Biomedical Graduate Studies

Description of Research Expertise

I am a structural biologist and biophysicist focused on elucidating the molecular mechanisms governing actin cytoskeleton dynamics. I lead an integrated research program that combines cryo-electron microscopy, X-ray crystallography, biochemical reconstitution, and biophysical approaches to define how actin filaments are assembled, remodeled, and disassembled, and how these processes regulate cellular architecture, motility, and other functions. My work has provided mechanistic insights into fundamental aspects of actin biology, including filament nucleation, elongation, capping, severing, and disassembly, and has established structural frameworks widely used by researchers in the field to interpret cytoskeletal behavior in cells. A central theme of my research has been linking high-resolution structural information to cellular function, including elucidating the mechanisms underlying key actin assemblies such as the Arp2/3 complex branching machinery, actin-based molecular motors, and numerous actin-binding proteins.

My more recent work has focused on how nucleotide hydrolysis and regulatory proteins control actin filament end dynamics. These studies have revealed structural differences between the pointed and barbed ends of the filament that correlate with their distinct critical concentrations for monomer addition, and have shown how capping proteins, polymerases, and depolymerases govern the rates of filament growth and shrinkage at both ends. Additional areas of current interest include investigating branched actin networks formed by the Arp2/3 complex, with particular emphasis on how regulatory proteins and cofactors modulate branch stability and dynamics, as well as the mechanisms controlling thin filament length in muscle sarcomeres.

In addition to my research contributions, I have trained more than 50 scientists, many of whom now hold independent positions in academia or industry. My laboratory maintains active interdisciplinary collaborations that integrate structural, biochemical, and cellular approaches to address fundamental questions in cytoskeletal biology.