MP

Molecular basis for multidrug efflux by an anaerobic RND transporter.

Lawrence R, Athar M, Uddin MR, Adams C, Sousa JS, Durrant O, Lellman S, Sutton L, Keevil CW, Patel N, Prosser C, McMillan D, Zgurskaya HI, Vargiu AV, Ahdash Z, Reading E.

bioRxiv [Preprint]. 2025 Apr 5:2025.04.04.646765. 

doi: 10.1101/2025.04.04.646765.

PMID: 40236129. 

CryoEM study of MdtEF (formerly known as YhiUV) a multidrug efflux pump that is significantly upregulated under anaerobic conditions.

=> trimeric RND transporter with distinct proton-relay pathways enabling drug export under low-oxygen conditions. 

=> Functional and computational data support a novel coupling between proton translocation and substrate extrusion.

Structural characterization of the ABC transporter DppABCDF in Escherichia coli reveals insights into dipeptide acquisition.

Li P, Zhang M, Huang Y.

PLoS Biol. 2025 Mar 7;23(3):e3003026. 

doi: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3003026. eCollection 2025 Mar.

PMID: 40053564.

CryoEM structure of the DppABCDF complex, an ABC transporter involved in dipeptide uptake in E. coli. 

=> unique substrate-binding pocket and conformational changes during the transport cycle. 

Exploring the Structural Dynamics of LeuT Using EPR Spectroscopy: A Focus on Transmembrane Helix 10.

Tsalagradas P, Eke C, Andrews C, MacMillan F.

J Neurochem. 2025 Mar;169(3):e70034. 

doi: 10.1111/jnc.70034.

PMID: 40052253.

EPR spectroscopy to probe the conformational flexibility of transmembrane helix 10 in LeuT => this helix undergoes environment-sensitive structural changes during the transport cycle, movements linked to alternating access and sodium binding states.

The ABC transporter MsbA in a dozen environments.

Hoffmann L, Baier A, Jorde L, Kamel M, Schäfer JH, Schnelle K, Scholz A, Shvarev D, Wong JEMM, Parey K, Januliene D, Moeller A.

Structure. 2025 Feb 28:S0969-2126(25)00055-3. 

doi: 10.1016/j.str.2025.02.002. Online ahead of print.

PMID: 40056915.

Structural plasticity of MsbA across 12 lipid and detergent environments. Authors show how membrane context shapes the conformational states relevant for lipid flipping. 

There is an environment-dependent transporter behavior: differences in activity and structure highlight the importance of native-like bilayers in functional studies.

Bacteriorhodopsin proton-pumping mechanism: successes and challenges in computational approaches.

Bondar AN, Smith JC.

Biophys J. 2025 Apr 3:S0006-3495(25)00209-7. 

doi: 10.1016/j.bpj.2025.03.035. Online ahead of print.

PMID: 40186354. 

Review summarizing computational efforts to model proton transfer in BR.

=> key successes in simulating water networks and proton pathways but also challenges remaining in capturing long-timescale transitions and accurately reproducing energetics. Quantum methods and machine learning are suggested to improve modeling of proton-coupled processes.

Membrane

Multi-proton dynamics near membrane-water interface.

Mallick S, Agmon N.

Nat Commun. 2025 Apr 6;16(1):3276. 

doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-58167-w.

PMID: 40188150. 

Using multiscale simulations, authors investigate how protons behave at the interface between water and phospholipid membranes. 

=>They reveal concerted proton hopping events and interfacial water networks that stabilize excess protons. Lipid headgroup interactions modulate proton distribution and mobility. 

Tissue-like multicellular development triggered by mechanical compression in archaea. 

Rados T, Leland OS, Escudeiro P, Mallon J, Andre K, Caspy I, von Kügelgen A, Stolovicki E, Nguyen S, Patop IL, Rangel LT, Kadener S, Renner LD, Thiel V, Soen Y, Bharat TAM, Alva V, Bisson A.

Science. 2025 Apr 4;388(6742):109-115. 

doi: 10.1126/science.adu0047. Epub 2025 Apr 3. 

PMID: 40179183.

The studyshows that several archaeal species form multicellular structures when subjected to mechanical compression. Cells first enlarge without dividing, then abruptly cellularize once a threshold size and tension are reached. 

Mechanical forces can trigger multicellularity even in archaea: membrane tension seems to act as a developmental index for tissue-like organization.

Permeabilisation of the Outer Membrane of Escherichia coli for Enhanced Transport of Complex Molecules.

Casas-Rodrigo I, Vornholt T, Castiglione K, Roberts TM, Jeschek M, Ward TR, Panke S.

Microb Biotechnol. 2025 Mar;18(3):e70122. 

doi: 10.1111/1751-7915.70122.

PMID: 40059126.

Engineering of E. coli strains with enhanced outer membrane permeability to facilitate the transport of bulky or hydrophobic compounds. 

Using genetic tools and detergents, they modulated porin expression and membrane integrity => uptake of non-native substrates without compromising cell viability. 

Perspectives for biocatalysis and synthetic biology applications.

Functional reconstitution of plant plasma membrane H+-ATPase into giant unilamellar vesicles.

Uzun HD, Malysenko E, Justesen BH, Pomorski TG.

Sci Rep. 2025 Mar 12;15(1):8541. 

doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-92663-9.

PMID: 40074791.

Plant proton ATPases reconstituted into artificial vesicles to study their proton-pumping function in a controlled environment. 

The ATPase retained activity and generated pH gradients across synthetic membranes => enables real-time monitoring of electrogenic transport and membrane potential.

Molecules

Balancing Permeability and Stability: A Study of Hybrid Membranes for Synthetic Cells Using Lipids and PBd-b-PEO Block Copolymers.

Presutti C, Vreeker E, Sasidharan S, Ferdinando Z, Stuart M, Juhaniewicz-Dębińska J, Maglia G, Roos WH, Poolman B.

Biomacromolecules. 2025 Apr 8. 

doi: 10.1021/acs.biomac.4c01651. Online ahead of print.

PMID: 40197008.

Synthetic membranes made of lipids and PBd-b-PEO block copolymers for use in artificial cells. By tuning composition, the authors modulate membrane stability, protein insertion, and permeability. 

Cryo-EM and leakage assays reveal trade-offs between robustness and transport efficiency. 

=> new designs for minimal cells and bioreactors.

Methods

Comprehensive Identification of Lipid-Membrane Protein Interactions via Advanced Proteomics and Extended Lipid-Immobilized Bead Technology.

Morito M, Hata K, Izumi Y, Bamba T, Matsumori N.

Anal Chem. 2025 Apr 15. 

doi: 10.1021/acs.analchem.5c00074. Online ahead of print.

PMID: 40233011.

Combination of lipid-immobilized bead assays with mass spectrometry to profile MP–lipid interactions. 

=> identification of interaction partners for diverse lipid classes under native-like conditions. 

Microbio

LolA and LolB are conserved in Bacteroidota and are crucial for gliding motility and Type IX secretion.

De Smet T, Baland E, Giovannercole F, Mignon J, Lizen L, Dugauquier R, Lauber F, Dieu M, Lima-Mendez G, Michaux C, Devos D, Renzi F.

Commun Biol. 2025 Mar 6;8(1):376. 

doi: 10.1038/s42003-025-07817-2.

PMID: 40050408.

Study expanding the known roles of the Lol system beyond classical Gram-negative models. LolA and LolB, well studied in E. coli, are also essential in Bacteroidota for gliding motility and secretion via the Type IX system. 

Phylogenetic and functional assays demonstrate conservation and importance of these lipoprotein transporters. 

Primary role of the Tol-Pal complex in bacterial outer membrane lipid homeostasis.

Tan WB, Chng SS.

Nat Commun. 2025 Mar 7;16(1):2293. 

doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-57630-y.

PMID: 40055349.

Redefinition of the function of the Tol-Pal complex, traditionally associated with cell division, as a key regulator of OM lipid balance. 

Disruption of Tol-Pal => lipid mislocalization and increased membrane permeability. Authors propose a model where Tol-Pal maintains asymmetry by coupling IM and OM dynamics.

Miscellaneous

Cheap blood test detects pancreatic cancer before it spreads. 

Mallapaty S.

Nature. 2025 Feb 12. 

doi: 10.1038/d41586-025-00438-z. Epub ahead of print. 

PMID: 39939744.

Researchers have developed a cheap, simple blood test to detect pancreatic cancer before it spreads to other areas of the body, when treatment is more likely to be successful. The test uses a nanosensor to detect proteases that are active in tumours, even from the very early stages. Tests on frozen blood samples showed the test identified people with pancreatic cancer with a 73% accuracy, which is “a very promising, very impressive result”, says biomedical engineer Simone Schürle-Finke.

Everything you want to know about biomolecular structure 

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Biosynthesis of poly(ester amide)s in engineered Escherichia coli. 

Chae TU, Choi SY, Ahn DH, Jang WD, Jeong H, Shin J, Lee SY.

Nat Chem Biol. 2025 Mar 17. 

doi: 10.1038/s41589-025-01842-2. Epub ahead of print. 

PMID: 40097734.

For the first time, researchers have genetically engineered microbes to produce a strong, flexible plastic similar to one of the most widely used fossil-fuel-based plastics: nylon. No natural enzymes produce this type of polymer, so researchers tweaked enzyme-encoding genes from various bacteria and inserted them into Escherichia coli to make the bioplastic, called poly(ester amide), or PEA. There are many hurdles to overcome before this laboratory experiment can be translated into a product: the PEA polymers have to be purified before they can be used, and the process is currently more expensive than the fossil-fuel route.

Catchy, clear, concise: three-part phrases boost research paper citations. 

Singh Chawla D.

Nature. 2025 Mar;639(8056):847-848. 

doi: 10.1038/d41586-025-00771-3.