Niek van Hilten
@nvhilten.bsky.social
Postdoc at Michael Grabe's lab at University of California, San Francisco. 🌉
Trying to make sense of bouncing molecules.
Biophysics / MD simulation / membrane proteins
(I also love cycling and running!) 🚵🏼🏃🏼
Trying to make sense of bouncing molecules.
Biophysics / MD simulation / membrane proteins
(I also love cycling and running!) 🚵🏼🏃🏼
Pinned
Niek van Hilten
@nvhilten.bsky.social
· Sep 17
27 simulations of capturing hundreds of lipid scrambling events reveal mechanisms of lipid translocation.
However, according to reviewers, more evidence is needed on outside-the-groove scramblase activity.
buff.ly/LTxy4yX
However, according to reviewers, more evidence is needed on outside-the-groove scramblase activity.
buff.ly/LTxy4yX
As a martini simulator, lipid enthusiast, and map nerd, I absolutely love this one! 🌎
The Martini globe. The lipids of the globe are coloured by their continent based on the tectonic plates. The Kingdom of Denmark is coloured dark red.
By @fabianschuhmann.bsky.social @cg-martini.bsky.social @weria-lab.bsky.social et al in doi.org/10.1021/acs....
By @fabianschuhmann.bsky.social @cg-martini.bsky.social @weria-lab.bsky.social et al in doi.org/10.1021/acs....
December 18, 2025 at 6:49 PM
As a martini simulator, lipid enthusiast, and map nerd, I absolutely love this one! 🌎
Reposted by Niek van Hilten
Organelles do NOT have a single uniform pH.
And if you think they must, because “protons diffuse fast,” this paper is for you.
A thread on why that assumption is wrong; and what we found instead. 🧵 1/n
And if you think they must, because “protons diffuse fast,” this paper is for you.
A thread on why that assumption is wrong; and what we found instead. 🧵 1/n
Organelles harbour pH gradients https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2025.12.12.694065v1
December 17, 2025 at 12:46 AM
Organelles do NOT have a single uniform pH.
And if you think they must, because “protons diffuse fast,” this paper is for you.
A thread on why that assumption is wrong; and what we found instead. 🧵 1/n
And if you think they must, because “protons diffuse fast,” this paper is for you.
A thread on why that assumption is wrong; and what we found instead. 🧵 1/n
May lipid scramblases be selective after all?!
New @pnas.org paper showing that TMEM16F prefers PS and PC over PE in the complex context of a real plasma membrane.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
New @pnas.org paper showing that TMEM16F prefers PS and PC over PE in the complex context of a real plasma membrane.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
A cell-based scrambling assay reveals the phospholipid headgroup preference of TMEM16F on the plasma membrane | PNAS
The asymmetric resting distribution of the three major phospholipid classes on the
mammalian plasma membrane, with phosphatidylserine and phosphati...
www.pnas.org
October 30, 2025 at 6:18 PM
May lipid scramblases be selective after all?!
New @pnas.org paper showing that TMEM16F prefers PS and PC over PE in the complex context of a real plasma membrane.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
New @pnas.org paper showing that TMEM16F prefers PS and PC over PE in the complex context of a real plasma membrane.
www.pnas.org/doi/10.1073/...
Evo-MD strikes again! Unraveling the physics of cholesterol attraction by transmembrane proteins. @natcomms.nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Physics-based evolution of transmembrane helices reveals mechanisms of cholesterol attraction - Nature Communications
Cholesterol plays a key role in membrane biology. Here, authors employ evolutionary molecular dynamics simulations to explore interactions driven by linear protein sequences, challenging the predictiv...
www.nature.com
October 20, 2025 at 9:28 PM
Evo-MD strikes again! Unraveling the physics of cholesterol attraction by transmembrane proteins. @natcomms.nature.com
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
🤯
🧠 The Lipid #Brain Atlas is out now! If you think #lipids are boring and membranes are all the same, prepare to be surprised. Led by @lucafusarbassini.bsky.social with Giovanni D'Angelo's lab, we mapped membrane lipids in the mouse brain at high resolution.
www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
www.biorxiv.org/cgi/content/...
October 16, 2025 at 3:40 PM
🤯
Reposted by Niek van Hilten
Thanks to @snsf.ch, we are hiring two PhD students to investigate frontier topics in lipid biology using a combination of MD simulations and experiments. Preferred starting date: ASAP. Fribourg - and Switzerland - are quite nice, for both work and private life! Please spread the word!
October 13, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Thanks to @snsf.ch, we are hiring two PhD students to investigate frontier topics in lipid biology using a combination of MD simulations and experiments. Preferred starting date: ASAP. Fribourg - and Switzerland - are quite nice, for both work and private life! Please spread the word!
27 simulations of capturing hundreds of lipid scrambling events reveal mechanisms of lipid translocation.
However, according to reviewers, more evidence is needed on outside-the-groove scramblase activity.
buff.ly/LTxy4yX
However, according to reviewers, more evidence is needed on outside-the-groove scramblase activity.
buff.ly/LTxy4yX
September 17, 2025 at 11:49 PM
Reposted by Niek van Hilten
Out today in @nature.com: Together with the Honigmann, Shevchenko, Drobot and Hof labs, we present a general workflow for imaging the localization and transport of individual lipids in cells and mapping their metabolism.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
August 21, 2025 at 5:19 AM
Out today in @nature.com: Together with the Honigmann, Shevchenko, Drobot and Hof labs, we present a general workflow for imaging the localization and transport of individual lipids in cells and mapping their metabolism.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Looking forward to this one!
Join the Membrane Structure and Function Subgroup will be hosting a webinar on Tuesday, March 25 at 11:00 AM ET. The presentations will explore recent breakthroughs, foundational concepts, and future directions in membrane biophysics.
Register here: buff.ly/YOAPVID
Register here: buff.ly/YOAPVID
March 23, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Looking forward to this one!
Reposted by Niek van Hilten
Are lipids actively sorted during clathrin mediated endocytosis like proteins? @mathilda95.bsky.social addresses this key open question together with our collaborators from the Honigmann and Modes labs using a new Lipid-STED workflow.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
March 10, 2025 at 11:57 AM
Are lipids actively sorted during clathrin mediated endocytosis like proteins? @mathilda95.bsky.social addresses this key open question together with our collaborators from the Honigmann and Modes labs using a new Lipid-STED workflow.
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Wrapped up #BPS2025 with a scenic bike ride to Griffith observatory. This week was a blast! See you next year in SF 🌁 @biophysicalsoc.bsky.social
February 20, 2025 at 5:04 AM
Wrapped up #BPS2025 with a scenic bike ride to Griffith observatory. This week was a blast! See you next year in SF 🌁 @biophysicalsoc.bsky.social
✅ Arrived in #LA
✅ Funded 20 bicycles for World Bicycle Relief
Now refocus on some awesome science at #bps2025 @biophysicalsoc.bsky.social
I will keep the fundraiser open for another week, so donations are still welcome 🙏🏼
✅ Funded 20 bicycles for World Bicycle Relief
Now refocus on some awesome science at #bps2025 @biophysicalsoc.bsky.social
I will keep the fundraiser open for another week, so donations are still welcome 🙏🏼
February 15, 2025 at 5:10 AM
✅ Arrived in #LA
✅ Funded 20 bicycles for World Bicycle Relief
Now refocus on some awesome science at #bps2025 @biophysicalsoc.bsky.social
I will keep the fundraiser open for another week, so donations are still welcome 🙏🏼
✅ Funded 20 bicycles for World Bicycle Relief
Now refocus on some awesome science at #bps2025 @biophysicalsoc.bsky.social
I will keep the fundraiser open for another week, so donations are still welcome 🙏🏼
Day 4 ✅
Tough day of riding in the rain. Happy to take a rest day tomorrow. #santabarbara has awesome #bike infrastructure!
Donations 🙏🏼
www.powerofbicycles.org/fundraisers/niekvanhilten
Tough day of riding in the rain. Happy to take a rest day tomorrow. #santabarbara has awesome #bike infrastructure!
Donations 🙏🏼
www.powerofbicycles.org/fundraisers/niekvanhilten
February 13, 2025 at 2:22 AM
Day 4 ✅
Tough day of riding in the rain. Happy to take a rest day tomorrow. #santabarbara has awesome #bike infrastructure!
Donations 🙏🏼
www.powerofbicycles.org/fundraisers/niekvanhilten
Tough day of riding in the rain. Happy to take a rest day tomorrow. #santabarbara has awesome #bike infrastructure!
Donations 🙏🏼
www.powerofbicycles.org/fundraisers/niekvanhilten
Day 3 ✅
Making the most of the sunny weather. Getting closer to LA and #bps2025!
Donations 🙏🏼: www.powerofbicycles.org/fundraisers/...
Making the most of the sunny weather. Getting closer to LA and #bps2025!
Donations 🙏🏼: www.powerofbicycles.org/fundraisers/...
February 12, 2025 at 1:55 AM
Day 3 ✅
Making the most of the sunny weather. Getting closer to LA and #bps2025!
Donations 🙏🏼: www.powerofbicycles.org/fundraisers/...
Making the most of the sunny weather. Getting closer to LA and #bps2025!
Donations 🙏🏼: www.powerofbicycles.org/fundraisers/...
Day 2 ✅
Getting closer to #bps2025 with every pedal stroke.
Donations to World Bicycle Relief ➡️ www.powerofbicycles.org/fundraisers/...
Getting closer to #bps2025 with every pedal stroke.
Donations to World Bicycle Relief ➡️ www.powerofbicycles.org/fundraisers/...
February 11, 2025 at 4:13 AM
Day 2 ✅
Getting closer to #bps2025 with every pedal stroke.
Donations to World Bicycle Relief ➡️ www.powerofbicycles.org/fundraisers/...
Getting closer to #bps2025 with every pedal stroke.
Donations to World Bicycle Relief ➡️ www.powerofbicycles.org/fundraisers/...
On my way to #bps2025 @biophysicalsoc.bsky.social
I’m biking from SF to LA to promote low-emission transportation and raise money for World Bicycle Relief.
Donations: 🙏🏼
www.powerofbicycles.org/fundraisers/niekvanhilten
I’m biking from SF to LA to promote low-emission transportation and raise money for World Bicycle Relief.
Donations: 🙏🏼
www.powerofbicycles.org/fundraisers/niekvanhilten
February 10, 2025 at 2:07 AM
On my way to #bps2025 @biophysicalsoc.bsky.social
I’m biking from SF to LA to promote low-emission transportation and raise money for World Bicycle Relief.
Donations: 🙏🏼
www.powerofbicycles.org/fundraisers/niekvanhilten
I’m biking from SF to LA to promote low-emission transportation and raise money for World Bicycle Relief.
Donations: 🙏🏼
www.powerofbicycles.org/fundraisers/niekvanhilten
Our paper is now out in @elife.bsky.social!
We performed @cg-martini.bsky.social MD simulations to capture >700 lipid scrambling events in 27 TMEM16 structures to systematically study their lipid scrambling rates and mechanisms.
📃 doi.org/10.7554/eLife.105111.1
We performed @cg-martini.bsky.social MD simulations to capture >700 lipid scrambling events in 27 TMEM16 structures to systematically study their lipid scrambling rates and mechanisms.
📃 doi.org/10.7554/eLife.105111.1
February 3, 2025 at 10:27 PM
Our paper is now out in @elife.bsky.social!
We performed @cg-martini.bsky.social MD simulations to capture >700 lipid scrambling events in 27 TMEM16 structures to systematically study their lipid scrambling rates and mechanisms.
📃 doi.org/10.7554/eLife.105111.1
We performed @cg-martini.bsky.social MD simulations to capture >700 lipid scrambling events in 27 TMEM16 structures to systematically study their lipid scrambling rates and mechanisms.
📃 doi.org/10.7554/eLife.105111.1
From 9 to 14 February 2025, I embark on a 550 mile (900 km) bike adventure from San Francisco to Los Angeles to attend the annual BPS meeting @biophysicalsoc.bsky.social. On this trip, I strive to (1) raise money for World Bicycle Relief, and (2), to promote low-emission travel. A thread 🧵:
January 21, 2025 at 6:31 PM
From 9 to 14 February 2025, I embark on a 550 mile (900 km) bike adventure from San Francisco to Los Angeles to attend the annual BPS meeting @biophysicalsoc.bsky.social. On this trip, I strive to (1) raise money for World Bicycle Relief, and (2), to promote low-emission travel. A thread 🧵: