V. T. Vachharajani

This study shows that PDZ domains from afadin and ZO-1 act as mechanosensors, forming catch bonds or weakening under mechanical force, affecting cell-cell adhesion stability.

This study shows that physiological forces accelerate GAIN domain dissociation of latrophilin-3, suggesting mechanical force drives aGPCR signaling during synapse formation.

The paper introduces STReTCh, a molecular tension sensor for measuring mechanical forces in cells, validated through magnetic tweezers and applied to study forces at integrin adhesions and in vinculin.

This study investigates the physical mechanisms of lumen formation in MDCK cell spheroids, finding that lumen shape and stability arise from geometrical factors and apico-basal polarity rather than hydrostatic pressure or actomyosin cytoskeleton.