Impact of orthophosphate on the solubility and properties of lead orthophosphate nanoparticles.

Orthophosphate (PO) is a commonly used corrosion control treatment to reduce lead (Pb) concentrations in drinking water. PO reduces Pb concentrations by forming relatively insoluble lead phosphate (Pb-PO) minerals. In some cases, however, Pb-PO minerals have been observed to form nanoparticles, and if suspended in water, these nanoparticles can be mobile and reach consumer taps.

Cargo adaptor identity controls the mechanism and kinetics of dynein activation.

Cytoplasmic dynein-1 (dynein), the primary retrograde motor in most eukaryotes, supports the movement of hundreds of distinct cargos, each with specific trafficking requirements. To achieve this functional diversity, dynein must bind to the multi-subunit complex dynactin and one of a family of cargo adaptors to be converted into an active, processive motor complex. Very little is known about the dynamic processes that promote the formation of this complex.

CCSer2 gates dynein activity at the cell periphery.

Cytoplasmic dynein-1 (dynein) is a microtubule-associated, minus end-directed motor that traffics hundreds of different cargos. Dynein must discriminate between cargos and traffic them at the appropriate time from the correct cellular region. How dynein's trafficking activity is regulated in time or cellular space remains poorly understood.

HIV-1 binds dynein directly to hijack microtubule transport machinery.

Viruses exploit host cytoskeletal elements and motor proteins for trafficking through the dense cytoplasm. Yet the molecular mechanism that describes how viruses connect to the motor machinery is unknown. Here, we demonstrate the first example of viral microtubule trafficking from purified components: HIV-1 hijacking microtubule transport machinery.