About us
Mechanosensing, intermediate filaments, cell signaling, simple epithelia, cancer
The main research focus of our group has been centered around understanding cytoskeletal organization and dynamics, cell adhesion and associated cell signaling. In particular, we are interested in plectin-dependent regulation of the actin and intermediate filament cytoskeleton, adhesion mediated signalling and cell motility.
Plectin, a ubiquitously expressed cytolinker protein, interlinks the three main components of the cytoskeleton: actin microfilaments, microtubules and intermediate filaments. In addition, plectin recruits the cytoskeleton to junctional complexes in the plasma membrane. In epithelia, plectin controls keratin cytoarchitecture and is essential for the structural integrity, mechanical strength and maintenance of paracellular barrier function.
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