Exosomes are generated within the multivesicular endosomes (MVEs) as intraluminal vesicles (ILVs) and secreted during the fusion of MVEs with the cell membrane. The mechanisms of exosome biogenesis remain poorly explored. Here we identify that RAB31 marks and controls an ESCRT-independent exosome pathway. Active RAB31, phosphorylated by epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), engages flotillin proteins in lipid raft microdomains to drive EGFR entry into MVEs to form ILVs, which is independent of the ESCRT (endosomal sorting complex required for transport) machinery. Active RAB31 interacts with the SPFH domain and drives ILV formation via the Flotillin domain of flotillin proteins. Meanwhile, RAB31 recruits GTPase-activating protein TBC1D2B to inactivate RAB7, thereby preventing the fusion of MVEs with lysosomes and enabling the secretion of ILVs as exosomes. These findings establish that RAB31 has dual functions in the biogenesis of exosomes: driving ILVs formation and suppressing MVEs degradation, providing an exquisite framework to better understand exosome biogenesis.

The landscape of genetic alterations in lung adenocarcinoma derived from Asian patients is largely uncharacterized. Here we present an integrated genomic and transcriptomic analysis of 335 primary lung adenocarcinomas and 35 corresponding lymph node metastases from Chinese patients. Altogether 13 significantly mutated genes are identified, including the most commonly mutated gene TP53 and novel mutation targets such as RHPN2, GLI3 and MRC2. TP53 mutations are furthermore significantly enriched in tumours from patients harbouring metastases. Genes regulating cytoskeleton remodelling processes are also frequently altered, especially in metastatic samples, of which the high expression level of IQGAP3 is identified as a marker for poor prognosis. Our study represents the first large-scale sequencing effort on lung adenocarcinoma in Asian patients and provides a comprehensive mutational landscape for both primary and metastatic tumours. This may thus form a basis for personalized medical care and shed light on the molecular pathogenesis of metastatic lung adenocarcinoma.

Highly conductive free standing polypyrrole (PPy) films were prepared by a novel freezing interfacial polymerization method. The films exhibit metallic luster and electrical conductivity up to 2000 S cm(-1). By characterizing with SEM, FTIR, Raman and XRD, the high conductivity is attributed to the smooth surface, higher conjugation length and more ordered molecular structure of PPy.

Corona Virus Disease 2019(COVID-19)-affected patients with severe immune abnormalities have a risk of cytokine release syndrome. The definition, prevention, and treatment of symptoms of cytokine release syndrome in critically ill patients with COVID-19 are important problems. This was a single-center case series of 11 COVID-19 patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) from The First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University in China from January 26, 2020 to February 18, 2020. The termination date of follow-up was February 19, 2020. In this single-center analysis of 11 critically ill patients with COVID-19, 8 patients were determined to have characteristics of cytokine release syndrome (CRS), including pulmonary inflammation, fever, and dysfunction of non-pulmonary organs; an increase of- Interleukin-6 (IL-6) in peripheral blood was the highest risk factor and an early indicator of CRS in COVID-19.