News
New Publication in Nano Letters
11 Aug 2026
New work led by Javier Periz uses graphene energy transfer to pinpoint the position of the Toxoplasma Myosin A motor with nanometric precision.
We are delighted to announce a new publication in Nano Letters: “Localization of Apicomplexa Motor Myosin A with Axial Nanometric Precision Using Graphene Energy Transfer.”
The study addresses a long-standing question in apicomplexan parasite biology: where exactly is the molecular motor Myosin A (MyoA) positioned within the extremely narrow space between the plasma membrane and the inner membrane complex of Toxoplasma gondii?
By applying graphene energy transfer (GET) as a fluorescence-based nanometric ruler, the team was able to determine the axial position of MyoA relative to the inner membrane complex with remarkable precision. The results were independently supported by complementary super-resolution approaches, including live STED and expansion microscopy. Together, the data localize a major fraction of MyoA within the membrane–IMC space, providing direct support for the linear motor model of apicomplexan gliding motility and demonstrating the potential of GET for nanoscale protein mapping.
Congratulations to Dr. Yuan Song, Dr. Simon Gras, Prof. Markus Meissner and Dr. Javier Periz from our Chair, and to our collaborators, on this exciting interdisciplinary publication!
Read the publication in Nano Letters here.