Research & Projects

In cellular biology, maintaining the delicate balance of molecular transport is vital for cellular function. For instance, lipid and protein diffusion on the cell membrane, shaping its dynamic structures crucial for cell signaling. However, molecular movement, affected by temperature fluctuations, challenges cellular homeostasis.

We hypothesize that the cell resorts to nonequilibrium (active) processes to make its functions robust to thermal shocks. A strong candidate for these active fluctuations is the interaction between membrane components and the dynamic actin cytoskeleton beneath the membrane. We investigate the transport of membrane components in the presence of dynamic actin cytoskeleton using coarse-grained molecular dynamics and the lattice model approach.

Publication: Self-diffusion is temperature independent on active membranes . 

When a system of hard particles are suspended in a colloidal solution in the presence of macromolecules (polymers), they begin to self-assemble to form a layer of monodisperse rods. On this artificial membrane, the constituent particles are subjected to thermal excitations in the transverse direction of the membrane, which can give rise to a collective mode of wave propagation across the membrane. We want to understand what will happen to the transport properties of the tracer particles lying on the membrane surface.

In our body, T-cells migrate and are known to detect antigens through their receptors (TCRs). When TCRs bind to an antigen, they establish a junction on the surface of the antigen called a synapse. T-cells try to scan the region by spreading itself over the antigenic membrane with the help of actin and myosin. Because of this membrane confinement, actin and myosin give rise to interesting emergent wave-like dynamics. We would like to theoretically investigate the phenomena using the field theory approach and hydrodynamics.