Research
Our research focuses on integrating computational and optical techniques to understand dynamics of molecules in vitro and in living cells. Specifically, we are interested in molecular motors and their activities in stem cells. Molecular motors are abundant in nature, playing essential roles including cell division, DNA replication, ATP synthesis, cargo transport, and many others. Their chemical cycle is coupled to conformational changes to perform mechanical work for diverse applications. Induced pluripotent stem cells are cells reprogrammed from adult cells capable of self-renewal and generating all three germ layers as embryonic stem cells. The mechanical effects on induced pluripotent stem cells remain unknown, and the roles of molecular motors such as kinesin and myosin for these cells are also unclear. Using multiscale modeling methods and advanced imaging techniques such as superresolution imaging, our research aims to gain mechanical understanding of ATP-dependent molecular motors and their functions in induced pluripotent stem cells.
