Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40140423›Full record

ArticleNature communications2025

Cryo-EM structures of a protein pore reveal a cluster of cholesterol molecules and diverse roles of membrane lipids.

Gašper Šolinc, Marija Srnko, Franci Merzel, Ana Crnković, Mirijam Kozorog, Marjetka Podobnik, Gregor Anderluh

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Gašper ŠolincDepartment of Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8243-0781
Marija SrnkoDepartment of Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6253-7231
Franci MerzelTheory Department, National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
Ana CrnkovićDepartment of Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0581-1887
Mirijam KozorogDepartment of Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5379-8517
Marjetka PodobnikDepartment of Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia. marjetka.podobnik@ki.si.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-6786-9737
Gregor AnderluhDepartment of Molecular Biology and Nanobiotechnology, National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia. gregor.anderluh@ki.si.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-9916-8465

Funding

EC | Horizon 2020 Framework Programme (EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation H2020) Marie Sklodowska-Curie 896849The Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency (ARIS) IO-0003The Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency (ARIS) J4-2547The Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency (ARIS) J4-8225The Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency (ARIS) P1-0391
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The structure and function of membrane proteins depend on their interactions with lipids that constitute membranes. Actinoporins are α-pore-forming proteins that bind preferentially to sphingomyelin-containing membranes, where they oligomerize and form transmembrane pores. Through a comprehensive cryo-electron microscopic analysis of a pore formed by an actinoporin Fav from the coral Orbicella faveolata, we show that the octameric pore interacts with 112 lipids in the upper leaflet of the membrane, reveal the roles of lipids, and demonstrate that the actinoporin surface is suited for binding multiple receptor sphingomyelin molecules. When cholesterol is present in the membrane, it forms a cluster of four molecules associated with each protomer. Atomistic simulations support the structural data and reveal additional effects of the pore on the lipid membrane. These data reveal a complex network of protein-lipid and lipid-lipid interactions and an underrated role of lipids in the structure and function of transmembrane protein complexes.

Indexed as

CholesterolMembrane LipidsPore Forming Cytotoxic ProteinsAnimalsAnthozoaCell MembraneCryoelectron MicroscopyMembrane ProteinsProtein BindingSphingomyelinsCholesterolMembrane LipidsMembrane ProteinsPore Forming Cytotoxic ProteinsSphingomyelins

Identifiers

PMID40140423
PMCPMC11947440

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.