Cholesterol-enriched domains known as membrane rafts have long been proposed to function as key regulators of a variety of cellular functions. How proteins and lipids cooperate to form these domains in cellular membranes remains a major question in biology. Here, I will discuss our recent studies of how proteins interact with raft-associated lipids and the functional consequences of these interactions. First, I will discuss ongoing experiments testing the role of cholesterol and rafts in the regulation of cleavage of amyloid precursor protein (APP) to release Alzheimer’s disease-promoting amyloid-beta peptides. Second, I will describe how the bacterial toxins exploit rafts as a mechanism to ensure their entry into host cells via endocytosis.

Targeting proteins to membrane rafts: mechanisms and consequences

254th National Meeting (2017)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.