Research

Our research aims to determine how the interplay of chemical and mechanical signals acts to control cell behavior and function and the progression of disease. We employ a multidisciplinary approach that combines experiments from molecular and cell biology, engineering, and material science. A wide range of techniques including two- and three-dimensional cell and tissue culture platforms, micro- and nano-fabrication, and advanced microscopy are used in our efforts. Specific interests include the role of biophysical signals in regulating epithelial-mesenchymal transition and tumor cell extravasation during cancer metastasis.

Learn more: O'Connor & Gomez, PLoS One, 2013; O'Connor & Gomez, Clinical & Translational Medicine, 2014; O'Connor, et al, J Cell Physiol, 2015; O'Connor, et al, Sci Reports, 2016; Nalluri, et al, Cytoskeleton, 2018; Nalluri, et al, J Cell Physiol, 2022.

Our group uses X-ray scattering for the characterization of biological assemblies, including plant cell walls and proteins in solution. We have demonstrated that soft X-ray scattering can be used to characterize the size and shape of proteins in solution and that soft X-rays offer advantages over traditional hard X-ray scattering experiments. We have also shown that soft X-ray scattering can be used to characterize the spacing between cellulose microfibrils within plant primary cell walls by taking advantage of the preferential binding of calcium ions to the pectin matrix surrounding cellulose, thereby enhancing scattering contrast between these two components. Furthermore, we have employed grazing incidence wide angle X-ray scattering (GIWAXS) to characterize the orientational order of cellulose crystallites in plant primary cell walls. 

Learn more: Rongpipi, et al, MRS Communications, 2021, Ye, et al, Nature Communications, 2020; Ye, et al, Sci Reports, 2018; Ye, et al, Structure, 2018; Ye, et al, MRS Communications, 2018.