Membrane microdomains have an important role in many cellular processes, including cell migration, vesicle trafficking, organizing membrane protein assemblies, and pathogen uptake. Our research group studies structural mechanisms and biological functions of mechanosensitive membrane microdomains and how these structures respond to external stress, such as membrane tension changes or stretch. We use a combination of cell biology, fluorescence microscopy imaging, biochemistry, in vitro reconstitution, and structural biology tools. With these approaches, we aim to understand how mechanosensitive membrane microdomains maintain normal cellular processes and how changes in their structure and biophysical properties lead to diseases.
Markku Hakala, PhD
Academy Research Fellow
Institute of Biotechnology, HiLIFE
Markku is a Principal Investigator/ Academy Research Fellow at BI.