P. W. Oakes

T cells Use Focal Adhesions to Pull Themselves Through Confined Environments

This study shows that Th1 T cells use integrin-mediated focal adhesions to migrate through confined environments by pulling themselves forward.

Limiting Pool and Actin Architecture Controls Myosin Cluster Sizes in Adherent Cells

This study measures myosin cluster sizes in adherent cells and finds that cluster growth depends on ROCK activity, myosin self-affinity, and F-actin architecture.

Local Monomer Levels and Established Filaments Potentiate Non-Muscle Myosin 2 Assembly

This study identifies biophysical mechanisms regulating non-muscle myosin 2 filament assembly using dynamic imaging and optogenetic tools, showing myosin monomer concentration and myosin:myosin interactions drive filament formation.

Non-muscle myosin 2 filaments are processive in cells

This study shows non-muscle myosin 2 (NM2) filaments are processive in cells, moving against actin flow in protrusions and stress fibers, with NM2A slightly faster than NM2B.

α-catenin middle- and actin-binding domain unfolding mutants differentially impact epithelial strength and sheet migration

This study compares how mutations in α-catenin's M-domain and FABD affect epithelial strength and migration by analyzing cell behavior and protein interactions.

Vascular Smooth Muscle Myosin 2 Filaments Dynamically Assemble and Stabilize During Induced Contractility

This study investigates SMII filament dynamics in vascular smooth muscle cells, showing they are dynamic and stabilize during contraction, with implications for vascular regulation and disease.

Atypical peripheral actin band formation via overactivation of RhoA and Non-muscle myosin II in Mitofusin 2 deficient cells

This study shows that MFN2 deficiency leads to increased cytosolic Ca2+ and overactivation of RhoA and non-muscle myosin II, causing atypical peripheral actin band formation in mouse embryonic fibroblasts.

A Workflow for Rapid Unbiased Quantification of Fibrillar Feature Alignment in Biological Images

This paper introduces AFT, a workflow using 2D FFT to quantify fibrillar feature alignment in microscopy images, showing advantages in flexibility, parameter efficiency, and computational speed.

Stress fiber strain recognition by the LIM protein testin is cryptic and mediated by RhoA

This study identifies how testin, a LIM domain protein, recognizes stress fiber strain and focal adhesions through distinct domains and RhoA activation.

TRM Integrins CD103 and CD49a Differentially Support Adherence and Motility After Resolution of Influenza Virus Infection

This study shows CD103 and CD49a on TRM cells have distinct roles in adherence and motility, impacting TRM retention and host protection after influenza infection.

Multiscale model of integrin adhesion assembly

The paper develops a computational model to study how integrin nanoscale properties influence adhesion assembly and stability.

Membrane-cytoskeleton mechanical feedback mediated by myosin-I controls phagocytic efficiency

The paper shows that myosin 1e and 1f are required for efficient phagocytosis by regulating adhesion turnover and actin dynamics during phagocytic cup closure.

The lamellipodium is a myosin independent mechanosensor

This paper shows that cell spreading on soft substrates is inhibited by reduced adhesion formation in the lamellipodium, independent of myosin II activity.

Optogenetic Control of RhoA Reveals Zyxin-mediated Elasticity of Stress Fibers

This study uses optogenetic RhoA control to show that zyxin regulates stress fiber elasticity, revealing how localized RhoA activation drives actin flow and traction forces in fibroblasts.

Formin-Dependent Adhesions Are Required For Invasion By Epithelial Tissues

This study shows that formin-dependent adhesions are essential for epithelial tissue invasion, as they enable collagen deformation and stable adhesion formation during collective motility.