Membranes and motors: from physics to physiology
Our group suggested that the dynein motor uses an 'automatic gear' to work in a team and accomplish diverse cellular functions. We also showed that dynein clusters into lipid rafts on phagosomes, permitting enclosed pathogens to be transported for degradation. In another line of research, we showed how the liver establishes systemic lipid homeostasis in response to insulin by harnessing kinesin motors onto lipid droplets.
Keywords
Motor proteins / microtubule-based transport / optical trapping / membrane fusion / lipid droplets / membranes / in-vitro reconstitution