M. K. Driscoll

Blebs Promote Cell Survival by Assembling Oncogenic Signaling Hubs

This study shows blebs form signaling hubs that promote anoikis resistance in cancer cells by recruiting septins and activating ERK/PI3K pathways.

Proteolysis-free cell migration through crowded environments via mechanical worrying

The paper shows amoeboid melanoma cells migrate through crowded environments by mechanically degrading extracellular matrix via bleb-driven abrading, without proteolysis.

The nucleus acts as a ruler tailoring cell responses to spatial constraints

The paper shows that the nucleus acts as a ruler by triggering contractile responses when confined, influencing cell migration and processes like cancer invasion and immune responses.

Direct Arp2/3-vinculin binding is essential for cell spreading, but only on compliant substrates and in 3D

The paper investigates the role of actin-binding proteins in cell spreading on 2D and 3D substrates, finding that Arp2/3-vinculin binding is critical for 3D spreading but not 2D.

A unified role for membrane-cortex detachment during cell protrusion initiation

The paper shows that membrane-cortex detachment is essential for initiating both pressure-based and actin-based protrusions, challenging the Brownian ratchet model and unifying protrusion regulation.