D. E. Conway

Desmosomal Cadherin Tension Loss in Pemphigus Vulgaris Mediated by the Inhibition of Active RhoA at Cell-Cell Adhesions

This study shows that PV antibodies cause tension loss at desmosomes and cell-cell adhesions by inhibiting RhoA, which can be partially reversed by altering actomyosin contractility.

Coupling During Collective Cell Migration is Controlled by a Vinculin Mechanochemical Switch

This study identifies a vinculin switch that regulates mechanical coupling during collective cell migration by controlling adhesion-based friction.

Rho activation drives luminal collapse and eversion in epithelial acini

This study shows that RhoA activation causes apical-out eversion in epithelial acini by altering mechanical homeostasis and surface tension differences.

Nuclear lamina strain states revealed by intermolecular force biosensor

This study develops a nanobody-based FRET biosensor to measure mechanical strain on nuclear lamins and identifies factors influencing nuclear lamina forces.

Depletion of Sun1/2 induces heterochromatin accrual in mesenchymal stem cells during adipogenesis

The paper compares the effects of Sun1/2 depletion and dnKASH on adipogenesis in MSCs, finding that dnKASH accelerates adipogenesis while Sun1/2 depletion increases heterochromatin on adipogenic genes.

A myosin chaperone, UNC-45A, is a novel regulator of intestinal epithelial barrier integrity and repair

This study identifies UNC-45A as a regulator of intestinal epithelial barrier integrity and repair, showing its role in maintaining junctions and contractile forces.

Progerin-Expressing Endothelial Cells are Unable to Adapt to Shear Stress

This study shows that progerin-expressing endothelial cells and those with ZMPSTE24 knockdown cannot adapt to shear stress, leading to cell loss, while wild-type lamin A overexpression also impairs adaptation.

Maraviroc inhibits SARS-CoV-2 multiplication and s-protein mediated cell fusion in cell culture

This study identifies four FDA-approved drugs that inhibit SARS-CoV-2 infection in cell culture, with Maraviroc showing reduced S-protein mediated cell fusion.

A Predictive Model of Intercellular Tension and Cell-Matrix Mechanical Interactions in a Multicellular Geometry

The paper develops a multicellular computational model to simulate intercellular tension and cell-matrix interactions during epithelial-mesenchymal transition, showing it can reproduce key aspects of EMT dynamics and spatial patterning.

Mechanochemical coupling and junctional forces during collective cell migration

This study models mechanochemical interactions and junctional forces in collective cell migration, showing biphasic feedback between mechanical tension and Rho GTPase activity, and how junctional forces influence migration speed and tissue size.