiaoni Gan
    9. Chenguang Feng
    10. Jiangmin Zheng
    11. Jing Bo
    12. Li-Sheng He
    13. Qiang Qiu
    14. Wen Wang
    15. Shunping He
    16. Kun Wang

    This article has been curated by 1 group:

    • Curated by eLife

      eLife assessment

      This important study advances our understanding of the potential mechanisms of deep-sea adaptation and sheds light on the evolutionary history of hadal snailfish. Through comparative genomic analysis, the authors provide convincing evidence and propose hypotheses on the timing of trench colonization, population structure, and adaptations to the hadal snailfish genome in response to their environment.

    Reviewed by eLife