P. J. Saez

Podocyte exopher-formation as a novel pathomechanism in membranous nephropathy

This study identifies podocyte exopher-formation as a novel mechanism for removing antigen/autoantibody aggregates in membranous nephropathy, with potential for non-invasive monitoring.

Trade-off between branching and polarity controls decision-making during cell migration

The paper develops a theoretical model and experimental analysis to study how branched cells balance shape dynamics for directional decision-making during migration.

1D confinement mimicking microvessel geometry controls pericyte shape and motility

This study shows that lateral confinement controls pericyte shape and migration, with dry friction theory accurately predicting their behavior in vitro.

Emergent oscillations during cellular directional decision-making on junctions

The paper presents a theoretical model predicting oscillations in cellular polarization during directional decision-making at junctions, validated experimentally in two cell types.

Septins Provide Microenvironment Sensing and Cortical Actomyosin Partitioning in Motile Amoeboid T Lymphocytes

This paper identifies septins as key regulators of amoeboid motility in T cells by enabling microenvironment sensing and actomyosin partitioning through steric interactions with collagen fibers.

Pinching the cortex of live cells reveals thickness instabilities caused by Myosin II motors

The paper measures cortical thickness in live cells using magnetic beads and finds it is dynamic and fluctuates due to actomyosin contractility.

Actomyosin-driven force patterning controls endocytosis at the immune synapse

This study shows that mechanical forces at the immune synapse are spatially and temporally patterned by actomyosin dynamics, with global contractile forces at the periphery and local forces at the center, which regulate endocytosis.