Gašper Šolinc The 5th Prato Conference on Pore Forming Proteins 2021

Gašper Šolinc

I am a structural biologist specializing in membrane-binding proteins, particularly pore-forming toxins. During my PhD at the National Institute of Chemistry, Ljubljana, in the lab of Dr. Marjetka Podobnik and Dr. Gregor Anderluh, I began by studying actinoporins—α-pore-forming toxins from sea anemones—focusing on the structure of their pores. This research led to my training in both X-ray crystallography and cryo-electron microscopy (cryo-EM), with cryo-EM becoming my method of choice due to its versatility and power in studying membrane protein complexes in near-native states. My work is characterized by a strong emphasis on understanding the structural underpinnings of membrane interaction, oligomerization, and pore formation. Focusing not only on proteins but also on the role lipids play in the structure and function of pore-forming toxins. As a postdoctoral researcher, I expanded my research to include actinoporin-like proteins and other pore-forming toxins from various organisms and continued to refine my expertise in cryo-EM and actively collaborate across disciplines, combining structural biology with biochemistry, biophysics, and cell biology to dissect the molecular mechanisms of membrane disruption.