Lipid-Protein Interactions in Cellular Processes
Group leader
Alicia Alonso
Email
Phone
+34 946 01 3354
Address
Biofisika Institute (CSIC, EHU)
Science Park of the EHU
Barrio Sarriena s/n. 48940 Leioa, Bizkaia (Spain)
Research goal
In our group we research lipid-protein interactions in different processes where membrane remodelling is taking place. In particular, we are now concentrating our studies on the autophagosome generation/elongation and further fusion with the lysosomes. Our methodological approach is multidisciplinary with a combination of biophysical, cellular biology and nanotechnological techniques.
Group members
Camila Aguirre
PhD Student
David Bermejillo
PhD Student
Alicia Alonso
University Professor
Gorka Basañez
CSIC Scientist
Jesús Sot Sanz
Research Technician
Publications
Llombart P, Arada I, González-Ramírez EJ, Alonso A, MacDowell LG, Goñi FM.
Long-term memory in lipid assemblies: Rate-independent hysteresis in the ripple-to-liquid-disordered transition of sphingomyelin bilayers
J Chem Phys. 2025 Apr 7;162(13):135101. PMID: 40167004.
10.1063/5.0252051
Varela YR, Aguirre CC, Iriondo MN, Ballesteros U, Collado MI, Etxaniz A, Montes LR, Goñi FM, Alonso A
Ceramide and the membrane-fusion activity of LC3/GABARAP autophagy proteins
Cell Mol Life Sci. 2025 Jul 19;82(1):283. PMID: 40682660.
10.1007/s00018-025-05811-9
García-Arribas AB, Alonso A, Goñi FM
The puzzle of sphingolipids and cholesterol under the atomic force microscope: bilayer thicknesses and breakthrough forces
Chem Phys Lipids. 2025 Sep;271:105527. Epub 2025 Jul 15. PMID: 40675432.
10.1016/j.chemphyslip.2025.105527
Prieto-López L, Pereiro X, Ramírez EJG, Ruzafa N, Alonso A, Franze K, Vecino E.
Substrate stiffness and pressure alter retinal Müller glia response and extracellular matrix production
Biomater Biosyst. 2025 Jul 7;19:100114. PMID: 40687493; PMCID: PMC12275231.
10.1016/j.bbiosy.2025.100114
Sot J, Varela YR, Montes LR, Goñi FM, Alonso A
A nile red fluorescence assay for LC3 autophagy protein binding to lipid bilayers
Sci Rep. 2025 Oct 3;15(1):34571. PMID: 41044149; PMCID: PMC12494833.
10.1038/s41598-025-18016-8
Ballesteros U, Alonso A, Montes LR, Etxaniz A
Vesicle-vesicle fusion promoted by the Atg8-family autophagy protein LC3C: relevance of the N-terminal region
Autophagy. 2024 May 31:1-3
doi: 10.1080/15548627.2024.2359354
Ahyayauch H, Masserini ME, Goñi FM, Alonso A
The Influence of Lipid Electric Charge on the Binding of Aβ(1-42) Amyloid Peptide to Bilayers in the Liquid-Ordered State
Biomolecules. 2024 Mar 1;14(3):298
doi: 10.3390/biom14030298
Ballesteros U, Iriondo MN, Varela YR, Goñi FM, Alonso A, Montes LR, Etxaniz A
The N-terminal region of the ATG8 autophagy protein LC3C is essential for its membrane fusion properties
Int J Biol Macromol. 2024 Mar;262(Pt 1):129835
doi: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.129835
Varela YR, Iriondo MN, Goñi FM, Alonso A, Montes LR
Ceramide regulation of autophagy: A biophysical approach
Biochim Biophys Acta Mol Cell Biol Lipids. 2024 Mar;1869(2):159444
doi: 10.1016/j.bbalip.2023.159444
Iriondo MN, Alonso A.
Vesicle tethering and fusion promoted by LC3/GABARAP proteins is modulated by the ATG12-ATG5-ATG16L1 complex
Autophagy. 2023 Oct;19(10):2827-2829
DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2023.2202557
Varela YR, González-Ramírez EJ, Iriondo MN, Ballesteros U, Etxaniz A, Montes LR, Goñi FM, Alonso A.
Lipids in Mitochondrial Macroautophagy: Phase Behavior of Bilayers Containing Cardiolipin and Ceramide
Int J Mol Sci. 2023 Mar 7;24(6):5080
DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065080
Iriondo MN, Etxaniz A, Varela YR, Ballesteros U, Lázaro M, Valle M, Fracchiolla D, Martens S, Montes LR, Goñi FM, Alonso A.
Effect of ATG12-ATG5-ATG16L1 autophagy E3-like complex on the ability of LC3/GABARAP proteins to induce vesicle tethering and fusion
Cell Mol Life Sci. 2023 Feb 2;80(2):56
DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-04704-z
Varela YR, Alonso A.
LC3/GABARAP binding to fluid membranes is potentiated by ceramide
Autophagy. 2023 Apr;19(4):1371-1373
DOI: 10.1080/15548627.2022.2136821
Varela YR, Iriondo MN, Etxaniz A, Ballesteros U, Montes LR, Goñi FM, Alonso A.
Ceramide enhances binding of LC3/GABARAP autophagy proteins to cardiolipin-containing membranes
Int J Biol Macromol. 2022 Sep 30;217:748-760
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2022.07.032