From: UC Irvine

Will give a seminar entitled:

A central yet unanswered question in biology revolves around how mechanical forces are generated, detected, and transduced by cells to influence biochemical and genetic programs. Our research seeks to elucidate these mechanical principles at play within cells and tissues, utilizing innovative molecular, imaging, and bioengineering techniques. In this presentation, I will present insights gleaned from non-invasive methodologies to measure and manipulate mechanotransduction under native cellular conditions. Our findings highlight the pivotal role of the mechanically activated ion channel, Piezo1, in transducing cell-generated traction forces into electrochemical signals to regulate diverse biological processes. We demonstrate that cellular traction forces can induce spatially constrained Piezo1 Ca²⁺ flickers, even without the presence of external mechanical stimuli. Notably, while Piezo1 channels are ubiquitously distributed on the cell surface and exhibit mobility, their activity and localization dynamics collectively dictate the cellular outcomes of Piezo1 function. Finally, we introduce novel molecular tools designed for monitoring the functional dynamics of endogenous Piezo1 in single cells and tissue organoids. Our findings offer a deeper understanding of Piezo1 dynamics in physiological processes and pave the way for future biological explorations and potential therapeutic applications.

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