eLife

Latest preprint reviews

1. Environmental pH signals the release of monosaccharides from cell wall in coral symbiotic alga

   This article has 10 authors:

   1. Yuu Ishii
   2. Hironori Ishii
   3. Takeshi Kuroha
   4. Ryusuke Yokoyama
   5. Ryusaku Deguchi
   6. Kazuhiko Nishitani
   7. Jun Minagawa
   8. Masakado Kawata
   9. Shunichi Takahashi
   10. Shinichiro Maruyama

   This article has been curated by 1 group:

   • Curated by eLife

     eLife assessment

     The manuscript makes a fundamental contribution to our understanding of sugar release by symbiotic dinoflagellates, and is of broad interest for the fields of ecology, marine biology, and cell biology. The experiments, which combine algal culture with targeted metabolomics, transcriptomics and the application of inhibitors, provide substantial, though not entirely complete evidence for an acidic environment mimicking conditions reported for the intracellular organelle that hosts the symbiotic algae, leading to upregulation of algal cellulases, which in turn degrade the algal cell wall and thereby releasing glucose and galactose that can be used as a source of food by the coral host. This is a new idea and could significantly contribute to our understanding of photosymbiosis.

   Reviewed by eLife

2. Fetal growth delay caused by loss of non-canonical imprinting is resolved late in pregnancy and culminates in offspring overgrowth

   This article has 16 authors:

   1. Ruby Oberin
   2. Sigrid Petautschnig
   3. Ellen G Jarred
   4. Zhipeng Qu
   5. Tesha Tsai
   6. Neil A Youngson
   7. Gabrielle Pulsoni
   8. Thi T Truong
   9. Dilini Fernando
   10. Heidi Bildsoe
   11. Rheannon O Blücher
   12. Maarten van den Buuse
   13. David K Gardner
   14. Natalie A Sims
   15. David L Adelson
   16. Patrick S Western

   This article has been curated by 1 group:

   • Curated by eLife

     eLife assessment

     Using a genetically controlled experimental setting, the authors find that the lack of Polycomb-dependent epigenetic programming in the oocyte and early embryo influences the developmental trajectory through gestation in the mouse. By showing a two-phase outcome of early growth restriction followed by enhancement, the authors address previous inconsistencies in the field. However, the link with placenta function and gene misregulation is not yet fully supported.

   Reviewed by eLife

3. Structure of the GOLD-domain seven-transmembrane helix protein family member TMEM87A

   This article has 3 authors:

   1. Christopher M Hoel
   2. Lin Zhang
   3. Stephen G Brohawn

   This article has been curated by 1 group:

   • Curated by eLife

     eLife assessment

     This work addresses the mechanisms of action of the transmembrane proteins TMEM87A and TMEM87B, which are thought to play a role in protein transport, but have been implicated in other processes as well, such as signaling and acting as mechanosensitive ion channels. The study represents an important advance of the understanding of this poorly characterized family of proteins. While the structure is of low resolution, it is well interpreted, and authors take good advantage of AlphaFold2 to gain insights into potential function. The work is of interest to colleagues studying transporters and ion channels.

   Reviewed by eLife

4. A cryogenic, coincident fluorescence, electron, and ion beam microscope

   This article has 16 authors:

   1. Daan B Boltje
   2. Jacob P Hoogenboom
   3. Arjen J Jakobi
   4. Grant J Jensen
   5. Caspar TH Jonker
   6. Max J Kaag
   7. Abraham J Koster
   8. Mart GF Last
   9. Cecilia de Agrela Pinto
   10. Jürgen M Plitzko
   11. Stefan Raunser
   12. Sebastian Tacke
   13. Zhexin Wang
   14. Ernest B van der Wee
   15. Roger Wepf
   16. Sander den Hoedt

   This article has been curated by 1 group:

   • Curated by eLife

     eLife assessment

     This paper is of particular interest to researchers who plan to use focused-ion beam scanning electron microscopes (FIB-SEMs) and require fluorescent data to guide the milling process. The authors describe a valuable after-market upgrade that allows fluorescent data acquisition during FIB-milling without stage repositioning. Technical details of the fluorescent module upgrade together with the sample stage redesign are compellingly documented and will enhance the implementation of this important technology.

   Reviewed by eLife

5. Piezo1 as a force-through-membrane sensor in red blood cells

   This article has 5 authors:

   1. George Vaisey
   2. Priyam Banerjee
   3. Alison J North
   4. Christoph A Haselwandter
   5. Roderick MacKinnon

   This article has been curated by 1 group:

   • Curated by eLife

     eLife assessment

     This important paper uses advanced imaging approaches to explore how Piezo1 distributes on surface red blood cells. The study provides compelling evidence that this molecule 'reads' the membrane curvature and clear support for the force-through-membrane model of mechanosensation.

   Reviewed by eLife

6. Revealing druggable cryptic pockets in the Nsp1 of SARS-CoV-2 and other β-coronaviruses by simulations and crystallography

   This article has 9 authors:

   1. Alberto Borsatto
   2. Obaeda Akkad
   3. Ioannis Galdadas
   4. Shumeng Ma
   5. Shymaa Damfo
   6. Shozeb Haider
   7. Frank Kozielski
   8. Carolina Estarellas
   9. Francesco Luigi Gervasio

   This article has been curated by 1 group:

   • Curated by eLife

     eLife assessment

     SARS-CoV-2 nonstructural protein (Nsp1) has emerged as an attractive target as it plays an important role in modulating the host and viral gene expression. This study describes multiple druggable sites in Nsp1. A 1.1Å co-crystal structure of Nsp1 with a fragment, together with computational studies, provides a framework for the rational design of potential antiviral candidates. This important study is methodologically convincing and will be of interest to researchers in the fields of structural virology and rational drug design.

   Reviewed by eLife, ScreenIT

7. CIRKO: A chemical-induced reversible gene knockout system for studying gene function in situ

   This article has 13 authors:

   1. Hui Shi
   2. Qin Jin
   3. Fangbing Chen
   4. Zhen Ouyang
   5. Shixue Gou
   6. Xiaoyi Liu
   7. Lei Li
   8. Shuangshuang Mu
   9. Chengdan Lai
   10. Quanjun Zhang
   11. Yinghua Ye
   12. Kepin Wang
   13. Liangxue Lai

   This article has been curated by 1 group:

   • Curated by eLife

     eLife assessment

     Conditional deletion and reactivation of a gene in situ remain challenging, and this study therefore addresses a gap in the genetic tool box. The authors introduce a reversible conditional gene inactivation and reactivation method using sequential expression of recombinases, with doxycycline treatment terminating gene transcription, while doxycycline and tamoxifen addition restore gene expression.

   Reviewed by eLife

8. Proteome-wide systems genetics identifies UFMylation as a regulator of skeletal muscle function

   This article has 17 authors:

   1. Jeffrey Molendijk
   2. Ronnie Blazev
   3. Richard J Mills
   4. Yaan-Kit Ng
   5. Kevin I Watt
   6. Daryn Chau
   7. Paul Gregorevic
   8. Peter J Crouch
   9. James BW Hilton
   10. Leszek Lisowski
   11. Peixiang Zhang
   12. Karen Reue
   13. Aldons J Lusis
   14. James E Hudson
   15. David E James
   16. Marcus M Seldin
   17. Benjamin L Parker

   This article has been curated by 1 group:

   • Curated by eLife

     eLife assessment

     This manuscript will be of broad interest to those working in the genetics of complex diseases, with the results strongly supporting the author's primary claims. Overall, this is an important study that demonstrates the power of proteomics-based systems genetics studies in the mouse.

   Reviewed by eLife

9. A toxin-antidote selfish element increases fitness of its host

   This article has 5 authors:

   1. Lijiang Long
   2. Wen Xu
   3. Francisco Valencia
   4. Annalise B Paaby
   5. Patrick T McGrath

   This article has been curated by 1 group:

   • Curated by eLife

     eLife assessment

     This study addresses a fundamental question about the origin and evolution of selfish genetic elements, focusing on the paradoxical abundance of toxin-antidote elements in selfing Caenorhabditis species. The authors propose for the C. elegans peel-1 zeel-1 locus fitness advantages; if these the findings can be supported with additional data, they will be of considerable interest to the field due to their wider implications for the evolution of such systems.

   Reviewed by eLife

10. Biological condensates form percolated networks with molecular motion properties distinctly different from dilute solutions

    This article has 8 authors:

    1. Zeyu Shen
    2. Bowen Jia
    3. Yang Xu
    4. Jonas Wessén
    5. Tanmoy Pal
    6. Hue Sun Chan
    7. Shengwang Du
    8. Mingjie Zhang

    This article has been curated by 1 group:

    • Curated by eLife

      eLife assessment

      The authors report results from experiments and modeling that study the motions of molecules in the dense and dilute phases of biomolecular condensates, with the key finding that molecules in the dense phase of condensates formed by folded domains appear to switch between a confined state with low apparent diffusivity and a mobile state with a high apparent diffusivity that is comparable to that of molecules in the dilute phase. The study provides experimental evidence that is suggestive of phase separation coupled with percolation as the operative mechanism that gives rise to biomolecular condensates.

    Reviewed by eLife