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Life is complex. Even the simplest bacterium is immeasurably more complex than any artificial creation. As a physicist, I'm driven to find simple principles to explain this complexity, and maybe even discover new laws of physics applicable outside living systems. My research aims to answer important questions at the interface of physics and biology, spanning from the single protein scale to cellular scales. Broadly speaking, I seek to understand the emergence of biological function in living systems from their molecular underpinnings. Below are the three specific thrusts of my research.
Active Glass Theory for Dendritic Spine Plasticity
Active Glass Theory for Dendritic Spine Plasticity
An important biological problem is understanding the physical mechanism of brain plasticity, which is functionally important for learning and memory. Moreover, recent studies have indicated glass-like behavior of the underlying actomyosin network. By developing a theoretical framework that unites active matter and glass physics, we can examining the dynamical and mechanical properties of the actomyosin network.
Multi-protein assemblies
Multi-protein assemblies
The majority of proteins form complexes either transiently or permanently. We aim to answer the question: how do weak interactions between the protein allow for the assembly of a multi-protein complex in the chaotic cellular environment?
Crowding brings proteins closer to criticality
Crowding brings proteins closer to criticality
To perform their biological function, proteins must be susceptible enough to small environmental agitations, yet stable enough to maintain structural integrity. These apparently competing behaviors are commonly exhibited by physical systems near a critical point, where distinct phases merge. We demonstrate a critical transition where the distinction between folding phases disappears. At the critical regime, we observe fluctuations that produce large conformational changes without a costly barrier, which would be necessary for enzymatic function.
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