Andrew P. Kowalczyk

This paper identifies a reversible conformational change in the desmoplakin hinge domain in response to mechanical force, showing its role in mechanotransduction within desmosomes.

This paper presents a device for adapting upright light sheet fluorescence microscopy to image samples at air-liquid interface, demonstrating its use on three biological specimens.

This study uses volume EM to reveal the three-dimensional structure of desmosomes in epithelial cells and identifies novel features like discontinuities in the outer dense plaque.

This study shows that E-cadherin mediates ER recruitment to cell-cell junctions, forming ER-PMCS and integrating mechanical and lipid homeostasis.

This study shows that PV autoantibodies trigger ER stress, leading to desmosome disruption and cell adhesion loss, and suggests ER stress as a therapeutic target.

This study identifies the biophysical properties of desmoglein-1 transmembrane domains as key determinants of lipid raft association and desmosome adhesive function.