Membrane Clusters in Health and Neurodegenerative Disease
A special issue of Biomolecules (ISSN 2218-273X).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 24
Special Issue Editors
Interests: lipids; cholesterol; sterols; phospholipids; neuroscience; atherosclerosis
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Membrane clusters, also known as membrane rafts, are small, dynamic membrane domains ranging from 10 to 200 nm. They are found in the plasma membrane and internal membranes such as the Golgi, endosomes, lysosomes, peroxisomes, and mitochondria, and can exchange components within or between adjacent membranes. These domains can be broadly categorized as cholesterol-dependent or cholesterol-independent. Composed of both lipids and proteins, membrane clusters play crucial roles in mediating signaling events during cell–cell interactions and at adjacent subcellular organelle membranes.
We invite expert research scientists to contribute reviews or original articles addressing three key aspects of membrane clusters:
- Analysis: We encourage studies exploring membrane clusters in intact cells or cell-free systems. Techniques such as electron microscopy (EM), super-resolution microscopy (e.g., STED), click chemistry for fluorescent labeling, and mass spectrometry-based lipidomic and proteomic analyses are particularly welcome.
- Biological Function: We seek insights into the roles of membrane clusters in neurons, astrocytes, microglia, pericytes, and vascular endothelial cells in the brain under physiological conditions and in neurodegenerative diseases.
- Therapeutic Targeting: Articles discussing strategies to target membrane clusters for treating neurodegenerative diseases are highly encouraged.
We look forward to contributions that expand our understanding of these essential membrane domains.
Dr. Tayuan Chang
Dr. Catherine C. Y. Chang
Guest Editors
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Keywords
- membrane cluster
- membrane lipids
- membrane proteins
- caveolin
- lipid rafts
- phospholipid
- cholesterol
- sphingolipids
- cholesteryl esters
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