Cellular and Molecular Biomechanics Laboratory (CMBL)
Our interests are focused on cells as well as adhesion and signaling molecules of the immune system. Micropipette manipulation, atomic force microscopy(AFM), biomembrane force probe(BFP), real-time confocal microscopy, parallel-plate flow chamber, and molecular dynamics simulations are employed to study experimentally and computationally the mechanics and kinetics of cellular and molecular interactions at the level of single cells and single molecules.
Molecules under active investigation include selectins, integrins, Fc receptors, T cell receptors, and their respective ligands. Our research is relevant to inflammatory and thrombatic disorders, autoimmunity, allergy, transplant rejection, immunodeficiencies, vaccine development, and declined immune functions associated with aging.
Single-molecule Force Studies
Our strength lies in the study of nanoscale biophysics. We are particularly interested in the weak, non-covalent interactions between and within biological molecules (i.e. receptor-ligand bonding, protein folding, etc.), and the coupling of these interactions to mechanical force. We have developed a series of force probing modalities such as micropipette, AFM, BFP etc. for a variety of force measurements and investigation in mechanosignaling transduction.
Biosensors
FRET-based Src and Syk biosensors will be used to monitoring the activations of Src and Syk kinases respectively. These two biosensors were originally developed by Dr.Wang’s lab in UIUC and characterized by our lab as part of ongoing collaboration. The basic idea of the biosensor is to use the FRET signal change to detect the activation of Src or Syk kinase and determine its location inside the cell.