R. MacKinnon

Structure of the Flotillin Complex in a Native Membrane Environment

This study determines the structure of the Flotillin complex in a native membrane environment using cryo-electron microscopy, revealing its role in membrane curvature and isolation of biochemical processes.

FBM: Freestanding bilayer microscope for single-molecule imaging of membrane proteins

This paper introduces the Freestanding-Bilayer Microscope (FBM) for single-molecule imaging of membrane proteins and benchmarks it against TIRF imaging to study ion channel dynamics.

The mechanism of Gαq regulation of PLCβ3-catalyzed PIP2 hydrolysis.

This paper shows Gq increases PLCβ3 catalytic rate and structures reveal G proteins regulate PLCβ3 via separate mechanisms, leading to a product rule of co-stimulation.

Gβγ Activates PIP2 Hydrolysis by Recruiting and Orienting PLCβ on the Membrane Surface

This study shows Gβγ activates PLCβ3 by recruiting and orienting it on the membrane, increasing catalytic efficiency and reducing background activity.

Piezo1 as a force-through-membrane sensor in red blood cells.

This study investigates Piezo1 distribution and dynamics in red blood cells, finding it preferentially localizes to the dimple and exhibits curvature coupling behavior.

Elastic properties and shape of the Piezo dome underlying its mechanosensory function

The paper determines the force-distortion relationship of Piezo channels using vesicle shape measurements and derives their intrinsic curvature and bending stiffness.

Quantitative prediction and measurement of Piezo's membrane footprint

The paper predicts and measures the membrane footprint of Piezo proteins using elasticity theory and cryo-electron tomography, showing agreement across vesicle sizes and revealing a spherical cap geometry.

Analysis of the Mechanosensor Channel Functionality of TACAN

The paper investigates TACAN's functionality as a mechanosensitive ion channel and finds it does not exhibit mechanosensitive activity, instead showing structural features related to fatty acid elongase.

Correlation between structure and function in phosphatidylinositol lipid-dependent Kir2.2 gating

The paper investigates how phosphatidylinositol lipids, particularly PI(4,5)P2, affect Kir2.2 channel gating by analyzing burst and inter-burst durations in planar lipid bilayers.

Molecular structure of human KATP in complex with ATP and ADP

The paper presents two cryo-EM structures of the human KATP channel complexed with ATP and ADP, revealing their roles in channel regulation.