How cells turn physical forces into chemical signals
Converting cytoskeletal forces into biochemical signals
This project looks at how a cell’s internal skeleton senses pushes and pulls and changes signals that can influence diseases such as cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rockefeller University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11254904 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You will hear about lab work that studies the cell’s scaffolding (the actin cytoskeleton) to see how mechanical tension changes which proteins bind and how that alters gene activity. Researchers will focus on proteins with LIM domains that appear to stick to tensed actin filaments and use advanced imaging, molecular biology, and biophysical tests to track those interactions. The team will map the pathways that convert mechanical force into biochemical signals and identify which steps control cell behavior. Findings are intended to reveal mechanisms that might go wrong in development and disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with cancers or other conditions linked to changes in tissue stiffness or mechanosignaling, or patients willing to donate tissue samples for lab studies, would be most relevant to this research.
Not a fit: Patients seeking immediate treatment changes or those with conditions unrelated to cell mechanical signaling are unlikely to get direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to new targets for therapies that modify harmful mechanical signaling in diseases like cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Early basic-science reports have shown LIM-domain proteins binding to tensed actin, so this approach builds on promising but still-emerging evidence.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Rockefeller University — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Alushin, Gregory M — Rockefeller University
- Study coordinator: Alushin, Gregory M
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.