Evaluated articles

eLife Assessment

This valuable study provides solid support for the participation of the BMP-binding domain of MuSK, a tyrosine kinase mostly known for its role at the neuromuscular junction, in the maintenance and activation of muscle stem cells (SCs). These mononucleated cells, located between the muscle fiber basal lamina and its plasma membrane, are normally quiescent, but following muscle damage, become activated, proliferate, and mediate muscle regeneration. These cells are known to respond to a variety of signaling pathways, but this study makes the case for BMP acting via binding to MuSK in maintaining the quiescent state.

eLife Assessment

The authors use single molecule imaging and in vivo loop-capture genomic approaches to investigate estrogen mediated enhancer-target gene activation in human cancer cells. These potentially important results suggest that ER-alpha can, in a temporal delay, activate a non-target gene TFF3, which is in proximity to the main target gene TFF1, even though the estrogen responsive enhancer does not loop with the TFF3 promoter. To explain these results, the authors invoke a transcriptional condensate model. The claim of a temporal delay and effects of the target gene transcription on the non-target gene expression are supported by solid evidence but there is no direct evidence of the role of a condensate in mediating this effect. The reviewers appreciate that the authors have done a lot of work to strengthen the study. This work will be of interest to those studying transcriptional gene regulation and hormone-aggravated cancers.

eLife Assessment

This study provides compelling evidence for functional subpopulations of β-cells responsible for Ca2+ signal initiation and maintenance using novel three-dimensional light sheet microscopy imaging and analysis of pancreatic islets. The findings are important as they help decode mechanistic underpinnings of islet calcium oscillations and the resulting pulsatile insulin secretion. The work will be of general interest to cell biologists and particular interest to islet biologists.

eLife Assessment

This paper presents valuable findings on how autophagosomes are positioned along microtubules for their efficient fusion with lysosomes, providing significant insights into the mechanism. The evidence supporting the conclusions is solid, with high-quality fluorescence microscopy combined with Drosophila genetics. This work will be of broad interest to cell biologists interested in autophagy and related cell biology fields.

eLife Assessment

This valuable study shows previously unappreciated binding of the eukaryotic translation initiation factor 3 (eIF3) to the poly(A) tail proximal portion of 3' untranslated regions (UTRs) of mRNAs that are efficiently translated in neuronal progenitors. The authors' conclusions are supported by solid experimental evidence which is based on several orthogonal systems biology approaches. This article is of considerable interest to the broad spectrum of biomedical researchers interested in studying post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression.

eLife Assessment

This is a useful tool for code-less analysis of patterns in cell migratory behaviours in vivo using intravital microscopy data and allows correlation with spatial features of the tumour microenvironment. There is a clear need for these tools to make quantitative analysis, comparison and interpretation of complex cell tracking data more accessible and solid evidence is provided of its applicability to tracks generated by both proprietary and open tracking software.

eLife Assessment

This manuscript reports important findings that the methyltransferase METTL3 is involved in the repair of abasic sites and uracil in DNA, mediating resistance to floxuridine-driven cytotoxicity. The presented evidence is conclusive for the involvement of m6A in DNA involving single cell imaging and mass spectrometry data. The authors present convincing evidence that the m6A signal does not result from bacterial contamination or RNA.

eLife Assessment

This study provides valuable insight into the role of Meis2 in whisker hair follicle formation and confirms prior work that nerves are dispensable for this process. The solid imaging techniques support the authors' conclusions, however the data provides limited evidence to support the mechanism of Meis2 in whisker formation.

eLife Assessment

This study provides the most comprehensive analysis of Salmonella Dublin to date, uncovering distinct genotypic adaptations, antimicrobial resistance patterns, and virulence strategies that influence epidemiological success. The revised manuscript is very valuable, rigorous and compelling.

eLife Assessment

This important study suggests that the composition of the extracellular matrix in a mouse model of liver fibrosis changes depending on the cause of liver fibrosis. The data could be used as a foundation for future antifibrotic therapies. The strength of evidence is convincing with respect to the use of animal models and proteomic analysis. The study provides a helpful inventory of proteins up or down-regulated.

eLife Assessment

In this study, the authors investigated whether HIV-1 cell-to-cell transmission activates the CARD8 inflammasome in macrophages. The data convincingly support the idea that CARD8 is activated by the viral protease, promoting inflammation. The study's significance is further enhanced by including time-course analyses in primary T cells and macrophages and provides valuable insights into the role of CARD8 in HIV-induced inflammation.

eLife Assessment

Varani et al present important findings regarding the role of distinct cerebellothalamic connections in motor learning and performance. The evidence supporting the main claims is convincing, with multiple replications, validation of their techniques, and appropriate controls. The work will be of broad interest to neuroscientists interested in central mechanisms of motor learning and control, as well as thalamic physiology.

eLife assessment

This important study investigates the adaptability of prey capture by archerfish, which hunt insects by spitting at them and then rapidly turning to reach their landing point on the water surface. The results of elaborate behavioral experiments and measurements show that, even though the visuomotor behavior unfolds very rapidly (in less than 100 ms), it is not hardwired and can adapt to different simulated physics and different prey shapes. The data are convincing and should be of relevance to those interested in rapid decision making in general, beyond the archerfish model.

eLife Assessment

This important study advances our understanding of the way neurons in the auditory cortex of mice respond to unpredictable sounds. Through the use of state-of-the-art recording methods, compelling evidence is provided that responses to local and global violations in sound sequences are prediction errors and not simply the consequence of stimulus-specific adaptation. Although the cell-type-specific results are intriguing, further work is needed to establish their reliability.

eLife Assessment

This important study partially fills the gap in the knowledge of olfaction at the level of the Anterior Olfactory Nucleus (AON) and Piriform Cortex with functional magnetic resonance imaging, electrophysiology, and modeling. The methods used are convincing. Some of the findings confirm ongoing hypotheses, such as the behavioral importance of AON for odor source discrimination. Other results shed light on the dynamics of the connection between the olfactory system and the rest of the brain.

eLife Assessment

This manuscript describes methods and software, called SMARTR, to map neuronal networks using markers of neuronal activity. They illustrate their approach using tissue from mice that have undergone behavioral tasks. The reviewers considered the study important to the field and compelling in that the methods and analyses were an advance over current tools.

eLife Assessment

This important study investigates how AD(H)D affects attention using neural and physiological measures in a Virtual Reality (VR) environment. Solid evidence is provided that individuals diagnosed with AD(H)D differ from control participants in both the encoding of the target sound and the encoding of acoustic interference. The VR paradigm here can potentially bridge lab experiments and real-life experiments. The study is of potential interests to researchers who are interested in auditory cognition, education, and ADHD.

eLife Assessment

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of gene expression and bioinformatics data, offering important insights into the roles of fibroblasts in cardiac development. The large and well-analyzed single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) dataset is compelling and a significant contribution to the field, and will be of broad interest to the scientific community.

eLife Assessment

This important study identifies one way in which episodic heat exposure can result in negative changes in motivated and affective behaviors. This work positively expands the field of thermoregulation. The data were collected using a myriad of next-generation approaches, including extensive behavior testing, thermal monitoring, electrophysiology, circuit mapping, and manipulations. There is convincing evidence that neurons of the paraventricular thalamus change plastically over three weeks of episodic heat stimulation this affects behavioral outputs such as social interactions and anxiety-related behavior. Conclusions regarding the specificity of the POA-pPVT pathway compared to other inputs to the PVT in the control of observed effects would benefit from further validation. The study will be of interest to behavioral neuroscientists, climate/environmental biologists, and pre-clinical neuropsychiatrists.