MemBrain
Membrane proteins in the brain

About the research group
Research - MemBrain
Topic
We study membrane proteins with crucial functions in the brain. The group’s direction spurred from the PI’s previous work on the enzyme Na-acetyltransferase 60 (NAA60). This protein catalyzes N-terminal acetylation (Nt-acetylation), a highly abundant protein modification with vital roles (1, 2). What sets NAA60 apart from other N-terminal acetyltransferases is its unique localization to intracellular membranes and its preference for acting on membrane proteins (3, 4).
Furthermore, NAA60 plays a significant role in preserving the structural integrity of the Golgi apparatus, potentially holding a crucial function within the secretory pathway (3). The secretory pathway is responsible for the synthesis, alteration, and sorting of membrane and secretory proteins to specific intracellular organelles, the cell surface, or the extracellular environment. This pathway holds particular significance in the realm of neurobiology and has been linked to neurodegenerative conditions.
Interestingly, we recently found pathogenic variants of NAA60 to be causative of a hereditary neurodegenerative disease called primary familial brain calcification (PFBC) (5, 6). We are interested the molecular mechanisms of brain calcification (7).
Nt-acetylation has diverse effects on the receiving protein and serve vital roles in the human body (2). However, when it comes to proteins of the secretory pathway, the molecular consequences and physiological importance of Nt-acetylation stand as major unresolved questions. The group’s overall objective is to study membrane proteins, and their influence by modifications such as Nt-acetylation, in neurodegenerative disease.
Methods
We specialize in cell- and molecular biology techniques. The group has competence in methods such as:
- Fluorescent microscopy (wide-field, confocal, STED, TIRF).
- Live-cell imaging
- Digital holographic imaging and analysis
- 3D cell cultures
- Human neuronal cultures
- CRSPR/Cas9 cell line editing
- HAP1 cell model and quality control
- Secretory pathway assays
- Flow cytometry
- Protein analysis, e.g. immunoblot and mass spectrometry
- Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Interested in collaborating? Please get in touch.
Funding
The MemBrain group is funded by:
- The Trond Mohn Research foundation, TMF (Starting grant).
- The Meltzer Fund (project funding).
The MemBrain group was built with funding from:
The Meltzer Fund, Familien Blix' fond, UiB fond, Konsul Søren Falch og Øyenlege Sigurd Falchs Fond, EPICS-XS, Astri and Edvard Riisøens legat.

Publications
MemBrain's publications
Understanding brain calcification via N-terminal acetylation at the Golgi apparatus
Siggervåg A, Bekkelund ÅK, Saraste J, Aksnes H✉️
Brain. 2025
Online ahead of print. PMID: 40344186
Fahr's disease or primary familial brain calcification?
Leerink CW, Aksnes H✉️
Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2025
PMID: 40272127
Pi-ecing together brain calcification mechanisms for therapeutic advancement
Bekkelund ÅK, Siggervåg A, Aksnes H✉️
Trends Mol Med. 2025
PMID: 39755442
Larsen SK, Bekkelund ÅK, Glomnes N, Arnesen T, Aksnes H✉️
Biochimie. 2024
PMID: 39038730
Previous relevant publications by the PI
Biallelic NAA60 variants with impaired N-terminal acetylation capacity cause autosomal recessive primary familial brain calcifications.
Chelban V ✉️, Aksnes H ✉️, Maroofian R, LaMonica LC, Seabra L, Siggervåg A, Devic P, Shamseldin HE, Vandrovcova J, Murphy D, Richard AC, Quenez O, Bonnevalle A, Zanetti MN, Kaiyrzhanov R, Salpietro V, Efthymiou S, Schottlaender LV, Morsy H, Scardamaglia A, Tariq A, Pagnamenta AT, Pennavaria A, Krogstad LS, Bekkelund ÅK, Caiella A, Glomnes N, Brønstad KM, Tury S, Moreno De Luca A, Boland-Auge A, Olaso R, Deleuze JF, Anheim M, Cretin B, Vona B, Alajlan F, Abdulwahab F, Battini JL, İpek R, Bauer P, Zifarelli G, Gungor S, Kurul SH, Lochmuller H, Da'as SI, Fakhro KA, Gómez-Pascual A, Botía JA, Wood NW, Horvath R, Ernst AM, Rothman JE, McEntagart M, Crow YJ, Alkuraya FS, Nicolas G; SYNaPS Study Group; Arnesen T ✉️, Houlden H ✉️.
Nat Commun. 2024 Mar 13;15(1):2269. doi: 10.1038/s41467-024-46354-0. PMID: 38480682
- Popular scientific summary here.
NATs at a glance
Aksnes H✉️, McTiernan N, Arnesen T✉️.
J Cell Sci. 2023 Jul 15;136(14):jcs260766. doi: 10.1242/jcs.260766. Epub 2023 Jul 18. PMID: 37462250
- Review with accessible poster.
Protein Termini 2022: central roles of protein ends
Arnesen T✉️, Aksnes H✉️, Giglione C✉️.
Trends Biochem Sci. 2023 Jun;48(6):495-499. doi: 10.1016/j.tibs.2023.02.008. Epub 2023 Mar 29. PMID: 36997368
- Meeting report from EMBO/ISPT meeting 2022.
Actin finally matures – uncovering the machinery and the impact
Arnesen T✉️ and Aksnes H✉️
Trends Biochem Sci 2023 PMID: 36804256
- Commentary on: Haahr P et al., Science 2022 10.1126/science.abq5082
Expanded in vivo substrate profile of the yeast N-terminal acetyltransferase NatC
Van Damme P✉️, Osberg C S, Jonckheere V, Glomnes N, Gevaert K, Arnesen T and Aksnes H✉️
J Biol Chem, 2023 299(2):102824. PMID: 36567016
- Popular scientific summary here.
Missense NAA20 variants impairing the NatB protein N-terminal acetyltransferase cause autosomal recessive developmental delay, intellectual disability, and microcephaly.
Morrison J*, Altuwaijri NK*, Brønstad K*, Aksnes H*, Alsaif HS, Evans A, Hashem M, Wheeler PG, Webb BD, Alkuraya FS, Arnesen T.
Genet Med. 2021 Nov;23(11):2213-2218. doi: 10.1038/s41436-021-01264-0. Epub 2021 Jul 6. PMID: 34230638
- Popular scientific summary here.
Efficient and crucial quality control of HAP1 cell ploidy status
Beigl TB, Kjosås I, Seljeseth E, Glomnes N, Aksnes H✉️
Biol Open. 2020 Nov 12;9(11):bio057174. doi: 10.1242/bio.057174. PMID: 33184093
- Popular scientific summary here.
- Attention/media by Horizon Discovery and Journal of cell science.
Exploiting the potential of commercial digital holographic microscopy by combining it with 3D matrix cell culture assays
Hellesvik M, Øye H, Aksnes H✉️
Sci Rep. 2020 Sep 7;10(1):14680. doi: 10.1038/s41598-020-71538-1.PMID: 32895419
- Popular scientific summary here.
- Attention: Application note by Phase Holographic Imaging AB.
N-terminal acetylation of actin by NAA80 is essential for structural integrity of the Golgi apparatus
Beigl TB, Hellesvik M, Saraste J, Arnesen T, Aksnes H✉️
Exp Cell Res. 2020 May 15;390(2):111961. doi: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2020.111961. Epub 2020 Mar 21.PMID: 32209306
- Popular scientific summary here.
Co-translational, Post-translational, and Non-catalytic Roles of N-Terminal Acetyltransferases
Aksnes H✉️, Ree R, Arnesen T✉️.
Mol Cell. 2019 Mar 21;73(6):1097-1114. Review. PMID: 30878283
Molecular determinants of the N-terminal acetyltransferase Naa60 anchoring to the Golgi membrane
Aksnes H, Goris M, Strømland Ø, Drazic A, Waheed Q, Reuter N, Arnesen T.
J Biol Chem. 2017 Apr 21;292(16):6821-6837. PMID: 28196861
- Popular scientific summary here.
Holding it together: Naa60 at the Golgi
Aksnes H, Marie M, Arnesen T.
Oncotarget. 2015 Jun 30;6(18):15726-7. PMID: 26164078
An organellar Nα-acetyltransferase, Naa60, acetylates cytosolic N termini of transmembrane proteins and maintains Golgi integrity
Aksnes H, Van Damme P, Goris M, Starheim KK, Marie M, Støve SI, Hoel C, Kalvik TV, Hole K, Glomnes N, Furnes C, Ljostveit S, Ziegler M, Niere M, Gevaert K, Arnesen T.
Cell Rep. 2015 Mar 3;10(8):1362-74. PMID: 25732826
- Popular scientific summary here.
- Attention in Cell Reports blog.
People
Group manager
Henriette Aksnes Group leader
Group members
Anette Siggervåg PhD candidate
Åse K. Bekkelund Research assistant (Vit. ass.)
Alessia Caiella PhD candidate
Christina Wilhelmina Leerink Medical student on PhD research track
Anton R. Melbye Master student
Monica Hellesvik PhD candidate, Translational protein research group
Alumni / contributors to early phases of MemBrain's research:
Hanne Øye PhD defence April 2025
Ajia Pennavaria MSc 2022
Therese S. Hjellvoll MSc 2022
Liv S. Krogstad MSc 2021
Contact
Interested in joining our team? We continuously recruit students at BSc, MSc and PhD level. Please contact Henriette Aksnes, PI
- Emails
- henriette.aksnes@uib.no