ESCRT-III-driven piecemeal micro-ER-phagy remodels the ER during recovery from ER stress

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) produces about 40% of the nucleated cell’s proteome. ER size and content in molecular chaperones increase upon physiologic and pathologic stresses on activation of unfolded protein responses (UPR). On stress resolution, the mammalian ER is remodeled to pre-stress, physiologic size and function on activation of the LC3-binding activity of the translocon component SEC62. This elicits recov-ER- phagy, i.e., the delivery of the excess ER generated during the phase of stress to endolysosomes (EL) for clearance. Here, ultrastructural and genetic analyses reveal that recov-ER-phagy entails the LC3 lipidation machinery and proceeds via piecemeal micro- ER-phagy, where RAB7/LAMP1-positive EL directly engulf excess ER in processes that rely on the Endosomal Sorting Complex Required for Transport (ESCRT)-III component CHMP4B and the accessory AAA+ ATPase VPS4A. Thus, ESCRT-III-driven micro-ER- phagy emerges as a key catabolic pathway activated to remodel the mammalian ER on recovery from ER stress

Catalysing sustainable fuel and chemical synthesis

Concerns over the economics of proven fossil fuel reserves, in concert with government and public acceptance of the anthropogenic origin of rising CO2 emissions and associated climate change from such combustible carbon, are driving academic and commercial research into new sustainable routes to fuel and chemicals. The quest for such sustainable resources to meet the demands of a rapidly rising global population represents one of this century’s grand challenges. Here, we discuss catalytic solutions to the clean synthesis of biodiesel, the most readily implemented and low cost, alternative source of transportation fuels, and oxygenated organic molecules for the manufacture of fine and speciality chemicals to meet future societal demands

Terawatt-scale photovoltaics: Trajectories and challenges

The annual potential of solar energy far exceeds the world's total energy consumption. However, the vision of photovoltaics (PVs) providing a substantial fraction of global electricity generation and total energy demand is far from being realized. What technical, infrastructure, economic, and policy barriers need to be overcome for PVs to grow to the multiple terawatt (TW) scale? We assess realistic future scenarios and make suggestions for a global agenda to move toward PVs at a multi-TW scale

The Evolution of the Bío Bío Delta and the Coastal Plains of the Arauco Gulf, Bío Bío Region: the Holocene Sea-Level Curve of Chile

Mid-Holocene highstands are characteristic of the Southern Hemisphere. The Chilean coast extends from 17°S to 56°S in a dominant microtidal regime; thus, it is an ideal place to test ages and altitudes of this highstand with minimal errors. However, coseismic events, the dynamic phenomena they triggered (tsunamis), and the behaviour of land in relation to the overriding of the South American Plate over the oceanic Nazca Plate, make it necessary to distinguish these effects from purely eustatic changes. To the south, the glacioisostatic uplift has been approximately measured. At 37°S, the Coronel coastal plain extends several kilometres inland. Its sediment availability has been related to the supplies of the Bío Bío River. From this beach-ridge plain, shell remains gave a radiocarbon age of 4370 ± 90 years before present (YBP), indicating a highstand not higher than 5 m. Further south, at the Carampangue coastal plain, southern coast of the Arauco Gulf, a radiocarbon age of 8010 ± 90 YBP marks the oldest age of this transgression. Some consequences of the earthquake and tsunami of February 27, 2010, are reported here. The radiocarbon ages of these plains permit completion of a Holocene sea-level curve. These Holocene sea-level data were compared to other regions of South America.Fil: Isla, Federico Ignacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Quezada Flory, Jorge. Universidad de Concepción; ChileFil: Martínez, Carolina. Universidad de Concepción; ChileFil: Fernández, Alfonso. Universidad de Concepción; ChileFil: Jaque, Edilia. Universidad de Concepción; Chil

Terawatt-Scale Photovoltaics: Transform Global Energy

Solar energy has the potential to play a central role in the future global energy system because of the scale of the solar resource, its predictability, and its ubiquitous nature. Global installed solar photovoltaic (PV) capacity exceeded 500 GW at the end of 2018, and an estimated additional 500 GW of PV capacity is projected to be installed by 2022–2023, bringing us into the era of TW-scale PV. Given the speed of change in the PV industry, both in terms of continued dramatic cost decreases and manufacturing-scale increases, the growth toward TW-scale PV has caught many observers, including many of us (1), by surprise. Two years ago, we focused on the challenges of achieving 3 to 10 TW of PV by 2030. Here, we envision a future with ∼10 TW of PV by 2030 and 30 to 70 TW by 2050, providing a majority of global energy. PV would be not just a key contributor to electricity generation but also a central contributor to all segments of the global energy system. We discuss ramifications and challenges for complementary technologies (e.g., energy storage, power to gas/liquid fuels/chemicals, grid integration, and multiple sector electrification) and summarize what is needed in research in PV performance, reliability, manufacturing, and recycling