eLife

Latest preprint reviews

1. Pupal behavior emerges from unstructured muscle activity in response to neuromodulation in Drosophila

   This article has 8 authors:

   1. Amicia D Elliott
   2. Adama Berndt
   3. Matthew Houpert
   4. Snehashis Roy
   5. Robert L Scott
   6. Carson C Chow
   7. Hari Shroff
   8. Benjamin H White

   This article has been curated by 1 group:

   • Curated by eLife

     Evaluation Summary:

     This paper will be of interest of neuroscience and ethology, as it bridges the gap between traditional and computational ethology by performing high-resolution imaging of muscle activity as an indicator of motor neuron activity, enabling the identification and analysis of behavior with computer algorithms. It also revealed the role of hormones in shaping and modifying the nervous system and animal behavior. The authors' major claims are supported by the data collected from thoughtfully designed animal experiments and computational analysis, although a few results can be interpreted better.

     (This preprint has been reviewed by eLife. We include the public reviews from the reviewers here; the authors also receive private feedback with suggested changes to the manuscript. Reviewer #1, Reviewer #2 and Reviewer #3 agreed to share their names with the authors.)

   Reviewed by eLife

2. The crystal structure of bromide-bound GtACR1 reveals a pre-activated state in the transmembrane anion tunnel

   This article has 9 authors:

   1. Hai Li
   2. Chia-Ying Huang
   3. Elena G Govorunova
   4. Oleg A Sineshchekov
   5. Adrian Yi
   6. Kenneth J Rothschild
   7. Meitian Wang
   8. Lei Zheng
   9. John L Spudich

   This article has been curated by 1 group:

   • Curated by eLife

     Evaluation Summary:

     This manuscript reports a significant contribution towards an improved mechanistic understanding of light gated anion channels. The studies, which use the recently established method of in meso in situ serial data collection (IMISX), provide a basis for optimizing the anion channelrhodopsin GtACR1 from the alga Guillardia theta as a neuron-inhibiting optogenetics tool. The work will be of interest to anyone using optogenetics for functional studies. The reviewers had a few comments regarding technical aspects of the work.

     (This preprint has been reviewed by eLife. We include the public reviews from the reviewers here; the authors also receive private feedback with suggested changes to the manuscript. The reviewers remained anonymous to the authors)

   Reviewed by eLife

3. Dynamic dichotomy of accumbal population activity underlies cocaine sensitization

   This article has 6 authors:

   1. Ruud van Zessen
   2. Yue Li
   3. Lucile Marion-Poll
   4. Nicolas Hulo
   5. Jérôme Flakowski
   6. Christian Lüscher

   This article has been curated by 1 group:

   • Curated by eLife

     Evaluation Summary:

     This study could help shed light on mechanistic connections between latent infection by EBV with an age-dependent autoimmune condition, such as rheumatoid arthritis. The authors use two models: a murine model of rheumatoid arthritis (CIA), and a murine analog of human EBV: 𝜸HV68. The use of these two models allows the investigation of how latent viral infection exacerbates the autoimmune condition via the action of a special class of B cells: Age-associated B cells.

     (This preprint has been reviewed by eLife. We include the public reviews from the reviewers here; the authors also receive private feedback with suggested changes to the manuscript. Reviewer #2 agreed to share their name with the authors.)

   Reviewed by eLife

4. Mice in a labyrinth show rapid learning, sudden insight, and efficient exploration

   This article has 4 authors:

   1. Matthew Rosenberg
   2. Tony Zhang
   3. Pietro Perona
   4. Markus Meister

   This article has been curated by 1 group:

   • Curated by eLife

     Evaluation Summary:

     This study lays the groundwork for a new level of precision in understanding mouse navigation behaviour by studying complex decisions that approximate those made in the wild, but can nevertheless be analysed with mathematically precise tools. Several exciting observations are made about navigation strategy. The manuscript will therefore be of broad interest across behavioural neuroscience. However, in its current form, some questions remain about some of the major claims.

     (This preprint has been reviewed by eLife. We include the public reviews from the reviewers here; the authors also receive private feedback with suggested changes to the manuscript. Reviewer #1 agreed to share their name with the authors.)

   Reviewed by eLife

5. Handling of intracellular K+ determines voltage dependence of plasmalemmal monoamine transporter function

   This article has 7 authors:

   1. Shreyas Bhat
   2. Marco Niello
   3. Klaus Schicker
   4. Christian Pifl
   5. Harald H Sitte
   6. Michael Freissmuth
   7. Walter Sandtner

   This article has been curated by 1 group:

   • Curated by eLife

     Evaluation Summary:

     This paper will be of interest to scientists interested in mechanistic studies of ion-coupled transporters. The authors demonstrate that dopamine, catecholamine and serotonin transporters - albeit structurally very similar - differ in the number of transport substrates and they define the underlying functional basis of this difference using a range of sophisticated techniques. This is an extremely nice and interesting study. providing new tools and new insights into an important class of transporter. Since many drugs that block one of the transporters also modify the two others, the paper may help to define pharmaceutical approaches that specifically block only one of them and that might allow for a better treatment of psychiatric diseases. The data analysis is rigorous and the conclusions are justified by the data, but the paper should be made more "user friendly" so that a wider audience could appreciate it better.

     (This preprint has been reviewed by eLife. We include the public reviews from the reviewers here; the authors also receive private feedback with suggested changes to the manuscript. Reviewer #3 agreed to share their name with the authors.)

   Reviewed by eLife

6. The cAMP effector PKA mediates Moody GPCR signaling in Drosophila blood–brain barrier formation and maturation

   This article has 7 authors:

   1. Xiaoling Li
   2. Richard Fetter
   3. Tina Schwabe
   4. Christophe Jung
   5. Liren Liu
   6. Hermann Steller
   7. Ulrike Gaul

   This article has been curated by 1 group:

   • Curated by eLife

     Evaluation Summary:

     This study advances our understanding of the Moody G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) pathway in blood-brain barrier development, and describes a new role for protein kinase A (PKA) and two downstream signaling molecules in this process. It is not entirely surprising that PKA is involved, as it is downstream of many/most GPCRs, but the reciprocal localization and signaling relationship that the authors describe within subperineurial glia for Moody/PKA is very interesting. Generally, the data look very good, and the electron microscopy work is particularly nice. With some improved statistical analyses, this manuscript will make an interesting contribution to the field of neurodevelopment.

     (This preprint has been reviewed by eLife. We include the public reviews from the reviewers here; the authors also receive private feedback with suggested changes to the manuscript. Reviewer #1, Reviewer #2 and Reviewer #3 agreed to share their names with the authors.)

   Reviewed by eLife

7. Characterization of the neurogenic niche in the aging dentate gyrus using iterative immunofluorescence imaging

   This article has 6 authors:

   1. John Darby Cole
   2. Jacobo Sarabia del Castillo
   3. Gabriele Gut
   4. Daniel Gonzalez-Bohorquez
   5. Lucas Pelkmans
   6. Sebastian Jessberger

   This article has been curated by 1 group:

   • Curated by eLife

     Evaluation Summary:

     The objective of this study is to develop a novel immunofluorescence technique allowing for the multiplexed analysis of protein targets. This 4i method is an important technical advance will be of great interest for the scientific community.

     (This preprint has been reviewed by eLife. We include the public reviews from the reviewers here; the authors also receive private feedback with suggested changes to the manuscript. Reviewer #2 agreed to share their name with the authors.)

   Reviewed by eLife

8. AKAP79 enables calcineurin to directly suppress protein kinase A activity

   This article has 8 authors:

   1. Timothy W Church
   2. Parul Tewatia
   3. Saad Hannan
   4. João Antunes
   5. Olivia Eriksson
   6. Trevor G Smart
   7. Jeanette Hellgren Kotaleski
   8. Matthew G Gold

   This article has been curated by 1 group:

   • Curated by eLife

     Evaluation Summary:

     This manuscript will be of interest to neuroscientists as well as a broad audience of cell biologists, as it provides new insight into the myriad of cellular functions regulated by the well-studied cAMP-dependent protein kinase, PKA. Rigorous biochemical data supports a model for PKA inactivation wherein dephosphorylation of the PKA regulatory subunit within a multiprotein complex leads to rapid capture of the PKA catalytic subunit limiting signaling duration. Overall, the biochemical data and modeling support the conclusions although a few details can be addressed further and the in vivo data remains preliminary. The work nevertheless presents exciting findings that provide a tantalizing mechanism to selectively modulate PKA activity at precise subcellular locations.

     (This preprint has been reviewed by eLife. We include the public reviews from the reviewers here; the authors also receive private feedback with suggested changes to the manuscript. Reviewer #1 and Reviewer #2 agreed to share their names with the authors.)

   Reviewed by eLife

9. Genome-wide association study in quinoa reveals selection pattern typical for crops with a short breeding history

   This article has 8 authors:

   1. Dilan SR Patiranage
   2. Elodie Rey
   3. Nazgol Emrani
   4. Gordon Wellman
   5. Karl Schmid
   6. Sandra M Schmöckel
   7. Mark Tester
   8. Christian Jung

   This article has been curated by 1 group:

   • Curated by eLife

     Evaluation Summary:

     This is a comprehensive study of genomic and phenotypic diversity in the orphan crop quinoa. Based on whole genome resequencing of 310 accessions and field phenotyping of the same set of accessions for two years, the study identified the genetic basis of agronomically important traits. Based on this promising work, there will likely be scope for quick improvement of this orphan crop through breeding.

     (This preprint has been reviewed by eLife. We include the public reviews from the reviewers here; the authors also receive private feedback with suggested changes to the manuscript. Reviewer #2 and Reviewer #3 agreed to share their names with the authors.)

   Reviewed by eLife

10. Spontaneous neural synchrony links intrinsic spinal sensory and motor networks during unconsciousness

    This article has 2 authors:

    1. Jacob Graves McPherson
    2. Maria F Bandres

    This article has been curated by 1 group:

    • Curated by eLife

      Evaluation Summary:

      This manuscript reports a study that sought evidence of patterned inter-areal activity in the spinal cord of anesthetized rats. This could be a very significant finding, with potentially important scientific and therapeutic implications. However, the Methods lacks some necessary details, and the Results raise substantial issues that need to be resolved. Until these gaps and uncertainties are resolved, it is not possible to evaluate the results and their implications with confidence. Substantial revisions are essential.

      (This preprint has been reviewed by eLife. We include the public reviews from the reviewers here; the authors also receive private feedback with suggested changes to the manuscript. Reviewer #3 agreed to share their name with the authors.)

    Reviewed by eLife