Membranes articles from across Nature Portfolio

Cellular membranes contain numerous lipids, and efforts to understand the biological functions of individual lipids demand approaches for controlled modulation of membrane composition in situ. Now, click chemistry-based directed evolution of a microbial phospholipase within mammalian cells affords an editor for optogenetic, targeted modification of phospholipids in cell membranes.

Cryo-EM structures, MD simulations, and biochemical assays of human multidrug resistance-associated protein 4 in apo inward-open, ATP-bound outward-open, PGE1 substrate-bound, and sulindac inhibitor-bound states provide insights into substrate transport and inhibition mechanism.

Super-resolution imaging detects plasma membrane domains that emerge when receptors are clustered in live B cells. Domain structures arise due to the membrane phase transition and can tune local membrane organization and receptor activation.

Reconstructing metabolic pathways in non-living systems allows for better understanding of living systems, however, mimicking living systems with non-living forms of matter remains challenging. Here, the authors report the synthesis of a minimal cell that incorporates energy production and information polymer synthesis and can undergo recursive vesicle production.

Resolving the stoichiometry of membrane protein interactions is challenging but is vital to understand cell signalling. Using lipid-bound DNA receptors as a model for membrane proteins, the authors present a platform to achieve stoichiometric, spatial and temporal control over their interactions.

The SMP domain of E-Syts is a newly identified lipid transfer module with unclear mechanisms. Here, authors show that it uses its tip region to associate with the extremely curved or negatively charged membranes to extract and unload lipids.