Cells are surrounded by membranes that protect them from their environment and allow them to interact with it. These membranes can form specialized structures, microdomains, which are enriched with specific lipids and sterols. They play critical roles in sensing and responding to changes in their surroundings. However, how these structures are formed and how they respond to stress, such as increased tension in the membrane, is not fully understood. In this research, we will study the molecular mechanisms behind membrane microdomains connected to yeast eisosomes and muscle cell T-tubules using advanced tools like cryo-electron microscopy, proteomics, and imaging of living cells. By uncovering how these structures function and change under stress, we aim to better understand the pathogenesis behind diseases like myopathy. This research will reveal fundamental insights into cellular membranes and how cells sense and respond to changes in their environment.

2025

2029