Evaluated articles

eLife Assessment

In this manuscript, the authors describe the creation of a transgenic mouse expressing a reporter for Integrated Stress Response (ISR) activation in a CRE-dependent manner. Reliable tools for detecting ISR activation in situ are lacking, so this manuscript describes a potentially valuable tool that builds on and overcomes some of the limitations of a similar viral vector described by the authors in a previous publication. Solid evidence suggests that distinct populations of cells (ChAT) in the nervous system are marked by some level of ISR activation, and that the mouse could be most helpful as a screen for cell types in which the ISR is particularly active, although it would be difficult to draw conclusions from the reporter alone. Additional validations of the reporter activity in situ will further strengthen the manuscript.

eLife Assessment

Building on earlier evidence that Topoisomerase 2 depletion can extend yeast lifespan, the authors present convincing data demonstrating that reduced Top2 levels confer significant longevity benefits in C. elegans and mice. They show that these benefits encompass not only extended survival but also improved healthspan and mitigation of aging phenotypes, supported by robust transcriptomic, epigenetic, and histological analyses. While the exact mechanistic underpinnings-such as the potential connection to classical aging pathways and the selective down-regulation of genes with active promoters-remain to be fully elucidated, the breadth of these important findings strongly indicates a conserved role for Top2 in aging regulation.

eLife Assessment

This is a useful study that seeks to address the role of the TET family of DNA demethylation enzymes in pancreatic beta cell senescence in the context of type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Although the concepts are novel and of interest, the study presents incomplete evidence to fully support its main conclusions.

eLife Assessment

This important manuscript reports a very interesting view of how pesticides can be toxic to beneficial insects like the honeybee. The study uses machine learning for the discovery of new honeybee-repellent odorants. The solid evidence predicts compounds that were validated in the lab and in the field. This work will be of great interest to researchers in ecology, pest control and sensory biology.