Research
Cellular pressure and volume regulation and implications for cell mechanics
Survival of cells requires avoidance of large changes of cell volume. However, small alterations of cell volume function as specific signals regulating the processes of cell proliferation, death and migration. Cell volume changes are also related to several diseases, such as liver insufficiency, sickle cell anemia, infection, and hypercatabolism. However, how cells regulate their volume is still not fully understood. We’re aiming to understand how cells regulate their volumes in response to osmotic shocks and mechanical forces, why and how the cell volume plays important roles in cell migration, cell spreading, and the viscoelastic properties of cells.
Mechanics and internal degrees of freedom inside membranes
A cell membrane is not a simple assembly of lipids and proteins. There are many internal degrees of freedom in a membrane, such as the shape of lipid molecules, the tilt direction of lipid molecules, and the species of lipids and proteins. We’re interested in the interplay between these internal degrees of freedom and dynamic changes of the membrane shape.
Growth mechanics and morphology of bacterial cells
Bacterial cell wall is the main structure to maintain a specific cell shape and to resist the osmotic pressure of several atmospheres. Despite many research, some basic questions remain unsolved: Out of many possibilities, why do bacteria only have several defined shapes? How do rod-like bacteria select and maintain a specific radius, but grow in the axial direction? Is there any size limit for bacteria? What factors determine the size limit if it exists? How does prokaryotic cytoskeleton affect the bacterial shape? How do external forces influence the growth and morphology of bacterial cells? We are interested to answer these questions.
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