Jenny E. Hinshaw

Papers

Total Citations

151

H-Index

About

Jenny E. Hinshaw is a pioneering structural biologist whose research has fundamentally advanced our understanding of membrane dynamics and cellular architecture. Her work centers on the molecular mechanisms of membrane fusion and fission, with a particular focus on the dynamin superfamily of proteins. Hinshaw’s landmark contributions include the first high-resolution structures of dynamin, revealing how this mechanochemical enzyme constricts and severs membranes—a process critical to endocytosis, organelle division, and synaptic vesicle recycling. Her studies have also illuminated the roles of related proteins like mitofusins and atlastins in mitochondrial and endoplasmic reticulum dynamics. With over 151 citations for her innovative time-resolved cryo-EM work using the Spotiton technology, Hinshaw has pioneered methods to capture transient conformational states of membrane-remodeling proteins in action. This approach has allowed her team to visualize the rapid structural rearrangements underlying membrane scission, providing unprecedented mechanistic insights. Her achievements include being elected a Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and receiving the Keith R. Porter Lecture Award for her transformative contributions to cell biology. For students and researchers, Hinshaw’s work exemplifies how integrating structural biology with cutting-edge biophysical techniques can solve long-standing puzzles in cellular function.