A fundamental feature of eukaryotic cells is their compartmentalization into distinct organelles by biological membranes. Each membrane is composed of thousands of interacting lipids and proteins that are essential to basic processes from photosynthesis to the maintenance of electrochemical gradients across membranes. Many cellular membranes present an asymmetric lipid distribution that is essential for cell survival. This lipid asymmetry is generated by membrane transporters, termed flippases.

We study the functioning, regulation and physiological significance of lipid flippases and their complexes. For this, we apply a broad range of molecular biology, biochemistry, biophysics and advanced bioimaging techniques, based on homologous and heterologous expression systems and including the synthesis of specific lipid probes for characterizing membrane properties, protein-membrane interactions and lipid trafficking.