eLife

Latest preprint reviews

1. High-precision mapping of nuclear pore-chromatin interactions reveals new principles of genome organization at the nuclear envelope

   This article has 7 authors:

   1. Swati Tyagi
   2. Juliana S. Capitanio
   3. Jiawei Xu
   4. Fei Chen
   5. Rahul Sharma
   6. Jialiang Huang
   7. Martin W. Hetzer

   This article has been curated by 1 group:

   • Curated by eLife

     eLife assessment

     This manuscript describes important findings that will impact our understanding of nuclear pore complex (NPC)-genome interactions and how nuclear pore proteins (nucleoporins) impact super enhancer function. The authors develop a clever new approach termed NPC-DamID to map chromatin-NPC interactions that has several important advantages over existing techniques and may be used in contexts that are incompatible with genetic manipulation. The authors provide compelling evidence that nucleoporins interact with super enhancers in multiple cell types and also suggest that the phase separation behavior of nucleoporins contributes to the hierarchical organization of super enhancers, which is exciting and will stimulate additional work.

   Reviewed by eLife

2. Deciphering neuronal deficit and protein profile changes in human brain organoids from patients with creatine transporter deficiency

   This article has 16 authors:

   1. Léa Broca-Brisson
   2. Rania Harati
   3. Clémence Disdier
   4. Orsolya Mozner
   5. Romane Gaston-Breton
   6. Auriane Maïza
   7. Narciso Costa
   8. Anne-Cécile Guyot
   9. Balazs Sarkadi
   10. Agota Apati
   11. Matthew R Skelton
   12. Lucie Madrange
   13. Frank Yates
   14. Jean Armengaud
   15. Rifat Hamoudi
   16. Aloïse Mabondzo

   This article has been curated by 1 group:

   • Curated by eLife

     eLife assessment

     This is an important study highlighting how a single protein transporter dysfunction can significantly alter brain biochemistry, potentially playing a crucial role in the intellectual disability in creatine transporter deficiency (CTD) patients. The evidence is compelling that the new in vitro CTD model using CTD patient's brain organoid cultures will be widely applicable. Despite minor areas for further exploration, the study significantly enhances our understanding of CTD, offering potential therapeutic targets and a robust foundation for continued research in the field.

   Reviewed by eLife

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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