MemBrain
Membrane proteins in the brain
Affiliation
About the research group
The MemBrain group study various molecular aspects of neuropathology, unified through membrane proteins. The group is part of the Systems Biology and Translational Cell Signaling unit听() at the Department of Biomedicine and has close local collaborations with the Molecular Imaging Center ().
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Research - MemBrain
Topic
We study membrane proteins with crucial functions in the brain. The group鈥檚 direction spurred from the PI鈥檚 previous work on the enzyme Na-acetyltransferase 60 (). This protein catalyzes N-terminal acetylation (Nt-acetylation), a highly abundant protein modification with vital roles (, ). What sets NAA60 apart from other N-terminal acetyltransferases is its unique localization to intracellular membranes and its preference for acting on membrane proteins (, ).
Furthermore, NAA60 plays a significant role in preserving the structural integrity of the Golgi apparatus, potentially holding a crucial function within the secretory pathway (). The secretory pathway is responsible for the synthesis, alteration, and sorting of membrane and secretory proteins to specific intracellular organelles, the cell surface, or the extracellular environment. This pathway holds particular significance in the realm of neurobiology and has been linked to neurodegenerative conditions.
Interestingly, we recently found pathogenic variants of NAA60 to be causative of a hereditary neurodegenerative disease called primary familial brain calcification () (, ). We are interested the molecular mechanisms of brain calcification ().听
Nt-acetylation has diverse effects on the receiving protein and serve vital roles in the human body (). However, when it comes to proteins of the secretory pathway, the molecular consequences and physiological importance of Nt-acetylation stand as major unresolved questions. The group鈥檚 overall objective is to study membrane proteins, and their influence by modifications such as Nt-acetylation, in neurodegenerative disease.
Methods
We specialize in cell- and molecular biology techniques. The group has competence in methods such as:
- Fluorescent microscopy (wide-field, confocal, STED, TIRF).
- Live-cell imaging
- Digital holographic imaging and analysis
- 3D cell cultures
- Human neuronal cultures
- CRISPR/Cas9 cell line editing
- HAP1 cell model and quality control
- Secretory pathway assays
- Flow cytometry
- Protein analysis, e.g. immunoblot and mass spectrometry
- Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae
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Interested in collaborating? Please get in touch.
Funding
The MemBrain group is funded by:
- The Trond Mohn Research foundation, TMF (Starting grant).
- The Meltzer Fund (project funding).
The MemBrain group was built with funding from:
The Meltzer Fund, Familien Blix' fond, 黑料吃瓜资源 fond, Konsul S酶ren Falch og 脴yenlege Sigurd Falchs Fond, EPICS-XS, Astri and Edvard Riis酶ens legat.
Featured
Publications
MemBrain's publications
Caiella A, McTiernan N, Aksnes H鉁夛笍
Methods Enzymol. 2025
PMID: 40887156
Siggerv氓g A, Bekkelund 脜K, Saraste J, Aksnes H鉁夛笍
Brain. 2025
Online ahead of print. PMID: 40344186
Leerink CW, Aksnes H鉁夛笍
Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2025
PMID: 40272127
Bekkelund 脜K, Siggerv氓g A, Aksnes H鉁夛笍
Trends Mol Med. 2025
PMID: 39755442
Larsen SK, Bekkelund 脜K, Glomnes N, Arnesen T, Aksnes H鉁夛笍
Biochimie. 2024
PMID: 39038730
Previous relevant publications by the PI
Chelban V 鉁夛笍, Aksnes H 鉁夛笍, Maroofian R, LaMonica LC, Seabra L, Siggerv氓g A, Devic P, Shamseldin HE, Vandrovcova J, Murphy D, Richard AC, Quenez O, Bonnevalle A, Zanetti MN, Kaiyrzhanov R, Salpietro V, Efthymiou S, Schottlaender LV, Morsy H, Scardamaglia A, Tariq A, Pagnamenta AT, Pennavaria A, Krogstad LS, Bekkelund 脜K, Caiella A, Glomnes N, Br酶nstad KM, Tury S, Moreno De Luca A, Boland-Auge A, Olaso R, Deleuze JF, Anheim M, Cretin B, Vona B, Alajlan F, Abdulwahab F, Battini JL, 陌pek R, Bauer P, Zifarelli G, Gungor S, Kurul SH, Lochmuller H, Da'as SI, Fakhro KA, G贸mez-Pascual A, Bot铆a JA, Wood NW, Horvath R, Ernst AM, Rothman JE, McEntagart M, Crow YJ, Alkuraya FS, Nicolas G; SYNaPS Study Group; Arnesen T 鉁夛笍, Houlden H 鉁夛笍.
Nat Commun. 2024 Mar 13;15(1):2269. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-46354-0. PMID: 38480682
- Popular scientific summary
Aksnes H鉁夛笍, McTiernan N, Arnesen T鉁夛笍.
J Cell Sci. 2023 Jul 15;136(14):jcs260766. doi: 10.1242/jcs.260766. Epub 2023 Jul 18. PMID: 37462250
- Review with accessible .
Arnesen T鉁夛笍, Aksnes H鉁夛笍, Giglione C鉁夛笍.
Trends Biochem Sci. 2023 Jun;48(6):495-499. doi: 10.1016/j.tibs.2023.02.008. Epub 2023 Mar 29. PMID: 36997368
- Meeting report from .
Actin finally matures 鈥 uncovering the machinery and the impact
Arnesen T鉁夛笍 and Aksnes H鉁夛笍
Trends Biochem Sci 2023 PMID:
- Commentary on: Haahr P et al., Science 2022
Expanded in vivo substrate profile of the yeast N-terminal acetyltransferase NatC
Van Damme P鉁夛笍, Osberg C S, Jonckheere V, Glomnes N, Gevaert K, Arnesen T and Aksnes H鉁夛笍
J Biol Chem, 2023 299(2):102824. PMID:
- Popular scientific summary .
Missense NAA20 variants impairing the NatB protein N-terminal acetyltransferase cause autosomal recessive developmental delay, intellectual disability, and microcephaly.
Morrison J*, Altuwaijri NK*, Br酶nstad K*, Aksnes H*, Alsaif HS, Evans A, Hashem M, Wheeler PG, Webb BD, Alkuraya FS, Arnesen T.
Genet Med. 2021 Nov;23(11):2213-2218. doi: 10.1038/s41436-021-01264-0. Epub 2021 Jul 6. PMID:
- Popular scientific summary .
Efficient and crucial quality control of HAP1 cell ploidy status
Beigl TB, Kjos氓s I, Seljeseth E, Glomnes N, Aksnes H鉁夛笍
Biol Open. 2020 Nov 12;9(11):bio057174. doi: 10.1242/bio.057174. PMID:
- Popular scientific summary .
- Attention/media by and .
Exploiting the potential of commercial digital holographic microscopy by combining it with 3D matrix cell culture assays
Hellesvik M, 脴ye H, Aksnes H鉁夛笍
Sci Rep. 2020 Sep 7;10(1):14680. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-71538-1.PMID:
- Popular scientific summary .
- Attention: by Phase Holographic Imaging AB.
N-terminal acetylation of actin by NAA80 is essential for structural integrity of the Golgi apparatus
Beigl TB, Hellesvik M, Saraste J, Arnesen T, Aksnes H鉁夛笍
Exp Cell Res. 2020 May 15;390(2):111961. doi: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2020.111961. Epub 2020 Mar 21.PMID:
- Popular scientific summary .
Co-translational, Post-translational, and Non-catalytic Roles of N-Terminal Acetyltransferases
Aksnes H鉁夛笍, Ree R, Arnesen T鉁夛笍.
Mol Cell. 2019 Mar 21;73(6):1097-1114. Review. PMID:
Molecular determinants of the N-terminal acetyltransferase Naa60 anchoring to the Golgi membrane
Aksnes H, Goris M, Str酶mland 脴, Drazic A, Waheed Q, Reuter N, Arnesen T.
J Biol Chem. 2017 Apr 21;292(16):6821-6837. PMID:
- Popular scientific summary .
Holding it together: Naa60 at the Golgi
Aksnes H, Marie M, Arnesen T.
Oncotarget. 2015 Jun 30;6(18):15726-7. PMID:
An organellar N伪-acetyltransferase, Naa60, acetylates cytosolic N termini of transmembrane proteins and maintains Golgi integrity
Aksnes H, Van Damme P, Goris M, Starheim KK, Marie M, St酶ve SI, Hoel C, Kalvik TV, Hole K, Glomnes N, Furnes C, Ljostveit S, Ziegler M, Niere M, Gevaert K, Arnesen T.
Cell Rep. 2015 Mar 3;10(8):1362-74. PMID:
- Popular scientific summary .
- Attention in .
People
Group manager
Henriette Aksnes Group leader, Researcher wih professor competence
Group members
Anette Siggerv氓g PhD candidate, MemBrain MSc degree 2023
脜se K. Bekkelund PhD Candidate, MemBrain MSc degree 2024
Alessia Caiella PhD candidate, MemBrain MSc degree 2021
Christina Wilhelmina Leerink Medical student on PhD research track
Cheryl Oortwijn Erasmus internship student 2025-2026
Maarten Van der Veen Master student 2026-2027
Sofie Helsem Moldskred Master student 2026-2027
Tuva Hjaltadottir Master student 2026-2027
Monica Hellesvik PhD candidate, Translational protein research group
Alumni / contributors to early phases of MemBrain's research:
Hanne 脴ye PhD degree 2025
Anton R. Melbye MemBrain MSc degree 2025
Ajia Pennavaria MemBrain MSc degree 2022
Therese S. Hjellvoll MemBrain MSc degree 2022
Liv S. Krogstad MemBrain MSc degree 2021
Contact
Interested in joining our team? We continuously recruit students at BSc, MSc and PhD level. Please contact Henriette Aksnes, PI.
- Emails
- henriette.aksnes@uib.no