Organelles within a cell differ in terms of the lipid composition of their surrounding membrane, and these differences help to establish organelle identity and thus allow for directional transport of materials between organelles. The focus of the Reinisch lab and an emerging area of study is to understand the molecular mechanisms by which membranes are made and by which their composition is established and regulated. We are focused on lipid transport proteins and systems that modulate membrane composition by transporting lipids between membrane bilayers at so-called membrane contact sites. Their group was central in the discovery of a new family of eukaryotic lipid transporters, now called bridge-like lipid transfer proteins (BLTPs), that differ from previously characterized transfer proteins in that they function as bridges between apposed contact site membranes that allow for efficient lipid flow between these membranes during membrane expansion or organelle biogenesis. They are intent on elucidating mechanistically how BLTP-containing lipid transfer machinery assembles for efficient (and directional) lipid transfer, and are using in vitro reconstitution and structural biology techniques.
Recent work from our lab:
Hu B, Álvarez D, Rocha-Roa C, Guyard V, Li D, Ahmed Y, Wang X, De Camilli P, Vanni S, Reinisch KM. Mechanism of lipid transfer by bridge-like protein VPS13A and the scramblase XK. Cell. 2026 Aug 6;189(16):5135-5149.e6. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2026.05.027. Epub 2026 Jun 12. PMID: 42285089; PMCID: PMC13267863.
Li D, Wang X, Hao H, Eden J, Hu B, Walsh EE, Parson MAH, Hamill S, Li Y, Chen G, Burke JE, De Camilli P, Reinisch KM. Cryo-EM structure of soluble VPS13C suggests its regulation by a conformational switch and by calmodulin. Mol Cell. 2026 Jul 16;86(14):2843-2857.e10. doi: 10.1016/j.molcel.2026.06.028. Epub 2026 Jul 7. PMID: 42413490; PMCID: PMC13430412.
They seek motivated team members, at the post-doctoral or research associate level, for reconstitution and/or cryo-EM projects. Particularly valued is experience in the production and purification of soluble and integral membrane proteins or their complexes, membrane biochemistry, and especially cryo-EM workflow.
If you are interested, please send inquiries to Karin Reinisch (karin.reinisch@yale.edu), with a cover letter, your CV and references.
