Other Perelman School of Medicine Affiliations
Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Group
Pennsylvania Muscle Institute

Degrees
Ph.D., University of Wisconsin, 1982
A.B., Oberlin College, 1976

Honors
Rotschild-Yvette Mayent Award, Institut Curie, 1999

Professional Affiliations
American Society for Cell Biology
Biophysical Society

Research Description
Our lab studies several aspects of cell mechanics. In one project, we produce soft materials, usually hydrogels, to which cell adhesion proteins are linked to study how the stiffness of surfaces alters cell structure, function, and growth. Endothelial cells, fibroblasts, neurons and astrocytes each show unique dependence on substrate stiffness, and we seek to understand how they sense and respond to this mechanical cue. In related work we measure the structure and viscoelasticity of cytoskeletal polymer networks using a variety of imaging, scattering, and rheologic methods. Further studies examine how changes in cell membrane structure mediated by inositol phospholipids lead to production of signals that remodel the cytoskeleton.?

Representative Publications
Flanagan, L. A., Ju, Y. E., Marg, B., Osterfield, M., and Janmey, P. A. (2002). Neurite branching on deformable substrates. Neuroreport 13, 2411-5

Yin, H.L., and P.A. Janmey. 2003. Phosphoinositide regulation of the actin cytoskeleton. Annu Rev Physiol. 65:761-89

Bucki, R., Pastore, J.J., Giraud, F., Sulpice, J.C. and Janmey, P.A. 2003. Flavonoid inhibition of platelet procoagulant activity and phosphoinositide synthesis. J Thromb Haemost 1:1820-8.

Wong, G. C. L., Lijn, A., Tang, J. X., Li, Y., Janmey, P. and Safinya, C. R. (2003). Lamellar Phase of Stacked Two-Dimensional Rafts of Actin Filaments. Phys. Rev. Lett. 91, 018103.

Click here for a full list of publications
(searches the National Library of Medicine's PubMed database.)