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Michael Hanna

@mike-hanna

Lysosomes|Membrane lipids|Microscopy|Cell Biology Assistant Professor in BMB Dept at Penn State: https://sites.psu.edu/hannalab/ & @hanna-lab.bsky.social

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19.04.2025
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Latest posts by Michael Hanna @mike-hanna

Happy to share the latest from the lab, led by Daniel Alvarez, in collaboration with @lizconibear.bsky.social‬. In this AA-MD tour-de-force, we delve deep into the mechanism and energetics of lipid uptake by bridge-like lipid transfer proteins, and we learn a few interesting things along the way...

07.08.2025 08:45 πŸ‘ 58 πŸ” 18 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 2
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Molecular insights into bulk lipid transport from structural studies of the bridge-like protein VPS13A complexed with the scramblase XKR1 In eukaryotes, bridge-like lipid-transfer proteins (BLTPs) are central in mediating vesicle-independent lipid transfer between organelles. BLTPs span the cytosolic space between organelles at contact ...

Molecular insights into bulk lipid transport from structural studies of the bridge-like protein VPS13A complexed with the scramblase XKR1 www.biorxiv.org/content/10.6...

09.01.2026 15:48 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Congrats, Tara!

20.12.2025 02:22 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Ruh-roh

19.12.2025 00:58 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Fantastic!

16.12.2025 14:38 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Very very cool! If you are ever interested in talking about BLTPs, I'd love to chat

16.12.2025 02:10 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Fantastic work!

18.11.2025 17:11 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Fantastic new work revealing mechanisms of pro-apoptotic signaling as a result of lysosomal dysfunction and subsequent DNA damage.

07.11.2025 17:50 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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In natural systems, form often determines function. Check out how this model of BLTP3A exhibits the tube-like form that allows it to bridge membranes, and how its partner protein, LC3, docked here near the C-terminus, can serve to orient BLTP3A towards its intended site of action/lipid delivery.

04.11.2025 01:41 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
The Hanna Lab – Penn State Univeristy | Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

We’re located at Penn State University in lovely State College, PA.

More info about the research focus of the lab can be found here: sites.psu.edu/hannalab/

22.10.2025 19:09 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
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Research Technologist APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS: CURRENT PENN STATE EMPLOYEE (faculty, staff, technical service, or student), please login to Workday to complete the internal application process. Please do not apply here, a...

The Hanna lab is looking for an enthusiastic Research Technologist to join the team! 😊

You’ll help lead projects focused on organelle health & resilience to establish momentum in the lab. πŸ”¬πŸ₯½

Job description and details can be found here: psu.wd1.myworkdayjobs.com/PSU_Staff/jo...

22.10.2025 19:09 πŸ‘ 6 πŸ” 4 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 1
Neurons use built-in β€˜backup batteries’ that fuel the brain under stress A new Yale study reveals that neurons store their own sugar reserves that kick in to keep the brain functioning during metabolic stress.

Recent @yale.edu research led by β€ͺβ€ͺ@adwolfe.bsky.social‬‬, Milind Singh & @dacolon.bsky.social reveals neurons' ability to store glycogen as a backup fuel ⛽️, keeping the brain running under stress β€” a process called β€œglycogen-dependent glycolytic plasticity” (GDGP).

20.10.2025 13:31 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 3 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 1
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🚨 We’re hiring a postdoc! 🚨
Interested in lysosomes, Parkinson’s disease, cell biology, microscopy β€” or all of the above? Come work with us at the Bonet-Ponce Lab!
Reach out directly: luis.bonetponce@osumc.edu
Learn more: bonetponcelab.com
Let’s chat!

14.10.2025 17:00 πŸ‘ 32 πŸ” 19 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
The Hanna Lab – Penn State Univeristy | Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology

The Hanna lab has a website! πŸ–₯️

Come check it out to see what we’ll be up to 😁

sites.psu.edu/hannalab

07.10.2025 14:19 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Congrats on the fantastic work!

24.09.2025 23:43 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Much needed good news!! Our paper is just out in @jcb.org. We found a crazy antagonistic motor function that explains the elongation/retraction phenotype we see during LRRK2-dependent lysosomal tubulation. I am especially proud of Tsion, Nuria, Mia and Irene's contribution. Check it out!

24.09.2025 15:49 πŸ‘ 12 πŸ” 6 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

How delivery of new membrane lipids to lysosomes may limit or even repair damage remains unclear. This is a big emphasis for my future work!

12.09.2025 14:04 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0

Loss of BLTP3A leads to increased lysosome fragility. Our working hypothesis is that CASM recruits BLTP3A to transfer lipids to damaged lysosomes in participation with other lipid transfer proteins.

12.09.2025 14:04 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

We find that BLTP3A, a lipid transfer protein structurally related to VPS13 and ATG2 proteins, plays a role in the response to lysosome damage as an effector of the CASM (conjugation of ATG8 to single membranes) pathway

12.09.2025 14:04 πŸ‘ 0 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

First, a special shout out to @helyrodriguez.bsky.social – a fantastic scientist who put in a tremendous effort on this manuscript

12.09.2025 14:04 πŸ‘ 2 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

New paper alert! I’m very excited to share our paper published in @embojournal.org! @pdc-lab.bsky.social @yaleneuro.bsky.social

12.09.2025 14:04 πŸ‘ 24 πŸ” 9 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 1
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@anbangdai.bsky.social et al. @pdc-lab.bsky.social report the localization of BLTP2 in different human cell types & reveal binding partners that mediate its tethering to the PM & to PM-connected structures including certain #endosomes & #macropinosomes undergoing fusion rupress.org/jcb/article/...

03.09.2025 16:15 πŸ‘ 10 πŸ” 6 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
A headshot of Ben Johnson, on a light blue background with dark blue text reading β€œBen Johnson, PhD, De Camilli.” The "Open Science Champion" badge and ASAP logo are also present.

A headshot of Ben Johnson, on a light blue background with dark blue text reading β€œBen Johnson, PhD, De Camilli.” The "Open Science Champion" badge and ASAP logo are also present.

πŸ‘ We’re recognizing Ben Johnson (CRN Team De Camilli) as this month’s Open Science Champion!

Ben developed a color-coded Open Science compliance manual that makes ASAP policies easier to navigate and apply. Thank you for raising the bar for #OpenScience, Ben!

Check out the manual: bit.ly/46DuL6R

28.08.2025 15:29 πŸ‘ 3 πŸ” 2 πŸ’¬ 0 πŸ“Œ 0
Cornell University, Chemistry and Chemical Biology Job #AJO30338, WDR-00054776 Assistant Professor - Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University (Ithaca, NY), Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, US

Faculty opening in Cornell Chemistry at the Assistant Professor level in the area of chemical biology, broadly defined! academicjobsonline.org/ajo/jobs/30338 #chemjobs

25.08.2025 20:30 πŸ‘ 49 πŸ” 52 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 4

Thrilled to share that I’m starting my lab in the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Florida! We’ll study metabolism in brain aging to better understand Alzheimer’s disease. Excited to build, collab, and discover. Go Gators! 🐊
#Neuro #Aging #Alzheimers #UF
ufresearch.bsky.social‬

28.07.2025 15:27 πŸ‘ 5 πŸ” 1 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0
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In a time as thisβ€” I am deeply thankful to be blessed with this honor. As a scientist and educator, the NSF CAREER award allows me to integrate the very core of who I am as a scientist and educator.

Forever grateful to past and present members of my lab for helping me accomplish this dream.

30.07.2025 18:19 πŸ‘ 60 πŸ” 10 πŸ’¬ 4 πŸ“Œ 0

One for the Apicomplexa peeps:
ever wonder how does the IMC grow so fast during progeny formation? Where do all the lipids come from? In our latest work on malaria RBC stages we implicate this monster protein (~6000 residues!) and ER contact sites.
Happy+proud to share and keen to hear thoughts!

26.07.2025 17:16 πŸ‘ 36 πŸ” 15 πŸ’¬ 2 πŸ“Œ 0
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A bridge-like lipid transfer protein is critical for generation of invasive stages in malaria parasites Malaria blood stages build and maintain an intricate system of membranes during their cycle of rapid growth and schizogony (daughter-cell formation), requiring precise mechanisms of lipid synthesis an...

Beautiful preprint from @aguillensamander.bsky.social who uncovered an essential role for a bridge-like lipid transfer protein (PfVPS13L1) on the growth of the inner membrane complex (IMC) in P. falciparum parasites: www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...

26.07.2025 16:46 πŸ‘ 4 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0

Congrats, Anup!

01.07.2025 15:52 πŸ‘ 1 πŸ” 0 πŸ’¬ 1 πŸ“Œ 0