α-Synuclein is a small neuronal protein that associates with lipid membranes. The membrane interactions are believed to be crucial to both its healthy and disease functions. The healthy functions are associated to synaptic plasticity and neurotransmitter release, while for certain conditions, the protein instead aggregates into amyloid fibrils forming so-called Lewy bodies, which are hallmarks...
Septins are now recognized as a novel component of the cytoskeleton. They are highly conserved proteins in eukaryotes, which form oligomers by self-assembling into linear complexes and higher-order structures, including filaments, bundles and rings. The structure and functions of septins are intimately linked to cell membranes through their interaction with phosphatidylinositol phosphate...
Trodusquemine is an aminosterol which has been proposed as potential drug against neurodegenerative disorders. It exploits its protective action through a direct interaction with the cell membrane, resulting in a modulation of the physico-chemical properties of the lipid bilayer (1). Using atomic force microscopy and force spectroscopy we investigated the effect of trodusquemine on the...
The Hedgehog receptor Patched regulates Hedgehog signaling by transporting cholesterol. Hedgehog signaling is aberrantly activated and Patched is overexpressed in many recurrent and metastatic cancers. We showed that Patched pumps chemotherapeutic agents such as doxorubicin out of cancer cells using the proton motive force and contributes to chemotherapy resistance of several cancer cell...
