eLife assessment

The manuscript by Jingsong Zhou and colleagues uncovers why the extraocular muscles (EOMs) are preserved while other muscles undergo degenerative changes in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In this work, the authors have used a mouse model of familial ALS that carries a G93A mutation in the Sod1 gene to demonstrate that NaBu treatment partially restores the integrity of NMJ in the limb and diaphragm muscles of G93A mice. The findings of the study offer important information that EOMs are spared in ALS because they produce protective factors for the NMJ and, more specifically, factors secreted by EOM-derived satellite cells. While most of the experimental approaches are convincing, the use of sodium butyrate (NaBu) in this study needs further investigation, as NaBu might have a variety of biological effects. Overall, this work may help develop future therapeutic interventions for patients with ALS.

eLife assessment

This manuscript reports important data on the stability of nucleosomes with dsDNA substrates containing defined mismatches at three defined nucleosomal positions. Compelling evidence obtained by single-molecule FRET experiments shows that certain mismatches lead to more stable nucleosomes likely because mismatches kink to enhance DNA flexibility leading to higher nucleosome stability. The biological significance and implications of the findings remain unclear.

eLife assessment

This study presents important insights on the impact of SARS-CoV-2 variants on the binding and neutralization of a small library of nanobodies. The authors should be applauded for their comprehensive in vitro and in silico analyses of nanobody targeting of SARS-CoV-2 variants. The evidence supporting the claims of the authors is now convincing. This work will be of great interest to researchers in the fields of antibody/nanobody engineering and SARS-CoV-2 therapeutics.

eLife assessment

The fundamental study by Galicia C. et al. captured the GTP-bound active structure of CtRoco, a homolog of human LRRK2, using conformation-specific nanobodies. This convincing body of work reports the first structure of a GTP-bound ROCO protein, illustrating how GTP facilitates the dimer-to-monomer transition of CtRoco and functional activation.

eLife assessment

This is an important study that investigates how neural networks can learn to stochastically replay presented sequences of activity according to learned transition probabilities. The authors use error-based excitatory plasticity to minimize the difference between internally predicted activity and stimulus-driven activity, and inhibitory plasticity to maintain E-I balance. The approach is solid but the choice of learning rules and parameters is not always always justified, lacking a formal derivation and concrete experimental predictions.

eLife assessment

This valuable study delineates the cellular contributions of BMP signaling in liver development and function. The findings are convincing, and the study employs state-of-the-art molecular, genetic, and cellular approaches to demonstrate that hepatic stellate cells play a central role in liver health by mediating cell-to-cell crosstalk via the production of specific BMP proteins. This study will be of interest to scientists interested in developmental biology and organ physiology.

eLife assessment

This study assessed antibody levels, which are indicative of protection, resulting from both COVID-19 vaccination and natural infection in a representative sample of the Canadian population. The work provides solid evidence that Individuals who received a booster vaccination and had a prior infection had the highest antibody levels, particularly when either the vaccination or natural infection had occurred within the past six months. These findings are of fundamental importance in supporting the value of booster vaccination in populations vulnerable to severe COVID-19.

eLife assessment

This study presents an important finding that Obox4 and Dux act redundantly in regulating zygotic genome activation in mice. The evidence supporting the claims of the authors is solid. The work will be of interest to researchers interested in early embryo development and epigenetic reprogramming.

eLife assessment

This important study presents a detailed characterization of two distinct cellular morphologies of haematopoietic stem cells undergoing endothelial to haematopoietic transition in zebrafish. It brings new information on how regulation of apico-basal polarity influences cellular behaviour, shape, and interaction with neighbouring cells. The evidence supporting the existence of these two distinct morphologies is convincing, using state-of-the-art confocal microscopy and image analysis of 2D-cartography.

eLife assessment

This carefully executed study provides a comparison of the chemical composition of mouse urine across strain and sex with the responses of vomeronasal sensory neurons, which are responsible for detecting chemical social cues. While the authors did not examine all molecular classes found in mouse urine or directly test whether the urinary volatile chemicals that vary with sex and strain are effective vomeronasal neuron ligands, solid data are provided that will be of significant interest to those studying chemical communication in rodents. This work should provide a valuable foundation for future research that will determine which molecules drive sex- and strain-specific vomeronasal responses.

eLife assessment

This study is focused on the question of how Nrp1 contributes to the regulation of vascular permeability and whether or why there are differences between different vascular beds. The scientific concept of this paper suggests a possible role of Nrp1 on perivascular cells as a participant in the regulation of vascular permeability. This concept is interesting and potentially useful. However, the methodology and quantitative analysis are currently inadequate to fully support the claims.

eLife assessment

This important study uses cellular automata and evolution algorithms to offer an alternative to long-range signalling models of developmental patterning. The computational evidence that local rules suffice to produce a robust and global pattern is convincing. With some additional insights that connect the theoretical findings back to real biological examples, this work could be of interest to the broad community of developmental and systems biologists.

eLife assessment

This study presents valuable data on the antigenic properties of neuraminidase proteins of human A/H3N2 influenza viruses sampled between 2009 and 2017. The antigenic properties are found to be generally concordant with genetic groups. Compared to a previous version, additional analyses have strengthened the work, with solid evidence supporting the claims of the authors.

eLife assessment

This study presents an important finding that implicates a rhodopsin gene duplication in the progression of autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa in patients. The authors utilize a retinal organoid model to demonstrate a similar disease phenotype and suggest defects can be ameliorated by using photoregulin. The data supporting the conclusions are solid, but there are some concerns regarding the strength of the phenotype in retinal organoids. This work will be of broad interest to vision researchers.

eLife assessment

This important work examines the potential utility of socio-emotional and socio-cognitive mental training on hippocampal subfield structure and function, and cortisol levels. The authors provide convincing evidence that CA1-3 volume is sensitive to socio-emotional training, with changes related to function plasticity and cortisol levels. Further, the authors provide evidence of change across all subfields and training modules related to stress.

eLife assessment

This manuscript describes a potentially important theoretical framework to link predictive coding, error-based learning, and neuronal dynamics. The provided evidence is solid, but some details would benefit from additional clarification. The exposition of the manuscript is targeted for a specialist audience.

eLife assessment

This study presents a new and important theoretical account of spatial representational drift in the hippocampus. The evidence supporting the claims is convincing, with a clear and accessible explanation of the phenomenon. Overall, this study will likely attract researchers exploring learning and representation in both biological and artificial neural networks.

eLife assessment

This important study utilizes a viral-mediated short hairpin RNA (shRNA) approach to investigate in a novel way the role of the wild-type PHOX2B transcription factor expressed in critical chemosensory neurons in the brainstem retrotrapezoid nucleus (RTN) region for maintaining normal CO2 chemoreflex control of breathing in adult rats. The convincing results show blunted ventilation during elevated inhaled CO2 (hypercapnia) with knockdown of PHOX2B, accompanied by a reduced expression of Gpr4 and Task2 mRNA for the proposed RTN neuron proton sensor proteins GPR4 and TASK2. These results indicate that maintained expression of wild-type PHOX2B affects respiratory control in adult animals, complementing previous studies showing that PHOX2B-expressing RTN neurons may be critical for chemosensory control throughout the lifespan, and with implications for neurological disorders involving the RTN, which will be of interest to neuroscientists studying respiratory neurobiology as well as the neurodevelopmental control of motor behavior.

eLife assessment

This is a binocular rivalry study that uses ECG to present visual stimuli pulsing in line with cardiac events, to examine whether systole-entrained stimuli (i.e. presented during the period where the heart has contracted) are suppressed within visual awareness. Arguably out of line with this idea, the dominance durations were increased for systole-entrained stimuli. The manuscript addresses an important, precisely defined, and theoretically well-motivated question using sophisticated experimental and statistical methods. The interpretation of these results is not straightforward, however, such that they currently only provide incomplete support for the claims.

eLife assessment

Using in vitro and in vivo experiments, the authors show that astrocytes swell after inhibition of aquaporin 4 (AQP4) with TGN-020, which is indicative of tonic water efflux from these cells under physiological conditions. Though potentially valuable, the study is currently incomplete due to possible off-target effects of TGN-020, limited mechanistic information underlying the detected effects, and potential limitations of some of the adopted experimental techniques. These findings can be especially relevant for cortical spreading depression in ischemic stroke or seizure and to get a comprehensive understanding of neuron-astrocyte interactions.

eLife assessment

This fundamental work unravels how female Drosophila can assess their social context via chemosensory cues and modulate the sperm storage process after copulation accordingly. A convincing set of rigorous experiments uncovers specific pheromones that influence the excitability of the female brain receptivity circuit and their propensity to discard inseminate from a mating. This insight into neuronal mechanisms of sexual behavior plasticity is of general interest to scientists working in the fields of animal behavior, neuroscience, evolution, and sexual selection, as well as insect chemosensation and reproduction.

eLife assessment

This study presents valuable findings relevant to research on olfactory neurogenesis and long-term adaptation. The evidence, at this stage, is incomplete. First, the effects described could, in part, also be attributed to "downregulation" of OR subtype-specific neurogenesis upon sensory deprivation, instead of selectively increased neurogenesis. Second, additional control experiments would be needed to support the main claims and rule out alternative explanations.

eLife assessment

This study presents a valuable dataset regarding chromatin remodeling by the BAF complex in the context of meiotic sex chromosome inactivation. Solid data generally support the conclusions, although there is room for improvement. This work will be of interest to researchers working on chromatin and reproductive biology.

eLife assessment

This important study links the activity of polymerase III to the regulation of virulence gene expression in the deadliest malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum. It identifies Maf1 as a Pol III inhibitor that enables the parasite to respond to external stimuli such as magnesium chloride plasma levels by downregulating Pol III-transcribed ruf6 genes and subsequently regulated var genes. While the evidence presented is generally convincing, some of the results are incomplete, and the mechanistic link between external signals and Maf1 activation remains unknown.

eLife assessment

This study presents fundamental findings that advance our understanding of the role of phenotypic aging in cancer risk. This article presents compelling results that show Phenotypic Age Acceleration (PhenoAgeAccel) can predict cancer incidence of different types and could be used with genetic risk to facilitate the identification of cancer-susceptible individuals. These results will be of broad interest to the research community and clinicians.

eLife assessment

This valuable study presents findings on DNA methylation as an efficient epigenetic transcriptional regulating strategy in bacteria. The authors utilized single-molecule real-time sequencing to profile the DNA methylation landscape across three model pathovars of Pseudomonas syringae, identifying significant epigenetic mechanisms through the Type-I restriction-modification system, which includes a conserved sequence motif associated with N6-methyladenine. The evidence presented is solid and the study provides novel insights into the epigenetic mechanisms of P. syringae, expanding the understanding of bacterial pathogenicity and adaptation.

eLife assessment

This study presents a valuable computational model for elaborating on the interpretation of chromosomal mosaicism in preimplantation embryos. The evidence supporting the claims of the authors is incomplete due to the assumption that is possible to quantify the cells in the embryo, oversimplification of mitotic errors, and the inclusion of the self-correction premise. The work will be of interest to embryologists, and geneticists working on reproductive medicine.

eLife assessment

This useful work by Park attempts to use machine learning algorithms to identify correlates of different observed shedding patterns in two COVID-19 cohorts. The evidence supporting the study conclusions is incomplete due to the lack of uniformity in assays between the 2 cohorts, relevant metadata (previous infection/vaccination status, viral variant), early viral load data in the cohorts, and incomplete statistical analyses. With a strengthened analysis, the work may be of interest to virologists, clinicians, and public health scientists.

eLife assessment

This study address a fundamental question: Do lipid rafts play a role in trafficking in the secretory pathway? By performing carefully controlled experiments with synthetic membrane proteins derived from the transmembrane region of LAT, the authors describe, model and quantify the importance of transmembrane domains in the kinetics of trafficking of a protein through the cell, from the ER to the cell surface via the Golgi. While their findings are solid, further experiments that relate to the existence and nature of domains at the TGN are necessary to provide a direct connection between the phase partitioning capability of the transmembrane regions of membrane proteins and the sorting potential of rafts.

eLife assessment

This paper addresses a fundamental issue in the field of autophagy: how is a protein responsible for autophagosome-lysosome fusion recruited to mature autophagosomes but not immature ones? The work succeeds in its ambition to provide a new conceptual advance. The evidence supporting the conclusions is convincing, with fluorescence microscopy, biochemical assays, and molecular dynamics simulations. This work will be of broad interest to cell biologists and biochemists studying autophagy, and also those focusing on lipid/membrane biology.

eLife assessment

This study explores the role of calcyphosine-like (CAPSL) in Familial Exudative Vitreoretinopathy (FEVR) via the MYC pathway, offering valuable insights into disease mechanisms that are supported by a solid, multi-pronged approach. The overall significance of the study might, however, be limited due to weak support from human genetic studies.

eLife assessment

This valuable and ambitious review examines seasonal dormancy in various species, including hibernating mammals (excluding bats and bears) and ectotherms. It provides a solid test of hypotheses on dormancy timing, considering energetic constraints and life history as alternative drivers. The review will be of interest to evolutionary biologists.

eLife assessment

This study presents an important methodology to increase the efficiency and precision of gene editing in human hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. The evidence supporting the claims is convincing in that primitive LTC-ICs were minimally affected as a result of the editing procedure and the lack of edits at predicted off-target sites. The work will be of interest to biologists studying hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells and genome editing for potential clinical applications.

eLife assessment

The OpuA Type I ABC importer uses two substrate binding domains to capture extracellular glycine betaine and present the substrate to the transmembrane domain for subsequent transport and correction of internal dehydration. This study presents valuable findings addressing the question of whether the two substrate binding domains of OpuA dock and physically interact in a salt-dependent manner. The single-molecule fluorescence resonance energy transfer and cryogenic electron microscopy data that are presented provide convincing support for the existence of a transient interaction between the substrate binding domains that depends on ionic strength, laying a foundation for future studies exploring how this interaction is involved in the overall transport mechanism.

eLife assessment

This important paper reveals that one of the major roles of the WDR5 WIN site is to promote ribosome synthesis, and that by attacking the WIN site with inhibitors ribosome attrition occurs creating new vulnerabilities that can be therapeutically exploited. This deficiency of ribosomal proteins also provokes the p53 response. The data from a variety of approaches is generally very convincing, and together buttresses the authors' conclusions and interpretations quite nicely; overall, this paper will provide a justification for pre-clinical and translational studies of WDR5 interaction site inhibitors.

eLife assessment

This study identifies the molecular determinants of LRMP co-regulation of HCN 4 activity. The evidence supporting the conclusions, which is compelling, is backed by rigorous electrophysiological and spectroscopic analysis. The work is important because it greatly enhances our understanding of the mechanisms of HCN channel regulation in a tissue-specific manner and highlights a functional role for more disordered regions that have yet to be structurally resolved.

eLife assessment

This fundamental study advances our understanding of the role of senescent osteoclasts (SnOCs) in the pathogenesis of spine instability. The authors provide compelling evidence for the SnOCs to induce sensory nerve innervation. Accordingly, reduction of SnOCs by the senolytic drug Navitoclax markedly reduces spinal pain sensitivity. This work will be of broad interest to regenerative biologists working on spinal pain.

eLife assessment

This important study sheds light on the mechanisms underlying a rare brain disease, offering insight into the role of microglia in this complex pathophysiology. The evidence presented is solid, utilizing state-of-the-art laboratory models to explore cellular interactions and disease development. While further research is needed, this study will be of interest to neuroscientists and clinicians aiming to understand and combat similar neurodegenerative disorders.

eLife assessment

This study offers valuable insights into the structural architecture of the mammalian egg-sperm fusion synapse, shedding light on the role of specific proteins in fertilization. The significance of the findings lies in the potential identification of a pentameric complex involved in gamete fusion by AlphaFold Multimer. The strength of evidence for the approach/methodology is solid, while the experimental validation is incomplete in supporting these interactions. This work will be of interest to biomedical researchers working on fertility and reproductive health.

eLife assessment

In this study, the authors provide valuable evidence that the LGE is not a significant source of oligodendrocytes for the cortex. The reviewers did find some technical considerations that call for some modulation of the strength of the authors' conclusions and also pointed out some aspects of the data that were incomplete as presented.

eLife assessment

This useful work describes a novel microscopy-based method to correlate the degree of pigmentation with the gene expression profile of human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived Retinal Pigmented Epithelial (iPSC-RPE) cells at the single cell level. The presented evidence is solid in showing that there is heterogeneous gene expression in iPSC-derived RPE cells, and there is no significant correlation with the pigmentation. By analyzing the expression of some genes related to function, lysosomal- and complement-related pathways were partially enriched in darker cells. This methodology can be used by other researchers interested in analyzing gene expression related to microscopic images.

eLife assessment

This useful study reports that a week or more of hypoxia exposure in mice increases erythropoiesis and decreases the number of iron-recycling macrophages in the spleen, compromising their capacity for red blood cell phagocytosis – reflected by increased mature erythrocyte retention in the spleen. Compared to an earlier version, the study has been strengthened with mouse experiments under hypobaric hypoxia and complemented by extensive ex vivo analyses. Unfortunately, while some of the evidence is solid, the work as it currently stands only incompletely supports the authors' hypotheses. While the study would benefit from additional experiments that more directly buttress the central claims, it should be of interest to the fields of hemopoiesis and bone marrow biology and possibly also blood cancer.

eLife assessment

This study presents valuable framework and findings to our understanding of the brain as a fractal object by observing the stability of its shape property within 11 primate species and by highlighting an application to the effects of aging on the human brain. The evidence provided is solid but the link between brain shape and the underlying anatomy remains unclear. This study will be of interest to neuroscientists interested in brain morphology, and to physicists and mathematicians interested in modeling the shapes of complex objects.

eLife assessment

In this valuable study, the authors examine the role of the cytoskeletal regulatory protein Abba in governing the process of cell genesis in the developing cortex. This study provides insights into the mechanisms of microcephaly, a developmental malformation. The evidence supporting the study was felt to be solid, but the reviewers did note some technical weaknesses that limit the strength of some of the interpretations.

eLife assessment

This is an important study on changes in newborns' neural abilities to distinguish auditory signals at 37 weeks of gestation. The evidence of change in neural discrimination as a function of gestational age is convincing, but further analysis of the acoustic signals and description of the infants' language environment would strengthen the interpretation of the results. The work contributes to the field of neurodevelopment and suggests potential clinical applications in neurodevelopmental disorders.

eLife assessment

This important study investigates the structural organization of a series of diblock elastin-like polypeptide condensates. The methodology is highly compelling, as it combines multiscale simulations and fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy experiments. The results increase our understanding of model biomolecular condensates.

eLife assessment

This study shows compelling evidence that the less common D-serine stereoisomer is transported in the kidney by the neutral amino acid transporter ASCT2 and that it is a non-canonical substrate for sodium-coupled monocarboxylate transporter SMCTs. With a multi-hierarchical approach, this important study further shows that Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury in the kidney causes a specific increment in renal reabsorption carried out, in part, by ASCT2.

eLife assessment

This valuable study further discloses the function of LRRK2 in BDNF-dependent synaptic processes in identifying postsynaptic actin cytoskeleton as a convergent site of LRRK2 pathophysiological activity. Multiple approaches in different cellular models provide mostly solid (but at times preliminary) evidence to support (many) of the conclusions, overall consistent with bioinformatics analyses covering previously published work. While an exciting start that should be pursued, examples are suggested by reviewers to add in additional experimentation to better support the expansive interpretation. The identification of mechanisms of LRRK2 action at the synapse is considered highly significant, as better knowledge in this regard may provide insight into why dopaminergic cells die with over-active LRRK2.

eLife assessment

This is a valuable study of the spatial organization of innate granulomas following Chromobacterium violaceum infection and the expression of CC and CXC chemokines in the granuloma at several time points following infection. There is a wealth of information to be gained from this study. However, the analysis of these granulomas is incomplete, with room for orthogonal validation of some of the key findings with additional animals (using ISH or IHC), in addition to a more quantitative analysis of some of the currently more qualitative conclusions.

eLife assessment

This study presents a valuable finding on the association between DUX4 expression with features of immune evasion in human tissue and clinical outcomes in patients with advanced urothelial cancer. The evidence supporting the claims of the authors is convincing, using a range of corroborative statistical techniques. Compared to an earlier version, the quality of the manuscript has been enhanced, for example Figure 5 now illustrates the key features of survival probability estimates over time for patients assigned to with the test or training set.

eLife assessment

This valuable manuscript reports on the relationship between GTP hydrolysis parameters and kinase activity of LRRK2, which is associated with Parkinson's disease. The authors provide a detailed accounting of the catalytic efficiency of the ROC GTPase domain of pathogenic variants of LRRK2, in comparison with the wild-type enzyme. The authors propose that phosphorylation of T1343 inhibits kinase activity and influences monomer-dimer transitions, but the experimental evidence is currently incomplete.

eLife assessment

This useful manuscript explores conditions for epigenetic inheritance by studying the stability of simple network models to permanent and transient perturbations. A novel aspect of the study is that it unifies non-genetic inheritance phenomena across cell divisions of unicellular organisms and in the germline of multicellular organisms. However, the models studied are more a collection of vignettes of numerical studies than a systematic study, therefore the evidence presented remains incomplete. As a first step towards building a more systematic theoretical framework, this work will be of interest to colleagues in the field of epigenetic inheritance.

eLife assessment

This fundamental study reports compelling findings that intermediate states exist in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) during natural development and differentiation of mammalian neural crest cells, similar to recent reports in cancer. The authors determined that there were at least two paths to delamination and migration - one that occurs during S-phase of cell cycle and another during G2/M phase, and that the process of delamination is not restricted to cell fate. Finally, the authors showed that expression of Dlc1 may be used to identify cells in an intermediate state of EMT as well as their spatial location in the mouse embryo. The work will be of interest to developmental biologists, neurobiologists and cancer researchers.

eLife assessment

This valuable study by Bartas and colleagues examined how patterns of monosynaptic input to specific cell types in the ventral tegmental area are altered by drugs of abuse. The authors applied a dimensionality reduction approach (principal component analysis) and showed that various drugs of abuse, and somewhat surprisingly the anesthesia alone (ketamine/xylasin), caused changes in the distribution of inputs labeled by the transsynaptic rabies virus. While there are some issues to be addressed, the evidence supporting the conclusions is overall solid, and provides information that is of value to the field, as well as a cautionary note on the interpretation of rabies virus-based tracing experiments.

eLife assessment

This study makes a valuable contribution to spatial transcriptomics by rigorously benchmarking cell-type deconvolution methods, assessing their performance across diverse datasets with a focus on biologically relevant, previously unconsidered aspects. The authors demonstrate the strengths of RCTD, cell2location, and SpatialDWLS for their performance, while also revealing the limitations of many methods when compared to simpler baselines. By implementing a full Nextflow pipeline, Docker containers, and a rigorous assessment of the simulator, this work offers robust insights that elevate the standards for future evaluations and provides a resource for those seeking to improve or develop new deconvolution methods. The thorough comparison and analysis of methods, coupled with a strong emphasis on reproducibility, provide solid support for the findings.

eLife assessment

This study represents a valuable finding on the neuron-glia communication and glial responses to traumatic brain injury (TBI). The data supporting the authors' conclusions on TBI analysis, RNA-seq on FACS sorted astrocytes, genetic analyses on Pvr-JNK/MMP1 are solid. However, cellular aspects of the response to TBI, statistical analysis, and molecular links between Pvr-AP1 are incomplete, which could be further strengthened in the future by more rigorous analyses.

eLife assessment

Dasgupta and colleagues make a valuable contribution to the understanding how the guidance factor Sema7a promotes connections between mechanosensory hair cells and afferent neurons of the zebrafish lateral line system. The authors provide solid evidence that loss of Sema7a function results in fewer contacts between hair cells and afferents through comprehensive quantitative analysis. Additional work is needed to distinguish the effects of different isoforms of Sema7a to determine whether there are specific roles of secreted and membrane bound forms.

eLife assessment

This important study discovered DBT as a novel gene implicated in the resistance to MG132-mediated cytotoxicity and potentially also in the pathogenesis of ALS and FTD, two fatal neurodegenerative diseases. The authors provided convincing evidence to support a mechanism by which loss of DBT suppresses MG132-mediated toxicity via promoting autophagy. This work will be of interest to cell biologists and biochemists, especially in the FTD/ALS field.

eLife assessment

This valuable study investigates the role of mechanosensory feedback during swallowing in adult Drosophila. The authors provide convincing evidence that three mechanotransduction channel genes are required for ingestion rhythms and localize the role of these genes to a specific subpopulation of pharyngeal mechanosensory neurons. However, there is incomplete evidence to support the conclusions that these sensory neurons are necessary for swallowing, respond to stretch during swallowing, and connect to the motor neurons that control swallowing. This work may be of interest to neuroscientists interested in motor control of feeding behavior.

eLife assessment

This work identifies cnidarian neuropeptides and pairs them to their GPCR, then shows that neuropeptide signaling systems have evolved and diversified independently in cnidarians and bilaterians. Neuropeptide-receptor partners were experimentally identified using established and widely used methodologies including single cell mapping, providing compelling evidence for the conclusions of the paper. This impressive accomplishment provides fundamental new insights into the evolution of neuropeptide signaling systems and will be of broad interest to neurobiologists and evolution of development researchers.

eLife assessment

Chen and colleagues utilize an in situ explant model of the neural retina and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), along with small molecule inhibition of key metabolic enzymes and targeted metabolomic analysis, to decipher key differences in metabolic pathways used by rods, cones, Muller glia, and the RPE. They conclude that rods are heavily reliant on oxidative metabolism, cones are heavily reliant on glycolysis, and multiple mechanisms exist to decouple glycolysis from oxidative metabolism in the retina. This study provides valuable metabolomic data and insights into the metabolic flexibility of different retinal cells. However, current evidence is still incomplete as several of the conclusions from the paper stand in contradiction to other published findings and the authors naturally suggests experiments that will be needed in the future to validate the hypothesized pathways and refute existing published data. Such future validation includes animal models with tissue specific knockout of the key enzymes probed in the study; inhibiting the targets of this study with more than 1 small molecule that is structurally different, and at different doses and timings; using retinal explants from matured animals; performing labeled metabolite tracing experiments; and direct assessment of mitochondrial function (via OCR) under various manipulations.

eLife assessment

The valuable findings in this study show that subpopulations of peripheral sensory neurons display different capacities for regeneration after a similar injury. Nociceptor neurons have greater regeneration over mechanoreceptor, proprioceptors and motor neurons. This differential responsiveness of neuronal subtypes was traced to activation of different transcriptional programs, which were carefully analyzed and quantitated, resulting in solid evidence for the conclusions.

eLife assessment

The authors identify a population of neurons with a specific complement of markers that originate in a distinct location from where cerebellar nuclear precursor cells have been thought to originate, that show distinct developmental properties. The discovery of a new germinal zone giving rise to a new population of CN neurons is an important finding, and it enriches our understanding of cerebellar development. The claims are supported by solid evidence and the authors use a wide range of technical approaches, including transgenic mice, that allow them to disentangle the influence of distinct developmental organizers.

eLife assessment

This study convincingly demonstrates the ability of reverting a neurodevelopmental defect with a dietary intervention. While the exact mechanisms remain to be elucidated, the authors establish a simple but important system to study the PI3K/Akt/FOXO pathway but also the action of ketone bodies and their potential therapeutic use. This study will be of particular interest to the large community of scientists studying E/I disequilibrium in the nervous system.

eLife assessment

This valuable study presents new observations on white matter organisation at the micron scale, using a combination of synchrotron imaging and diffusion MRI across two species. Notably, the authors provide solid evidence for the fasciculation of axons within major fibre bundles into laminar structures, though these structures are not consistently observed across modalities or species. The study will be of general interest to neuroanatomists and those interested in white matter imaging.

eLife assessment

This study describes important findings related to early disruptions in disinhibitory modulation exerted by VIP+ interneurons, in CA1 in a transgenic model of Alzheimer's disease pathology. The authors provide a convincing analysis at the cellular, synaptic, network, and behavioral levels on how these changes correlate and might be related to behavioral impairments during these early stages of AD pathology.

eLife assessment

This paper expands the genetic toolset that was previously developed by the Rao lab to introduce the conditional downregulation of neurotransmission components in Drosophila. As a proof of principle, the authors tested their new collection and provide evidence of the contribution of CNMamide (a neuropeptide) to the temporal control of locomotor activity patterns. These are overall important findings supported by compelling evidence.

eLife assessment

This fundamental study provides an unprecedented understanding of the roles of different combinations of NaV channel isoforms in nociceptors' excitability, with relevance for the design of better strategies targeting NaV channels to treat pain. Although the experimental combination of electrophysiological, modeling, imaging, molecular biology, and behavioral data is convincing and supports the major claims of the work, some results remain inconclusive and need to be strengthened by further evidence. The work may be of broad interest to scientists working on pain, drug development, neuronal excitability, and ion channels.

eLife assessment

The large-conductance Ca2+ activated K+ channel BKCa has been reported to promote breast cancer progression. The present study presents convincing evidence that an intracellular subpopulation of this channel reprograms breast cancer cells towards the Warburg phenotype, one of the metabolic hallmarks of cancer. This important finding advances the field of cancer cell metabolism and has potential therapeutic implications.

eLife assessment

This is a useful study that identifies circadian changes in the gene expression profile of cultured mouse astrocytes. Mechanistic details linking circadian rhythmicity in HERP, a regulator of calcium signals in the endoplasmic reticulum, to altered phosphorylation of Connexin 43 remain currently incomplete. With improved manuscript clarity and statistical analysis, this work could be of interest to the field of astrocyte and circadian biology.

eLife assessment

This fundamental work substantially advances our understanding of cell migration, especially in that of cranial neural crest. The additional evidence provided to support the conclusion is exceptional, with rigorous biochemical assays for materials used and with intensive genetic interventions. The work will be of broad interest to developmental biologists and cell biologists.

eLife assessment

This important study reports a novel approach to studying cerebellar function based on the idea of selective recruitment using fMRI. It provides convincing evidence for task-dependent gating of neocortical input to the cerebellum during a motor task and a working memory task. The study will be of interest to a broad cognitive neuroscience audience.

eLife assessment

This important study reports the fungal composition and its interaction with bacteria in the Caesarean section scar diverticulum. The data are solid and supportive of the conclusion. This work will be of interest to researchers and clinicians who work on women's health.

eLife assessment

This study presents fundamental insights into the heterogeneity of chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) stem cells and their response to tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy, shedding light on potential mechanisms underlying treatment failure. The study's robust methodology, supported by validation with bulk RNA-seq data and surface marker analysis, provides compelling evidence for the identified associations between cellular composition and treatment outcome. These findings contribute to our understanding of CML pathogenesis and may inform the development of more targeted therapeutic strategies.

eLife assessment

This important manuscript reports interactions between genetic variation, DNA accessibility, and chromatin structure in gene expression at a genome wide scale. The authors found that most of these interactions occur within topologically associating domains (TADs) and 3D genome structure data can be efficiently used to guide the discovery of significant genetic and epigenetic influences on gene expression. Overall, this convincing study highlights the importance of 3D chromatin structure in controlling how gene expression is regulated by genetic and epigenetic processes.

eLife assessment

This study presents valuable findings that could be utilized for identifying women at risk for preeclampsia before the onset of the disease. The novel aspect of this study lies in the utilization of exosomes of two different sizes. The data are solid: the methods, data, and analysis broadly support the claims. This work will be of interest to medical researchers and clinicians who work on preeclampsia and women's health.

eLife assessment

This fundamental study significantly advances our understanding of how parasites evade the host complement immune system. The new cryo-EM structure of the trypanosome receptor ISG65 bound to complement component C3b is highly compelling and well-supported by biochemical experiments. This work will be of broad interest to parasitologists, immunologists, and structural biologists.

eLife assessment

This study advances our understanding of the allosteric regulation of anaerobic ribonucleotide reductases (RNRs) by nucleotides, providing valuable new structural insight into class III RNRs containing ATP cones. The cryo-EM structural characterization of the system is solid, but some open questions remain about the interpretation of activity/binding assays and the newly incorporated HDX-MS results. The work will be of interest to biochemists and structural biologists working on ribonucleotide reductases and other allosterically regulated enzymes.

eLife assessment

This useful study tests the hypothesis that Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection increases glycolysis in monocytes, which alters their capacity to migrate to lymph nodes as monocyte-derived dendritic cells. The authors conclude that infected monocytes are metabolically pre-conditioned to differentiate, with reduced expression of Hif1a and a glycolytically exhaustive phenotype, resulting in low migratory and immunologic potential. However, the evidence is incomplete as the use of live and dead mycobacteria still limits the ability to draw firm conclusions. The study will be of interest to microbiologists and infectious disease scientists.

eLife assessment

This important study shows, based on analyses of single-cell RNA-seq data sets of thymus cells, that transposable elements (TEs) are broadly expressed in thymic stromal cells, especially in medullary thymic epithelial cells and plasamacytoid dendritic cells. The authors also show that at least some TE-derived peptides are presented by MHC-I molecules in the thymus. The study provides solid findings supporting a role of TEs in thymic T-cell selection and immune self-tolerance.

eLife assessment

This important study provides an example of integrating computational and experimental approaches that lead to new insights into the energy landscape of a model kinase. Compelling use of molecular dynamics simulations and NMR spectroscopy provide a conformational description of active and excited states of the kinase; one of which has not been captured in previously solved crystal structures. Overall, this comprehensive study expands our understanding of the architecture and allosteric features of the conserved bilobal kinase domain structure.

eLife assessment

The authors describe an important tool, GromovMatcher, that can be used to compare proteomic data from various experimental approaches. The underlying method is innovative, the algorithm is clearly described, and the validation that is presented is convincing.

eLife assessment

This study explores the physical principles underlying fluid flow and luminal transport within the endoplasmic reticulum; its important contribution is to highlight the strong physical constraints imposed by viscous dissipation in nanoscopic tubular networks. In particular, the work presents convincing evidence that commonly discussed mechanisms such as tubular contraction are unlikely to be at the origin of the observed transport velocities. As this study is solely theoretical and concerned with order of magnitude estimates, its main conclusions await experimental validation. The work will be of relevance to cell biologists and physicists interested in organelle dynamics.

eLife assessment

This useful manuscript describes a proteomic analysis of plasma from subjects before and after an exercise regime consisting of endurance and resistance exercise. The work identifies a putative new exerkine, CD300LG, and finds associations of this protein with aspects of insulin sensitivity and angiogenesis, but the evidence to support the main claims remains incomplete.

eLife assessment

This valuable manuscript presents ImmCellTyper, a new toolkit for CyTOF data analysis. The semi-supervised clustering tool, BinaryClust, integrates prior biological knowledge and demonstrates competitive performance in various benchmarks, but there is room for strengthening the evidence base by addressing concerns about incomplete benchmarking results and the limited consideration of CyTOF markers with binary distribution. Overall, the manuscript offers solid potential for enhancing CyTOF data analysis methodologies.

eLife assessment

This valuable study provides new insight into how non-synaptic interactions affect the activity of adjacent gustatory neurons housed within the same sensillum. The electrophysiological, behavioral, and genetic data supporting the study's conclusions are solid, although the inclusion of additional control experiments would strengthen the study. This work will be of interest to neuroscientists studying chemosensory processing or regulation of neuronal excitability.

eLife assessment

This useful study aims to quantify associations between regular use of proton-pump inhibitors (PPI) - defined as using PPI most days of the week during the last 4 weeks at one cross-section in time - with several respiratory outcomes (6 different outcomes) up to several years later in time. Weaknesses were identified in the design of the study, such as the measurement of the primary outcome and also the potential of bias which is inherent to the study design, which means the manuscript provides incomplete evidence.

eLife assessment

This manuscript describes the mapping of natural DNA sequence variants that affect gene expression and its noise, as well as cell cycle timing, using as input single-cell RNA-sequencing of progeny from crosses between wild yeast strains. The method represents an important advance in the study of natural genetic variation. The findings, especially given the follow-up validation of the phenotypic impact of a mapped locus of major effect, provide convincing support for the rigor and utility of the method.

eLife assessment

In this valuable study, the authors use Staphylococcus aureus to understand how organic acids inhibit bacterial growth. They provide convincing evidence that acetic acid specifically inhibits the activity of the Ddl enzyme and that S. aureus maintains a high intracellular D-ala concentration to circumvent acetate-mediated growth inhibition. This work will be of interest to researchers studying bacteria and antimicrobials.

eLife assessment

This study examines an important aspect of the development of the auditory system, the role of guanine nucleotide-binding protein subunits, GNAIs, in stereociliary bundle formation and orientation, by examining bundle phenotypes in multiple compound GNAI mutants. The experiments are highly rigorous and thorough and include detailed quantifications of bundle morphologies and changes. The depth and care of the study are impressive, with convincing results regarding the roles of GNAIs in stereociliary bundle development. Further, the reviewers believe this to be the definitive study of the role of GNAIs in bundle orientation and development.

eLife assessment

The reprocessing and reanalysis of archived samples can yield further insights from past experiments. Here, a useful procedure to perform tissue clearing and immunolabeling on large-scale formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded brain specimens is convincingly evaluated on a set of archival pathology specimens, and its applicability to further such samples is analyzed. This method will be of interest to both neuroscientists and pathologists.

eLife assessment

In this important paper, the authors propose a computational model for understanding how the dynamics of neural representations may lead to specific patterns of errors as observed in working memory tasks. The paper provides solid evidence showing how a two-area model of sensory-memory interactions can account for the error patterns reported in orientation estimation tasks with delays. By integrating ideas from efficient coding and attractor networks, the resulting theoretical framework is appealing, and nicely captures some basic patterns of behavior data and the distributed nature of memory representation as reported in prior neurophysiological studies. The paper can be strengthened if (i) further analyses are conducted to deepen our understanding of the circuit mechanisms underlying the behavior effects; (ii) the necessity of the two-area network model is better justified; (iii) the nuanced aspects of the behavior that are not captured by the current model are discussed in more detail.

eLife assessment

This important study reports human single-neuron recordings in subcortical structures while participants performed a tactile detection task around the perceptual threshold. The study and the analyses are well conducted and provide solid evidence that the thalamus and the subthalamic nucleus contain neurons whose activity correlates with the task, with stimulus presentation, and even with whether the stimulation is consciously detected or not. The study will be relevant for researchers interested in the role of subcortical structures in tactile perception and the neural correlates of consciousness.

eLife assessment

This study presents a useful method for using multi-electrode spike recordings to track the time-varying functional connectivity between neurons. However, the evidence is incomplete: a demonstration of the utility of the method relative to conventional approaches is needed. If such a demonstration is made, this could be a tool for gaining insight into circuit structure.

eLife assessment

This important work provides a convincing dataset of neuronal heterogeneity in the raphe nucleus, including their physiological properties, morphology, and susceptibility to the neurodegeneration of noradrenaline and dopamine systems in the Parkinsonian state. These findings suggest a significant interplay between catecholaminergic systems in healthy and parkinsonian conditions, as well as neuronal structure and function. Such findings provide a strong foundation for basic scientists as well as pre-clinical researchers interested in the role of dorsal raphe neurons in Parkinson's disease.

eLife assessment

The authors report that optogenetic inhibition of hippocampal axon terminals in retrosplenial cortex impairs the performance of a delayed non-match to place task. The significance of findings elucidating the role of hippocampal projections to the retrosplenial cortex in memory and decision-making behaviors is important. However, the strength of evidence for the paper's claims is currently incomplete.

eLife assessment

This manuscript presents valuable findings on the role of a plant peptide in coordinating developmental and immune responses signaling. The evidence supporting the claims, while mainly descriptive and and somewhat limited due to the main conclusions being drawn from overexpression lines, is mostly solid. The findings are interesting, they align with existing models, and they are of relevance to plant pathologists and developmental biologists.

eLife assessment

This important study explores the interplay between Legionella Dot/Icm effectors that modulate ubiquitination of the host GTPase Rab10, which undergoes phosphoribosyl-ubiquitination by the SidE family of effectors, which in turn are required for Rab10 recruitment to the Legionella containing vacuole (LCV). The evidence supporting the claims of the authors is convincing. The study is not only relevant for the microbiology community, but will also be of interest to colleagues in the broader fields of membrane trafficking and general cell biology.

eLife assessment

This valuable study applies voltage clamp fluorometry to provide new information about the function of serotonin-gated ion channels 5-HT3AR. The authors convincingly investigate structural changes inside and outside the orthosteric site elicited by agonists, partial agonists, and antagonists, helping to annotate existing cryo-EM structures. This work confirms that the activation of 5-HT3 receptors is similar to other members of this well-studied receptor superfamily. The work will be of interest to scientists working on channel biophysics but also drug development targeting ligand-gated ion channels.

eLife assessment

This important manuscript investigates the role of a subpopulation of glutamatergic neurons in the suprammamillary nucleus that projects to the pre-optic hypothalamus area in active coping but not locomotor activity. They provide solid evidence from experiments using fibre photometry or photostimulation during threatening tasks that these neurons allow animals to produce flexible behaviours in response to stress. This work will be of interest to behavioural and systems neuroscientists.

eLife assessment

This important work substantially advances our understanding of how collagen fibrils are built and maintained in a manner regulated by circadian rhythms in intracellular secretory trafficking pathways. The evidence supporting the data are solid, although further data regarding the molecular mechanisms regulating endocytic recycling of collagen would have strengthened the study. The work will be of considerable interest to those who study extracellular matrix assembly or collagen homeostasis.

eLife assessment

This elegant study presents important findings into how small molecules that were originally developed to inhibit the oncogenic kinase, BRAF, instead trigger activation of this kinase target. Compelling and comprehensive evidence supports a new allosteric model to explain the paradoxical activation. This rigorous work will be of great interest to biochemists, structural biologists, and those working on strategies to inhibit kinases in the context of human disease.

eLife assessment

This study provides a valuable theoretical exploration of non-enzymatic sustained replication of RNA systems, in the parabolic growth regime of the evolution of putative primordial replicators. It provides convincing evidence that parabolic growth mitigates the error threshold catastrophe, thus demonstrating another way in which this regime contributes to the maintenance of genetic diversity. The findings shed light on relevant evolutionary regimes of primordial replicators, with potential applicability to our understanding of the origin of life.

eLife assessment

This valuable study advances our understanding of the brain nuclei involved in rapid-eye movement (REM) sleep regulation. Using a combination of imaging, electrophysiology, and optogenetic tools, the study provides convincing evidence that inhibitory neurons in the preoptic area of the hypothalamus influence REM sleep. This work will be of interest to neurobiologists working on the brain circuits of sleep.

eLife assessment

This important study provides convincing evidence of artifactual calcium micro-waves during calcium imaging of populations of neurons in the hippocampus using methods that are common in the field. The work raises awareness of these artifacts so that any research labs planning to do calcium imaging in the hippocampus can avoid them by using alternative strategies that the authors propose.

eLife assessment

The authors used electrophysiology in brain slices and computer modeling and suggest that layer 2/3 pyramidal neurons of the mouse cortex express functional HCN channels, despite little evidence in the past that they are present. The study is useful at the present time, but results are incomplete because the methods, data, and analyses do not always support the conclusions.

eLife assessment

This valuable study provides incomplete evidence that white matter diffusion imaging of the right superior longitudinal fasciculus might help to develop a predictive biomarker of chronic back pain chronicity. The results are based on a discovery-replication approach with different cohorts, but the sample size is limited, and the clinical relevance is overstated. The findings will interest researchers interested in the brain mechanisms of chronic pain and in developing brain-based biomarkers of chronic pain.

eLife assessment

This study is valuable in that it aims to demonstrate that genomic insertion of a G4-containing sequence can be sufficient to induce chromosome loops and alter gene expression. However, the evidence remains incomplete because it has not been shown yet that the inserted sequence indeed forms G4 structures in cells and that the observed effects are caused by these structures and not by other elements present in the inserted sequence. Testing of different G4 sequences and other loci would be required to generalize the findings.

eLife assessment

This important study presents a significant methodological advance by leveraging previously discarded, unmapped DNA sequence reads to estimate pest infestation loads across plant accessions, and map variation in these apparent pest loads to defense genes. While the bioinformatics approach is convincing, the study appears incomplete because actual pest infestation was not systematically quantified, and thus loads inferred from sequencing reads are not validated. The results could have broad implications for phenotype-genotype prediction, especially regarding the use of unmapped reads for GWAS.

eLife assessment

To investigate the evolutionary relationship between the RNAi pathway and innate immunity, this valuable study uses biochemistry and structural biology to investigate the trimeric complex of Dicer-1, DRH-1 (a RIGI homologue), and RDE-4, which exists in C. elegans. The results described include rigorous kinetic analysis of the enzymatic activity of the complex and a moderate resolution cryo-EM structure. The results are convincing and add to the broader understanding of the evolution of antiviral defense.

eLife assessment

This valuable study demonstrates how proximity labeling with streptavidin can be used to boost fluorescence signals in otherwise hard-to-label regions of cells. The technique can outperform the immunofluorescence of epitope tags in phase-separated regions, but the experimental verification is incomplete and would benefit from additional controls. This study will be of particular interest to those using correlative light and electron microscopy or expansion microscopy when the signal is limiting or inaccessible.

eLife assessment

This useful study focuses on gene regulatory mechanisms essential for hindbrain development. Through molecular genetics and biochemistry, the authors propose a new mechanism for the control of Hox genes, which encode highly conserved transcription factors essential for hindbrain development. However, the strength of evidence is incomplete, as the main claims are only partially supported by the data. This work will be of interest to developmental biologists.

eLife assessment

This important work substantially advances our understanding of osteoblast migration to the sites of bone formation and regeneration. The evidence supporting the conclusion is compelling, with rigorous in vitro assays for cellular and biochemical aspects and with appropriate in vivo models. The work will be of broad interest to developmental biologists and bone biologists.

eLife assessment

This study presents an important computational tool for the quantification of the cellular composition of human tissues profiled with ATAC-seq. The methodology is solid and its application results on breast cancer tumor tissues are convincing. It advances existing methods by utilizing a comprehensive reference profile for major cancer-relevant cell types, compatible with a widely-used cell type deconvolution tool.

eLife assessment

It is well-established that cellulose synthesis in higher plants requires three different but related catalytic subunits known as CESA proteins. Here the authors provide convincing cryo-electron microscopy structural information on soybean CESA1, CESA3, and CESA6 and find substantial differences between the structure of these CESA homotrimers and the previously-resolved secondary cell wall CESAs. They present an important model in which the multi-subunit cellulose synthase complexes are made of multiple homotrimers but further evidence is needed to strengthen the conclusions.

eLife assessment

The manuscript addresses an important subject regarding the effects of the consumption of artificially sweetened beverages. The authors used zebrafish embryos treated with high concentrations of monosaccharides and observed hyperangiogenic characteristics similar to those seen in proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Their findings suggest that caloric and noncaloric monosaccharides induce excessive angiogenesis via the foxo1a-Marcksl1a pathway, but the evidence is currently incomplete.