A5014996012- Lipid Membrane Structure and Behavior
- Force Microscopy Techniques and Applications
- Protein Structure and Dynamics
- Spectroscopy and Quantum Chemical Studies
- Nanopore and Nanochannel Transport Studies
- Supramolecular Self-Assembly in Materials
- Erythrocyte Function and Pathophysiology
- RNA Interference and Gene Delivery
- Photosynthetic Processes and Mechanisms
- Electrostatics and Colloid Interactions
- Caveolin-1 and cellular processes
- Diamond and Carbon-based Materials Research
- Advancements in Photolithography Techniques
- Nanofabrication and Lithography Techniques
- Advanced NMR Techniques and Applications
- Cancer, Lipids, and Metabolism
- Molecular Junctions and Nanostructures
- Lipid metabolism and biosynthesis
- Nonlinear Optical Materials Studies
- Carbon Nanotubes in Composites
- SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 Research
- Cellular transport and secretion
- RNA and protein synthesis mechanisms
- DNA and Nucleic Acid Chemistry
- Photonic Crystals and Applications
University of Virginia
2020-2024
Stockholm University
2024
University of Illinois Chicago
2024
University of Tennessee at Knoxville
2021
University of Windsor
2021
The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston
2019-2020
Tri-Institutional PhD Program in Chemical Biology
2014-2019
Cornell University
2013-2019
Significance Cholesterol regulates critical cell functions, including lysis, viral budding, and antibiotic resistance, by modifying the bending rigidity of membranes; i.e., ability membranes to bend or withstand mechanical stresses. A molecular-level understanding these functions requires knowledge how cholesterol modifies membrane mechanics over relevant length time scales. Currently, it is widely accepted that has no effect on properties unsaturated lipid membranes, implying viruses, for...
Abstract Cells maintain membrane fluidity by regulating lipid saturation, but the molecular mechanisms of this homeoviscous adaptation remain poorly understood. We have reconstituted core machinery for saturation in baker’s yeast to study its mechanism. By combining dynamics simulations with experiments, we uncover a remarkable sensitivity transcriptional regulator Mga2 abundance, position, and configuration double bonds acyl chains, provide insights into rules adaptation. Our data challenge...
Computational methodology that allows to extract bending rigidity and tilt modulus for a wide range of single multi-component lipid bilayers from real-space analysis fluctuations in molecular dynamics simulations.
Cell membranes possess a complex three-dimensional architecture, including nonrandom lipid lateral organization within the plane of bilayer leaflet, and compositional asymmetry between two leaflets. As result, delineating membrane structure-function relationship has been highly challenging task. Even in simplified model systems, interactions leaflets are poorly understood, due part to difficulty preparing asymmetric that free from effects residual organic solvent or osmotic stress. To...
Significance We have used cryogenic electron microscopy (cryo-EM) to achieve direct, probe-free imaging of lateral domains in biomimetic lipid membranes under native conditions and characterize differences their structures. First, measurements membrane thickness laterally uniform single-component show that cryo-EM is capable subangstrom resolution interleaflet thickness. All-atom simulations are predict the appearance submicron vesicles with coexisting liquid these quantitatively validated...
Membranes are molecular interfaces that compartmentalize cells to control the flow of nutrients and information. These functions facilitated by diverse collections lipids, nearly all which distributed asymmetrically between two bilayer leaflets. Most models biomembrane structure function often include implicit assumption these leaflets have similar abundances phospholipids. Here, we show this is generally invalid investigate consequences lipid abundance imbalances in mammalian plasma...
Nanometer-scale domains in cholesterol-rich model membranes emulate lipid rafts cell plasma (PMs). The physicochemical mechanisms that maintain a finite, small domain size are, however, not well understood. A special role has been postulated for chain-asymmetric or hybrid lipids having saturated sn-1 chain and an unsaturated sn-2 chain. Hybrid generate nanodomains some are also abundant the PM. It was proposed they align preferred orientation at boundary of ordered disordered phases,...
The dopamine transporter (DAT) is a transmembrane protein belonging to the family of neurotransmitter:sodium symporters (NSS). Members NSS are responsible for clearance neurotransmitters from synaptic cleft, and their translocation back into presynaptic nerve terminal. DAT contains long intracellular N- C-terminal domains that strongly implicated in function. N-terminus (N-term), particular, regulates reverse transport (efflux) substrate through DAT. Currently, molecular mechanisms efflux...
Despite the prevalence of lipid transbilayer asymmetry in natural plasma membranes, most biomimetic model membranes studied are symmetric. Recent advances have helped to overcome difficulties preparing asymmetric liposomes vitro, allowing for examination a larger set relevant biophysical questions. Here, we investigate stability bilayers by measuring flip-flop with time-resolved small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). Asymmetric large unilamellar vesicles inner bilayer leaflets containing...