iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Fabio Lolicato @fabiololicato.com · 12/06/2026

As part of @sfb1638.bsky.social in 𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠, we are committed to developing computational tools that make complex membrane simulations more accessible, reproducible, and scalable for the scientific community. Today, we are happy to share the public release of 𝐎𝐩𝐞𝐧𝐌𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐞𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐞𝐫 v1.2.1

23513

Fabio Lolicato @fabiololicato.com · 18/05/2026

🚨 Lipid Time 🚨 New preprint out! Using high-throughput Martini 2 simulations, we studied ~5,000 transmembrane helices in a phase-separating membrane. Most helices preferred disordered environments, some localized at domain interfaces, but none in the liquid-ordered phase! doi.org/10.64898/202...

2258

Fabio Lolicato @fabiololicato.com · 02/01/2026

🚨 First lipid paper of the year! 🚨 Combining neutron reflectometry and MD simulations, we show how α-fetoprotein interacts with lipid membranes, depending on composition, with implications for biomarker detection and biosensing! Great start to 2026! Congrats to the team! 🎉 @sfb1638.bsky.social

1153

Fabio Lolicato @fabiololicato.com · 21/07/2025

A bit late—but better late than never! Honored to present my work at #EBSA2025 in Rome a few weeks ago. I first attended EBSA in 2017 in Edinburgh and haven’t missed one since. This year in Rome—my first home—was especially meaningful. 🇮🇹 Already looking forward to Berlin 2027—my new home! 🇩🇪

141

Fabio Lolicato @fabiololicato.com · 22/05/2025

It was an honor and a real pleasure to be the first speaker at the inaugural @bitsinbio.bsky.social meetup in Berlin!A fantastic opportunity to share my past work and future research directions with such an inspiring and engaged audience! Huge thanks to @instadeep.bsky.social for making it happen!

022

Fabio Lolicato @fabiololicato.com · 22/04/2025

FGF2 secretion depends on PI(4,5)P₂ asymmetry across the plasma membrane. Disrupting this asymmetry with exogenous PI(4,5)P₂ blocks FGF2 translocation—an effect that reverses as cells restore asymmetry over time

100

Fabio Lolicato @fabiololicato.com · 22/04/2025

To quantify FGF2 translocation kinetics, we developed a new single-cell confocal assay. Following doxycycline induction, we removed surface FGF2-GFP with heparin wash and tracked its rapid reappearance—capturing a fresh wave of secretion at different incubation times

100

Fabio Lolicato @fabiololicato.com · 22/04/2025

If our hypothesis holds, disrupting PI(4,5)P₂ asymmetry in cells should slow FGF2 translocation. To test this, @manpreet0700.bsky.social introduced PI(4,5)P₂ micelles in the media—enriching the outer leaflet and disturbing the natural asymmetry. And yes, it made a difference.

111

Fabio Lolicato @fabiololicato.com · 22/04/2025

Cells vs. reconstitution systems: Asymmetric PI(4,5)P₂ distribution in living cells accelerates FGF2 translocation—something symmetric GUVs can’t replicate. But when we enzymatically introduced asymmetry into GUVs, the magic finally happened 🪄🎩🐇

100

Fabio Lolicato @fabiololicato.com · 22/04/2025

FGF2 translocates in 200ms in cells—but takes ~1hr in reconstitution systems. What drives this rapid kinetics in cells? 🏃‍♂️⏩⏩ Many auxiliary factors are missing in reconstituted systems. We pinpoint transbilayer PI(4,5)P₂ asymmetry as a key contributor to efficient membrane translocation.

100

Fabio Lolicato @fabiololicato.com · 16/01/2025

The Computational Life Science Lab 👩‍💻👨‍💻 is finally up and running! There’s still some cabling to fine-tune, but we’re getting there. Stay tuned—the wet lab will be opening soon! 🫣😱 #compchem

2220

Fabio Lolicato @fabiololicato.com · 02/01/2025

This is my hometown, Catania! One of the most magical things about the christmas season here is the unique choice it offers. You can either ski on 🌋Etna or swim in the Mediterranean sea 🏊. How amazing is that?

1171

Fabio Lolicato @fabiololicato.com · 31/12/2024

It’s not just a summer treat—Granita is always in season for Sicilians ☀️🍧

060