{"entity": "researcher", "timestamp": "2026-08-22T06:58:17.153Z", "family": "Contreras", "given": "Francesc-Xabier", "initials": "FX", "orcid": "0000-0003-0875-634X", "affiliations": ["Instituto Biofisika (UPV/EHU, CSIC), University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Barrio Sarriena s/n, Leioa, E-48940, Spain.", "Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Barrio Sarriena s/n, Leioa, E-48940, Spain.", "IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, 48011, Spain."], "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/eb18dad23ac34297a1c6e7b757e9491f.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/eb18dad23ac34297a1c6e7b757e9491f"}}, "publications": [{"entity": "publication", "iuid": "e22ad51fbb71449eba077cf92905238b", "links": {"self": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/e22ad51fbb71449eba077cf92905238b.json"}, "display": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/publication/e22ad51fbb71449eba077cf92905238b"}}, "title": "Identification of a New Cholesterol-Binding Site within the IFN-\u03b3 Receptor that is Required for Signal Transduction.", "authors": [{"family": "Morana", "given": "Ornella", "initials": "O"}, {"family": "Nieto-Garai", "given": "Jon Ander", "initials": "JA"}, {"family": "Bj\u00f6rkholm", "given": "Patrik", "initials": "P"}, {"family": "Bernardino de la Serna", "given": "Jorge", "initials": "J"}, {"family": "Terrones", "given": "Oihana", "initials": "O"}, {"family": "Arboleya", "given": "Aroa", "initials": "A"}, {"family": "Ciceri", "given": "Dalila", "initials": "D"}, {"family": "Rojo-Bartolom\u00e9", "given": "Iratxe", "initials": "I"}, {"family": "Blouin", "given": "C\u00e9dric M", "initials": "CM"}, {"family": "Lamaze", "given": "Christophe", "initials": "C"}, {"family": "Lorizate", "given": "Maier", "initials": "M"}, {"family": "Contreras", "given": "Francesc-Xabier", "initials": "FX", "orcid": "0000-0003-0875-634X", "researcher": {"href": "https://publications-affiliated.scilifelab.se/researcher/eb18dad23ac34297a1c6e7b757e9491f.json"}}], "type": "journal article", "published": "2022-04-00", "journal": {"title": "Adv Sci (Weinh)", "issn": "2198-3844", "volume": "9", "issue": "11", "pages": "e2105170", "issn-l": null}, "abstract": "The cytokine interferon-gamma (IFN-\u03b3) is a master regulator of innate and adaptive immunity involved in a broad array of human diseases that range from atherosclerosis to cancer. IFN-\u03b3 exerts it signaling action by binding to a specific cell surface receptor, the IFN-\u03b3 receptor (IFN-\u03b3R), whose activation critically depends on its partition into lipid nanodomains. However, little is known about the impact of specific lipids on IFN-\u03b3R signal transduction activity. Here, a new conserved cholesterol (chol) binding motif localized within its single transmembrane domain is identified. Through direct binding, chol drives the partition of IFN-\u03b3R2 chains into plasma membrane lipid nanodomains, orchestrating IFN-\u03b3R oligomerization and transmembrane signaling. Bioinformatics studies show that the signature sequence stands for a conserved chol-binding motif presented in many mammalian membrane proteins. The discovery of chol as the molecular switch governing IFN-\u03b3R transmembrane signaling represents a significant advance for understanding the mechanism of lipid selectivity by membrane proteins, but also for figuring out the role of lipids in modulating cell surface receptor function. Finally, this study suggests that inhibition of the chol-IFN\u03b3R2 interaction may represent a potential therapeutic strategy for various IFN-\u03b3-dependent diseases.", "doi": "10.1002/advs.202105170", "pmid": "35166455", "labels": [], "xrefs": [{"db": "pmc", "key": "PMC9008429"}], "notes": [], "created": "2026-08-21T10:59:27.089Z", "modified": "2026-08-21T10:59:27.164Z"}]}