Troy Kervin
@meowmuir.bsky.social
Logician-scientist: membrane protein cryo-EM, proteolipid code, category theory, philosophy of science
proteolipid.org
proteolipid.org
Pinned
Troy Kervin
@meowmuir.bsky.social
· Sep 25
Membrane phase separation drives responsive assembly of receptor signaling domains - Nature Chemical Biology
Super-resolution imaging detects plasma membrane domains that emerge when receptors are clustered in live B cells. Domain structures arise due to the membrane phase transition and can tune local membrane organization and receptor activation.
www.nature.com
I have just posted a matters arising critique of
S.A. Shelby et al. Nature Chemical Biology www.nature.com/articles/s41...
on Zenodo:
Kervin, T. A. (2025). No phases? No phase separation. Zenodo. doi.org/10.5281/zeno...
Shelby and Veatch's data do not support their model.
#lipidtime
S.A. Shelby et al. Nature Chemical Biology www.nature.com/articles/s41...
on Zenodo:
Kervin, T. A. (2025). No phases? No phase separation. Zenodo. doi.org/10.5281/zeno...
Shelby and Veatch's data do not support their model.
#lipidtime
Dear pseudoscientists,
Be afraid. we have a new preprint debunking lipid rafts, detox theory, and the free energy principle in brain science:
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
countermeasures and alternatives discussed.
#lipidtime #nutrition #neuroscience
Be afraid. we have a new preprint debunking lipid rafts, detox theory, and the free energy principle in brain science:
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
countermeasures and alternatives discussed.
#lipidtime #nutrition #neuroscience
(PDF) Lessons from pseudoscience in biology
PDF | We review three pseudoscientific frameworks that currently dominate their respective fields in biology but are now being phased out by each... | Find, read and cite all the research you need on ...
www.researchgate.net
November 15, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Dear pseudoscientists,
Be afraid. we have a new preprint debunking lipid rafts, detox theory, and the free energy principle in brain science:
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
countermeasures and alternatives discussed.
#lipidtime #nutrition #neuroscience
Be afraid. we have a new preprint debunking lipid rafts, detox theory, and the free energy principle in brain science:
www.researchgate.net/publication/...
countermeasures and alternatives discussed.
#lipidtime #nutrition #neuroscience
Reposted by Troy Kervin
1/ It is no secret that I view the unchecked rise of liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) in biology as a profound distortion of molecular biology. It conflicts with its principles, it is logically incompatible with them, and the claims made in its name have been, with rare exceptions,...
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November 14, 2025 at 8:27 AM
1/ It is no secret that I view the unchecked rise of liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) in biology as a profound distortion of molecular biology. It conflicts with its principles, it is logically incompatible with them, and the claims made in its name have been, with rare exceptions,...
–>2
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Reposted by Troy Kervin
Independent validation of the SnxA biosensor as a sensitive reporter of PI(3,5)P₂ dynamics by Gerald R Hammond and team: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
November 12, 2025 at 6:57 PM
Independent validation of the SnxA biosensor as a sensitive reporter of PI(3,5)P₂ dynamics by Gerald R Hammond and team: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Troy Kervin
An Asgard archaeon with internal membrane compartments
Brilliant study led by @fmacleod.bsky.social and Andriko von Kügelgen. Tight collaboration with @buzzbaum.bsky.social and lab. Congrats to all authors!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Brilliant study led by @fmacleod.bsky.social and Andriko von Kügelgen. Tight collaboration with @buzzbaum.bsky.social and lab. Congrats to all authors!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
November 7, 2025 at 10:44 AM
An Asgard archaeon with internal membrane compartments
Brilliant study led by @fmacleod.bsky.social and Andriko von Kügelgen. Tight collaboration with @buzzbaum.bsky.social and lab. Congrats to all authors!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Brilliant study led by @fmacleod.bsky.social and Andriko von Kügelgen. Tight collaboration with @buzzbaum.bsky.social and lab. Congrats to all authors!
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Troy Kervin
Great collaboration with @guo-lab.bsky.social to determine an in situ architectural model of the Tad pilus machine. Be on the lookout soon for a preprint on the same topic by Grant Jensen and @viollierpat.bsky.social. #microsky
November 6, 2025 at 3:51 PM
Great collaboration with @guo-lab.bsky.social to determine an in situ architectural model of the Tad pilus machine. Be on the lookout soon for a preprint on the same topic by Grant Jensen and @viollierpat.bsky.social. #microsky
Reposted by Troy Kervin
Glushkova, Böhm, & Beck @maxplanck.de develop a publicly available computational method to measure the thickness of biological membranes in cryo-electron tomograms. Analysis of algae & human cells reveals systematic membrane thickness variations within & across organelles rupress.org/jcb/article/...
November 4, 2025 at 5:30 PM
Glushkova, Böhm, & Beck @maxplanck.de develop a publicly available computational method to measure the thickness of biological membranes in cryo-electron tomograms. Analysis of algae & human cells reveals systematic membrane thickness variations within & across organelles rupress.org/jcb/article/...
Reposted by Troy Kervin
Delighted to share the latest chapter in the mystery series on how septins sense membrane curvature. Grateful to reviewers for thoughtful critiques and @jcb.org for publishing our work! doi.org/10.1083/jcb....
Lipid packing and local geometry influence septin curvature sensing
Localization of the septin cytoskeleton is controlled by regulatory factors, membrane curvature, and charge. In this study, changes to lipid composition th
doi.org
November 4, 2025 at 4:13 AM
Delighted to share the latest chapter in the mystery series on how septins sense membrane curvature. Grateful to reviewers for thoughtful critiques and @jcb.org for publishing our work! doi.org/10.1083/jcb....
Reposted by Troy Kervin
Calling all #Membrane enthusiasts!
Our #MembraneTrafficking online seminar series is back for the 2025-26 season: 8 fantastic speakers from Nov'25 to Feb'26.
The first talks are already next Thursday (Nov 6, 5pm CET) with @agatawitkowska.bsky.social and @abdourachidthiam.bsky.social !
Our #MembraneTrafficking online seminar series is back for the 2025-26 season: 8 fantastic speakers from Nov'25 to Feb'26.
The first talks are already next Thursday (Nov 6, 5pm CET) with @agatawitkowska.bsky.social and @abdourachidthiam.bsky.social !
October 27, 2025 at 5:02 PM
Calling all #Membrane enthusiasts!
Our #MembraneTrafficking online seminar series is back for the 2025-26 season: 8 fantastic speakers from Nov'25 to Feb'26.
The first talks are already next Thursday (Nov 6, 5pm CET) with @agatawitkowska.bsky.social and @abdourachidthiam.bsky.social !
Our #MembraneTrafficking online seminar series is back for the 2025-26 season: 8 fantastic speakers from Nov'25 to Feb'26.
The first talks are already next Thursday (Nov 6, 5pm CET) with @agatawitkowska.bsky.social and @abdourachidthiam.bsky.social !
Reposted by Troy Kervin
Proud to share a preprint of our paper on how bridge-like lipid transport protein VPS13C senses lysosomal membrane tension in anticipation of membrane lesions to initiate net ER-to-lysosome lipid transfer for efficient lysosomal repair www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
VPS13C/PARK23 initiates lipid transfer and membrane remodeling for efficient lysosomal repair
Perturbations in lysosome integrity are tightly linked to neurological disorders and ageing, but the underlying pathogenic mechanisms are incompletely understood. Using an unbiased proteomic approach,...
www.biorxiv.org
October 25, 2025 at 1:11 PM
Proud to share a preprint of our paper on how bridge-like lipid transport protein VPS13C senses lysosomal membrane tension in anticipation of membrane lesions to initiate net ER-to-lysosome lipid transfer for efficient lysosomal repair www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Troy Kervin
🚀 Introducing fully automated data processing for repeat-target #cryoEM.
Using new tools in #CryoSPARC, it is now possible to obtain resolutions & map quality equal to or better than manual processing, with zero user intervention.
Preprint: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Using new tools in #CryoSPARC, it is now possible to obtain resolutions & map quality equal to or better than manual processing, with zero user intervention.
Preprint: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
October 20, 2025 at 2:32 PM
🚀 Introducing fully automated data processing for repeat-target #cryoEM.
Using new tools in #CryoSPARC, it is now possible to obtain resolutions & map quality equal to or better than manual processing, with zero user intervention.
Preprint: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Using new tools in #CryoSPARC, it is now possible to obtain resolutions & map quality equal to or better than manual processing, with zero user intervention.
Preprint: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Reposted by Troy Kervin
amazing #lipidtime story from Tontonoz lab! Lipid scrambling and cholesterol accessibility IN T-CELLS regulates nutrient uptake in small intestine 🤯🤯
Physiology is so weird!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Physiology is so weird!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
T cell cholesterol transport links intestinal immune responses to dietary lipid absorption
The intrinsic pathways that control membrane organization in immune cells and their impact on cellular functions are poorly defined. We found that the nonvesicular cholesterol transporter Aster-A link...
www.science.org
October 17, 2025 at 6:33 PM
amazing #lipidtime story from Tontonoz lab! Lipid scrambling and cholesterol accessibility IN T-CELLS regulates nutrient uptake in small intestine 🤯🤯
Physiology is so weird!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Physiology is so weird!
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Reposted by Troy Kervin
New ‘landmark’ research on the #herpes simplex virus-1 uses innovative microscopy and x-ray tomography techniques to examine the roles of 9 proteins in viral formation.
buff.ly/guzAjYH
buff.ly/guzAjYH
October 15, 2025 at 10:03 AM
New ‘landmark’ research on the #herpes simplex virus-1 uses innovative microscopy and x-ray tomography techniques to examine the roles of 9 proteins in viral formation.
buff.ly/guzAjYH
buff.ly/guzAjYH
Delighted to have worked on this paper with Madhur Mangalam. Cognitive neuroscience needs disciplined pluralism rather than trivial, ab initio frameworks: www.researchgate.net/publication/...
(PDF) Disciplined pluralism in cognitive neuroscience
PDF | The promise of simple, universal explanations exerts a powerful pull in cognitive neuroscience—but that allure can constrain discovery. By forcing... | Find, read and cite all the research you n...
www.researchgate.net
October 12, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Delighted to have worked on this paper with Madhur Mangalam. Cognitive neuroscience needs disciplined pluralism rather than trivial, ab initio frameworks: www.researchgate.net/publication/...
Reposted by Troy Kervin
#lipidtime alert!
This preprint by Kenji Maeda (cannot find him here) & colleagues is mandatory reading by everybody with even a cursory interest in lipid biology:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
This preprint by Kenji Maeda (cannot find him here) & colleagues is mandatory reading by everybody with even a cursory interest in lipid biology:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Lipid Landscape of human cells
Eukaryotic cells synthesise thousands of lipid species, yet the principles that organise them across compartments remain unclear. Here we introduce PAP-SL, parallel (immuno)affinity purification coupl...
www.biorxiv.org
October 9, 2025 at 3:18 PM
#lipidtime alert!
This preprint by Kenji Maeda (cannot find him here) & colleagues is mandatory reading by everybody with even a cursory interest in lipid biology:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
This preprint by Kenji Maeda (cannot find him here) & colleagues is mandatory reading by everybody with even a cursory interest in lipid biology:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Dear #lipidtime
When you write "phase separation" in a non-equilibrium context, what do you mean? If you have one, please direct me to the definition you are using.
When you write "phase separation" in a non-equilibrium context, what do you mean? If you have one, please direct me to the definition you are using.
October 9, 2025 at 11:54 AM
Dear #lipidtime
When you write "phase separation" in a non-equilibrium context, what do you mean? If you have one, please direct me to the definition you are using.
When you write "phase separation" in a non-equilibrium context, what do you mean? If you have one, please direct me to the definition you are using.
Reposted by Troy Kervin
BREAKING: The Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar M. Yaghi “for the development of metal-organic frameworks”
Stay tuned for more.
#NobelPrize
Stay tuned for more.
#NobelPrize
October 8, 2025 at 9:49 AM
BREAKING: The Nobel Prize in Chemistry has been awarded to Susumu Kitagawa, Richard Robson and Omar M. Yaghi “for the development of metal-organic frameworks”
Stay tuned for more.
#NobelPrize
Stay tuned for more.
#NobelPrize
Reposted by Troy Kervin
October 7, 2025 at 10:45 AM
Reposted by Troy Kervin
John Clarke, Michel Devoret and John Martinis have been awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics for demonstrating quantum physics on the macroscopic scale
go.nature.com/3WnEUhE
go.nature.com/3WnEUhE
Groundbreaking quantum-tunnelling experiments win physics Nobel
John Clarke, Michel Devoret and John Martinis discovered quantum physics on a macroscopic scale, paving the way for quantum computing.
go.nature.com
October 7, 2025 at 11:54 AM
John Clarke, Michel Devoret and John Martinis have been awarded the 2025 Nobel Prize in Physics for demonstrating quantum physics on the macroscopic scale
go.nature.com/3WnEUhE
go.nature.com/3WnEUhE
Reposted by Troy Kervin
Providing order amongst constant traffic: #LMBResearch from Sean Munro (@cellbiol-mrclmb.bsky.social) with John Briggs (@mpibiochem.bsky.social) reveals how GOLPH3 allows COPI vesicles to distinguish between Golgi residents & ER-bound proteins.
Read more: www2.mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk/protein-sort...
Read more: www2.mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk/protein-sort...
October 6, 2025 at 8:07 AM
Providing order amongst constant traffic: #LMBResearch from Sean Munro (@cellbiol-mrclmb.bsky.social) with John Briggs (@mpibiochem.bsky.social) reveals how GOLPH3 allows COPI vesicles to distinguish between Golgi residents & ER-bound proteins.
Read more: www2.mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk/protein-sort...
Read more: www2.mrc-lmb.cam.ac.uk/protein-sort...
Reposted by Troy Kervin
October 6, 2025 at 2:17 AM
Reposted by Troy Kervin
BREAKING: The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded jointly to Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Shimon Sakaguchi "for their discoveries concerning peripheral immune tolerance"
Stay tuned for more.
#NobelPrize
Stay tuned for more.
#NobelPrize
October 6, 2025 at 9:34 AM
BREAKING: The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine has been awarded jointly to Mary E. Brunkow, Fred Ramsdell, and Shimon Sakaguchi "for their discoveries concerning peripheral immune tolerance"
Stay tuned for more.
#NobelPrize
Stay tuned for more.
#NobelPrize
Reposted by Troy Kervin
Reposted by Troy Kervin
Muyuan Chen has turned structural biology into an immersive experience with his new video game Meowtabolism, now available on Steam.
Try the demo here: store.steampowered.com/app/4045010/...
Give Muyuan feedback: steamcommunity.com/app/4045010
#ScienceGaming #StructuralBiology #CryoEM #STEMOutreach
Try the demo here: store.steampowered.com/app/4045010/...
Give Muyuan feedback: steamcommunity.com/app/4045010
#ScienceGaming #StructuralBiology #CryoEM #STEMOutreach
October 4, 2025 at 1:34 PM
Muyuan Chen has turned structural biology into an immersive experience with his new video game Meowtabolism, now available on Steam.
Try the demo here: store.steampowered.com/app/4045010/...
Give Muyuan feedback: steamcommunity.com/app/4045010
#ScienceGaming #StructuralBiology #CryoEM #STEMOutreach
Try the demo here: store.steampowered.com/app/4045010/...
Give Muyuan feedback: steamcommunity.com/app/4045010
#ScienceGaming #StructuralBiology #CryoEM #STEMOutreach
Reposted by Troy Kervin
This is… probably a cat :3
October 4, 2025 at 1:17 PM
This is… probably a cat :3
Reposted by Troy Kervin
How do cells sense & respond to lipid imbalances? What happens when a disease-relevant enzyme is blocked? Shiying Huang investigates phosphoinositide lipids with the Balla lab & discovers an integrated cellular response that boosts alternate lipid synthesis pathways! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
October 3, 2025 at 1:03 PM
How do cells sense & respond to lipid imbalances? What happens when a disease-relevant enzyme is blocked? Shiying Huang investigates phosphoinositide lipids with the Balla lab & discovers an integrated cellular response that boosts alternate lipid synthesis pathways! www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...