Allen P. Liu

Steric attenuation of membrane-associated dimerization-induced fluorescence for cell-free biosensing

This study develops a cell-free biosensing reporter using rapalog-induced split sfCherry reconstitution and demonstrates steric attenuation of fluorescence by antibodies binding to epitope tags.

Zyxin and LPP differ in their sensing of strained actin filaments at tricellular junctions

This study compares Zyxin and LPP's mechanoaccumulation at tricellular junctions under tension, revealing differences in their LIM domain sensing mechanisms.

The filopodial scaffold polyphosphate dictates cell adhesion-versus-invasion decisions

This study identifies polyphosphate as a structural component of filopodia that regulates cell adhesion and invasion, with implications for tumor suppression.

Cytoplasmic Abundant Heat-Soluble Proteins from Tardigrades Protect Synthetic Cells Under Stress

The paper shows CAHS12 proteins protect synthetic cells under stress by forming a network that maintains membrane integrity and preserves encapsulated components.

Tau-Driven Coordination of Microtubule-Actin Crosstalk in Cell-Sized Vesicles

The paper investigates how tau protein coordinates microtubule-actin interactions in synthetic cell-like vesicles, showing its role in MT organization and MT-actin colocalization depending on actin crosslinkers and vesicle size.

pH-responsive synthetic cells for controlled protein synthesis and release

This paper develops synthetic cells that respond to pH changes by synthesizing and releasing proteins on demand.

Light-triggered protease-mediated release of actin-bound cargo from synthetic cells

This paper introduces TRAP, a light-triggered protease system for controlled secretion from synthetic cells, demonstrating its ability to release fluorescent and luminescent proteins.

Light-based juxtacrine signaling between synthetic cells

This paper demonstrates a light-activated contact-dependent communication system between synthetic cells using split bioluminescent proteins and photoswitchable proteins.

Engineering sequestration-based biomolecular classifiers with shared resources

This paper designs sigma factor-based biomolecular classifiers and investigates how resource competition affects their performance and design principles.

Cellular mechanotransduction of human osteoblasts in microgravity

This study investigates how microgravity affects human fetal osteoblasts by measuring cell mechanics and signaling changes in space compared to ground controls.

Calcium-triggered DNA-mediated membrane fusion in synthetic cells

This paper develops a calcium-triggered DNA-mediated membrane fusion strategy using surface-bound PEG chains cleavable by calpain-1.

Engineering functional membrane-membrane interface by InterSpy

The paper introduces InterSpy, a synthetic biology tool that forms membrane-membrane interfaces using SpyTag/SpyCatcher, and demonstrates its function in cell-free systems and cells.

A synthetic biology platform for the reconstitution and mechanistic dissection of LINC complex assembly

This paper introduces a synthetic biology platform to reconstitute and study LINC complex assembly using artificial nuclear membranes and cell-free expression.

A robust and tunable mitotic oscillator in artificial cells

This paper develops an artificial single-cell system to study mitotic oscillations, showing sustained oscillations over 30 cycles and highlighting energy supply's role in cell cycles.

Recombinant expression of Proteorhodopsin and biofilm regulators in Escherichia coli for nanoparticle binding and removal in a wastewater treatment model

This paper demonstrates the use of genetically modified Escherichia coli to bind and remove nanoparticles in wastewater treatment through Proteorhodopsin and biofilm production.