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Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Group


Dennis E. Discher

Dennis E. Discher, Ph.D.

Professor, Depts of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and Bioengineering

Cell Biology and Physiology Program


Address

Biophysical Engineering Lab
112 Towne Bldg
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6393

Office tel.: 215 898-4809
Lab tel.: 215 898-4809
Fax: 215 573-2093
E-mail: discher@seas.upenn.edu

Link(s)

Dr. Discher's Lab Webpage


EDUCATION

UC Davis: BS, 1986.

Berkeley & UC San Francisco:
PhD (Bioengineering), 1993.

Research Interests

  • Cell and nuclear membrane structure-function.
  • Adhesion mechanisms and responses of cells.
  • Phagocyte recognition processes.
  • Membrane skeleton and cytoskeleton.
  • Diseases ranging from muscular dystrophy to anemias to athersclerosis. Drug delivery

Key words: membrane, cytoskeleton, phagocytosis, adhesion, blood cell, muscle differentiation, drug delivery.

Description of Research

Our focus is molecular and cell biophysics, ranging from matrix-guided differentiation of stem cells and muscle to nuclear plasticity.

Selected Publications

R. Tsai and D.E. Discher (2008). Inhibition of 'Self' Engulfment through deactivation of Myosin-II at the Phagocytic Synapse between Human Cells. Journal of Cell Biology. 180, 989-1003 ** Cover Article **

C.P. Johnson, H-Y. Tang, C. Carag, D.W. Speicher, and D.E. Discher. Forced unfolding of proteins within cells. Science. 317, 663-666 (2007).

J.D. Pajerowski, K.N. Dahl, F.L. Zhong, P.J. Sammak, and D.E. Discher. Physical plasticity of the nucleus in stem cell differentiation. PNAS. 104, 15619-15624 (2007).

A. Engler, S. Sen, H.L. Sweeney, and D.E. Discher. (2006). Matrix elasticity directs stem cell lineage specification. Cell. 126, 677-689

D.E. Discher, P. Janmey, Y-L. Wang. (2005). Tissue cells feel and respond to the stiffness of their substrate. Science. 310, 1139-1143.

PubMed Search
Search PubMed for more articles

LAB

Rotation Projects

  1. Stem cell differentiation guided by matrix
  2. Phagocytic Synapse signaling: "Don't Eat Me"
  3. Nuclear perturbations and mechanical disease
Lab Personnel:

Allison Zajac, CBP-PhD Student
Julie Magallanes, CBP-PMI Training Grant Fellow
Rebecca Tenney, GTV-PhD Student
David Christian, NIH-Training Grant Fellow
David Pajerowski, Ashton Fellow
Richard Tsai, BE-PhD Student
Andre Brown, NSERC Fellow
Christine Carag, CBE-PhD Student
Matthew Raab, Ashton Fellow
Brian Chase, GAANN Fellow
Dr. Florian Rehfeldt, Humboldt Fellow
Dr. Irena Ivanovska, Human Frontiers Fellow
Dr. Karthikan Rajagopal, Post-doctoral Fellow
Dr. Manu Tewari, Research Staff

last updated 7/2008
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