The integrity of plasma membranes is essential for maintaining cellular homeostasis; however, these structures are vulnerable to disruption by bacterial toxins and pathological proteins. In neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, inflammatory proteins damage membranes, destabilize cellular functions, and ultimately lead to neuronal death. Recent studies indicate that S100 family proteins are involved in these processes, promoting membrane damage and advancing neurodegenerative progression.
To better understand these mechanisms and identify therapeutic solutions, detailed analysis of lipid membrane-protein interactions is essential. Artificial lipid membranes designed to replicate native cell membranes, provide a controlled platform for real-time investigations under physiologically relevant conditions, such as varied pH, ion concentrations, and electric potential.
This work aims to explore the molecular structure of artificial membranes and their interactions with S100 proteins at electrochemical interfaces. This research employs advanced spectroscopic techniques, including surface-enhanced infrared absorption spectroscopy (SEIRAS) and sum-frequency generation spectroscopy (SFG), to probe the molecular interactions at electrochemical interfaces with high sensitivity and specificity. These approaches enable precise characterization of lipid bilayer structure and the dynamics of S100 protein binding and disruption.
Mokslinis vadovas / Supervisor: Martynas Talaikis
Kontaktai / Contacts:
tel. / phone: +370 662 68729
Programme: Biochemistry N 004