Kristyna Pluhackova, head of the Junior Research Group for Molecular Dynamics at SimTech, will give a scientific talk at the 15th European Biophysics Congress (EBSA 2025), taking place from June 30th to July 4th in Rome. Hosted at the historic Palazzo dei Congressi, EBSA 2025 is the largest biophysical congress in Europe, bringing together more than 1,000 researchers from across the globe to exchange ideas, present discoveries, and strengthen the interdisciplinary biophysics community.
In her presentation on July 1, Kristyna will showcase recent findings from her research collaboration with the group of Daniel J. Müller at the ETH Zürich into the molecular mechanisms of GPCR signaling. Her talk, titled “Beyond Phosphorylation: How PIP₂ Lipids Sculpt β₂‑Adrenergic Receptor‑β‑Arrestin Complexes,” highlights the essential role of membrane composition – specifically the presence of PIP₂ lipids – in determining the structural and functional dynamics of β-arrestin complexes. Using a combination of molecular dynamics simulations and single-molecule force spectroscopy done by Florian Wilhelm, the international team has revealed how PIP₂ lipids not only stabilize these complexes but actively influence their assembly, steering them into distinct structural configurations.
Our findings show that the lipid environment – specifically the presence of PIP₂ – fundamentally reshapes how arrestins interact with GPCRs,” says Kristyna. “This adds an important layer of regulation beyond phosphorylation, and it challenges the way we think about membrane proteins as isolated entities. In reality, the membrane is not just a passive background – it actively participates in shaping signaling outcomes.”
These insights offer a deeper understanding of the interplay between lipid membranes, receptor phosphorylation, and GPCR regulation – one of the most important signaling systems in human biology.
Alongside her, three young researchers from SimTech will also attend EBSA 2025: Doctoral researcher Viktoria Korn and two undergraduate students. They will present their own work in poster sessions, covering projects on protein phosphorylation, DNA origami interacting with lipid bilayers and the impact of the drug disulfiram on gasdermin pore formation. More importantly, Kristyna sees this as a chance to introduce emerging scientists to the welcoming, vibrant atmosphere of the European biophysics community.
"I’m especially looking forward to reconnecting with old friends from the field,” she says. “These conferences always feel like a reunion.”
Since 2021, Kristyna Pluhackova has led the Molecular Dynamics Junior Research Group at SimTech. Her group focuses on the development and application of molecular simulation techniques to better understand complex biological systems at the nanoscale. Their work includes the creation of realistic membrane models with complex lipid compositions, parameterization of post-translational modifications, and simulation approaches for protonation-dependent processes. A core mission of the group is to make these tools accessible to the wider research community – through open-source protocols, tutorials, and collaboration – thereby raising methodological standards in molecular dynamics.
For more information about the conference, visit www.ebsa2025.eu, or explore Kristyna’s group at SimTech here.