Unraveling the Causes of Excess Lead in Drinking Water Supply Systems of Densely Populated High-Rise Buildings in Hong Kong.

Excess concentrations of lead (Pb) were found in tap water from drinking water supply systems of high-rise buildings in 11 public rental housing (PRH) estates in Hong Kong, posing threats to public health. The copper supply lines are fitted with lead-soldered connections and brass fixtures and faucets. The causes of excess lead are studied through field sampling on occupied households, experiments on prototype supply chains, and 3D numerical modeling.

Genetic Selection Based on a Ste6C-HA-Ura3 Substrate Identifies New Cytosolic Quality Control Alleles in .

Protein quality control in the cytosol (CytoQC) is an important cellular pathway consisting of a network of components which monitor the folding of cytosolic proteins and ensure the efficient removal of aberrant ones. Our understanding of CytoQC mechanisms is limited in part by the ability of current approaches to identify new genes in the pathway. In this study, we developed a CytoQC reporter substrate, Ste6*C-HA-Ura3, for a new genetic selection of spontaneous CytoQC mutations in the yeast In addition to UBR1, which encodes for a known CytoQC E3 ligase, we identified six new CytoQC candidates.

Non-cell autonomous or secretory tumor suppression.

Many malignancies result from deletions or loss-of-function mutations in one or more tumor suppressor genes, the products of which curb unrestrained growth or induce cell death in those with dysregulated proliferative capacities. Most tumor suppressors act in a cell autonomous manner, and only very few proteins are shown to exert a non-cell autonomous tumor suppressor function on other cells. Examples of these include members of the secreted frizzled-related protein (SFRP) family and the secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC)-related proteins.

Location and membrane sources for autophagosome formation - from ER-mitochondria contact sites to Golgi-endosome-derived carriers.

Recent advances have revealed much about the signaling events and molecular components associated with autophagy. Although it is clear that there are multiple points of intersection and connection between autophagy and known vesicular membrane transport processes between membrane compartments, autophagy is modulated by a distinct set of molecular components, and the autophagosome has a unique membrane composition. A key question that has yet to be resolved with regards to autophagosome formation is its membrane source.