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SCIENTIFIC LITERATURE · MED

Cryo-EM structure of soluble VPS13C suggests its regulation by a conformational switch and by calmodulin.

Mol Cell · 2026-07-07

DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2026.06.028PMID: 42413490

Open accessresearch-article; Journal ArticleOriginal source ↗

Research overview

The text below is the source article’s original abstract under a verified reuse license. cc by

Bridge-like lipid transfer proteins (BLTPs) play fundamental roles in cellular lipid redistribution between organellar membranes. They comprise bridge domains spanning organelles at contact sites that allow lipids to transit through the cytosol between adjacent membranes. The assembly of BLTPs into complexes with adaptor proteins enables lipid transfer. To address the mechanisms underlying the assembly and regulation of BLTP complexes, we used cryo-EM to resolve the structure of one such BLTP, the Parkinson's disease protein VPS13C, at near-atomic resolution. The structure identifies a lipid-transfer-nonpermissive conformation, in which the built-in C-terminal VAB adaptor module blocks the end of the lipid transfer bridge, interfering with lipid delivery. We also identify calmodulin (CaM), central to calcium signaling, as a constitutive VPS13C interactor. Calcium induces conformational changes in the VPS13C-CaM complex, suggesting calcium regulation of VPS13 function. Altogether, this structure of intact VPS13C serves as a starting point for understanding its regulation and that of other VPS13 proteins.

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