Annual Meeting

Lipids, lipids everywhere!

A Discover BMB symposium: Lipid Dynamics and Signals in Membrane and Protein Structure
Michael Airola Robert V. Stahelin
By Michael Airola and Robert V. Stahelin
Sept. 27, 2022

Lipids not only taste delicious (at least in our opinion) but are the major components of biological membranes and play essential roles in most aspects of human biology. In fact, if we look closely at the lipids and membranes of eukaryotes and prokaryotes, we see they contribute to fundamental roles in compartmentalizing cells, stress responses, metabolism, gene regulation, inflammation, and activating both cell protective and cell destructive mechanisms.

As such, the study of lipids and membranes remains a critical and emerging area for cutting-edge research — one that has great potential to impact human health and the understanding and treatment of diseases.

Our symposia at Discover BMB, the annual meeting of the American Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, in Seattle in March will bring together leading investigators in lipid metabolism and membrane function in replication of microorganisms and viruses, communicate novel protein structural information in lipid metabolism and transport, and promote the understanding of membrane structure and biophysics in cell physiology.

Keywords: Enzyme regulation, lipid droplets, lipid domains, membrane structure and tension, sphingolipids, infectious disease.

Who should attend: Lipid and membrane enthusiasts and anyone interested in learning more about lipid metabolism, lipid–protein interactions or membrane structure.

Theme song: “Insane in the Membrane” by Cypress Hill.

This session is powered by Hass avocados, rich in healthy fats.

Speakers

New roles for lipids in microorganisms and viruses
Michael Airola (chair), Stony Brook University
Robert V. StahelinPurdue University
Elizabeth JohnsonCornell University
Eric A. Klein, Rutgers University–Camden
Nihal Altan–BonnettNational Institutes of Health

Molecular insight into lipid metabolism and transport
Abdou Rachid Thiam (chair), Centre national de la recherche scientifique, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Paris
Michael AirolaStony Brook University
Angeline LyonPurdue University
Eric OrtlundEmory University School of Medicine
Saskia NeherUniversity of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

Membrane structure and dynamics
Robert Stahelin (chair), Purdue University
Abdou Rachid ThiamCentre national de la recherche scientifique, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Paris
Sarah KellerUniversity of Washington
Suzanne ScarlataWorcester Polytechnic Institute
Ilya LeventhalUniversity of Virginia

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Michael Airola
Michael Airola

Michael Airola is an assistant professor of biochemistry and cell biology at Stony Brook University.

Robert V. Stahelin

Robert V. Stahelin is the Retter professor of pharmacy and a professor of medicinal chemistry and molecular pharmacology at Purdue University.

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