Group Leader at MPI of Biophysics exploring ER membrane protein biogenesis
Melanie McDowell
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The last chapter from my postdoc days is finally online! We solve structures of the ER membrane O-mannosyltransferase Pmt4 and uncover a functionally important cytosolic binding site for the Dol-P-Man substrate lipid - allosteric regulation or a long sought after Dol-P-Man flippase?? 🔄 rdcu.be/eUJfb
Thank you to all the generations of postdocs in the Sinning lab who contributed to this project and to our collaborators in the Strahl and Robinson labs! Lots of exciting new insights into Pmt4 biology together with this paper from the Li group last month (doi.org/10.1038/s414...).
Melanie McDowell
The power of Chaetomium 🧫🏋♂️ super happy for the collaboration on this project! Congratulations to @ahmed-noor-agip.bsky.social, @pamornelas.bsky.social and all co-authors 🙌🏻
This was a fun new collaboration using selective ribosome profiling to understand how the subunit composition of the ER translocon is tailored by the nascent chain. Congratulations to everyone involved!
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Our first lab paper is out! We identify and solve the first structure of the SND3 translocon involved in fungal membrane protein insertion. Congratulations @tzujingyang.bsky.social, and our colleagues @saumyakm.bsky.social, @hummerlab.bsky.social and Julian Langer. Read more ⬇️ and ➡️ rdcu.be/eNgIO
Melanie McDowell
Register now for the EMBO Workshop "Advances and new frontiers in #ProteinTranslocation across membranes" in Sant Feliu de Guixols, Spain, 21–25 Sep 2026.
Abstract submission/Registration by 19/30 Jun
https://meetings.embo.org/event/26-protein-translocation
#EMBOProteinTranslocation #EMBOevents 🧪
Super excited to share our new #preprint on #BioRxiv ✨
We reveal the structural basis of a partnership between the ER membrane complex (EMC) and the P5A-ATPase Spf1 — an insertase–dislocase duo that coordinates membrane protein biogenesis and quality control.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Melanie McDowell
Excited to share our latest study in @natcomms.nature.com , where we characterize the chaperone function of the ER membrane protein complex (EMC)—supporting membrane protein biogenesis beyond insertion!
1/9
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Melanie McDowell
Keenan Lab
EMBO
Out today in @nature.com: Together with the Honigmann, Shevchenko, Drobot and Hof labs, we present a general workflow for imaging the localization and transport of individual lipids in cells and mapping their metabolism.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Great session with Melanie McDowell today!
She shared exciting insights into how proteins find their way into the ER.
#imprs #imprs_cbp #phd #gradschool #biophysics
