Membrane biophysics articles from across Nature Portfolio

Membrane biophysics is the study of the physical principles governing biological membranes, including lipid-raft formation and protein–lipid coupling, as well as their mechanical characteristics, and the effect they have on paracellular transport and phenomena relating to cell shape.

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Research | 08 June 2023

Molecular basis of polyspecific drug and xenobiotic recognition by OCT1 and OCT2

Organic cation transporters (OCTs) are responsible for the hepatic uptake and renal clearance of well over 250 US Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs. Suo et al. solved cryo-electron microscopy structures of OCT variants in complex with xenobiotics, providing insights into drug recognition by OCTs.
- Yang Suo
- , Nicholas J. Wright
- & Seok-Yong Lee
Nature Structural & Molecular Biology, 1-11
Research
02 June 2023 | Open Access

Structural insights into perilipin 3 membrane association in response to diacylglycerol accumulation

Perilipin 3 binds to emerging lipid droplets from the endoplasmic reticulum. Choi and Ajjaji et al characterize the molecular mechanisms of Perilipin 3 recruitment to membranes and uncover a function for the PAT domain in diacylglycerol sensing.
- Yong Mi Choi
- , Dalila Ajjaji
- & Michael V. Airola
Nature Communications 14, 3204
Research
29 May 2023 | Open Access

Ca²⁺ efflux facilitated by co-transport of inorganic phosphate anion in the H⁺/Ca²⁺ antiporter YfkE

Bacterial CAX antiporter homolog YfkE can transport Ca²⁺ and inorganic phosphate (P_i) together in a 1:1 ratio, exchanging them for H⁺ and becoming a high-flux antiporter when coupled with P_i.
- Wei Niu
- , Wenchang Zhou
- & Lei Zheng
Communications Biology 6, 573
Research
25 May 2023 | Open Access

Asymmetric pendrin homodimer reveals its molecular mechanism as anion exchanger

Pendrin SLC26A4 plays an important role for anion balance. Here, authors resolve cryo-EM structures of pendrin performing co-incident uptake and secretion of anions, providing a structural basis of this anion exchange mechanism.
- Qianying Liu
- , Xiang Zhang
- & Zhenguo Chen
Nature Communications 14, 3012
Research
24 May 2023 | Open Access

The effect of Lavandula Coronopifolia essential oil on the biophysical properties of desensitization and deactivation gating currents in ionotropic receptors
- Mohammad Qneibi
- , Nidal Jaradat
- & Sosana Bdir
Scientific Reports 13, 8417
Research
22 May 2023 | Open Access

Wetting and complex remodeling of membranes by biomolecular condensates

In this work, the authors investigated on the interaction of biomolecular condensates with membranes and report that they can exhibit two wetting transitions modulated by membrane or milieu composition. Condensate adhesion can trigger intriguing ruffling of the membrane interface into complex finger-like structures.
- Agustín Mangiarotti
- , Nannan Chen
- & Rumiana Dimova
Nature Communications 14, 2809

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Research Highlights | 24 April 2023

Tuning BCR signalling at lipid rafts

Shelby et al. demonstrate the existence of discrete domains in plasma membranes of B cells that selectively partition membrane-associated proteins.
- Paulina Strzyz
Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology 24, 380
News & Views | 23 November 2022

Topological control of synthetic morphogenesis

Organs in the human body have complex networks of fluid-filled tubes and loops with different geometries and topologies. By studying self-organized, synthetic tissues, the link between topological transitions and the emergence of tissue architecture was revealed.

Nature Physics 19, 163-164
Comments & Opinion | 20 October 2022

The beauty of simplicity in membrane biology

For the past 40 years, minimal reconstituted systems have helped cell biologists to understand the mechanisms that underlie membrane traffic. Having progressed from minimal synthetic and cell-derived ensembles to direct comparison with living systems, reconstitution is poised for ever more precise and informative understanding of membrane biology.
- Jeanne C. Stachowiak
- & Tomas Kirchhausen
Nature Cell Biology 24, 1682-1685
Research Highlights | 19 September 2022

Mathematically probing membrane fluctuations
- Jie Pan
Nature Computational Science 2, 554
News & Views | 23 June 2022

Discovery of long-sought light-gated potassium channels: natural kalium channel-rhodopsins

We report light-gated channels in a fungus-like protist that are highly selective for K⁺ over Na⁺. These microbial rhodopsin channels, named kalium channelrhodopsins, enable robust inhibition of mouse cortical neurons with millisecond precision. In addition, kalium channelrhodopsins reveal a previously unknown potassium selectivity mechanism.

Nature Neuroscience 25, 847-848
News & Views | 11 April 2022

Membranes regulate biomolecular condensates

Biomolecular condensation has emerged as a fundamental mechanism for cellular organization, but less is known about the regulation of condensate subcellular location and size. A new study reports that membrane tethering of protein and RNA directly influences the assembly, size and material properties of ribonucleic condensates.
- Lindsay B. Case
Nature Cell Biology 24, 404-405

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Membrane biophysics articles from across Nature Portfolio

Latest Research and Reviews

Molecular basis of polyspecific drug and xenobiotic recognition by OCT1 and OCT2

Structural insights into perilipin 3 membrane association in response to diacylglycerol accumulation

Ca²⁺ efflux facilitated by co-transport of inorganic phosphate anion in the H⁺/Ca²⁺ antiporter YfkE

Asymmetric pendrin homodimer reveals its molecular mechanism as anion exchanger

The effect of Lavandula Coronopifolia essential oil on the biophysical properties of desensitization and deactivation gating currents in ionotropic receptors

Wetting and complex remodeling of membranes by biomolecular condensates

News and Comment

Tuning BCR signalling at lipid rafts

Topological control of synthetic morphogenesis

The beauty of simplicity in membrane biology

Mathematically probing membrane fluctuations

Discovery of long-sought light-gated potassium channels: natural kalium channel-rhodopsins

Membranes regulate biomolecular condensates

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Membrane biophysics articles from across Nature Portfolio

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