S. Vaikuntanathan

Contractile to extensile transitions and mechanical adaptability enabled by activity in cytoskeletal structures

This study shows how motor activity enables cytoskeletal structures to adapt mechanically, transforming from contractile to extensile states under tension.

A thermodynamic framework for nonequilibrium self-assembly and force morphology tradeoffs in branched actin networks

The paper develops a thermodynamic framework to model branched actin network self-assembly, showing how energy dissipation influences growth, force, and morphology tradeoffs.

A unified model for the dynamics of ATP-independent ultrafast contraction

This study develops a minimal mathematical model to explain ultrafast contraction in ciliated protists, identifying three dynamic regimes based on chemical driving rates and inertia.

Tuning shape and internal structure of protein droplets via biopolymer filaments

This study shows how biopolymer filaments alter the shape and structure of protein droplets by affecting surface tension and viscosity.

Self-organizing motors divide active liquid droplets

This study creates composite assemblies of cross-linked biopolymer filaments and motor proteins to explore self-organization mechanisms in biological systems.