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SUMMARY:Integrating Cellular Mechanobiology and Biomechanics and the Emerg
 ence of Primary Cilia as Mechanosensors
DTSTART:20150914T121500
DTSTAMP:20260506T084514Z
UID:fa31bab148cca00f4ca9c6a9fc462cd308a4f0657c98450e2b76acb5
CATEGORIES:Conferences - Seminars
DESCRIPTION:Prof. Christopher R. Jacobs\, Columbia University\, NYC\, NY (
 USA)\nDISTINGUISHED LECTURE IN BIOLOGICAL ENGINEERING\n(sandwiches served)
 Abstract:\nCellular mechanosensation is critical in diseases responsible f
 or enormous human suffering including atherosclerosis\, osteoarthritis\, c
 ancer\, and osteoporosis. Nonetheless\, very little is understood about th
 e molecular mechanisms of mechanotransduction outside of a small number of
  specialized sensory cells. Primary cilia are solitary linear cellular ext
 ensions that extend from the surface of virtually all cells. For decades\,
  the biologic function of these enigmatic structures was elusive\, however
 \, recent evidence suggests an emerging picture in which the primary ciliu
 m functions as a complex nexus where both physical and chemical extracellu
 lar signals are sensed and responses coordinated.\nIn our laboratory we ha
 ve shown that primary cilia act as mechanical sensors in bone and that con
 ditional deletion of primary cilia lead to mechanosensing defects. Recentl
 y\, we developed a novel combined experimental/modeling approach to determ
 ine the mechanical properties of primary cilia. We found a wide variety of
  previously unreported deformation modes including smooth bending and rigi
 d-body rotations.  This suggests that the mechanics of both the cilium sh
 aft and basal anchorage are important to understanding deflection patterns
 .  Interestingly\, both the cilium itself and its anchorage to the microt
 ubule cytoskeleton alter their structure in response to physical loading\,
  suggesting structural adaptation or “remodeling”. We have also develo
 ped novel molecular biology tools to elucidate the details of mechanically
  activated ciliary signaling pathways.  For example\, we have created a c
 ilia-directed biosensor that has allowed us to distinguish intraciliary fr
 om intracellular calcium signaling.  We have also developed a method for 
 distinguishing the roles of the cytoplasmic and ciliary pools of proteins 
 that are found in both compartments.  In summary\, primary cilia are non-
 linear\, richly varied\, mechanical structures (biomechanics) as well as s
 tructurally adaptive (mechanobiology).  Simultaneously they are a biochem
 ical microdomain where signaling events are catalyzed\, enhanced\, and int
 egrated.Bio:\nEDUCATION\n1994\, PhD\, Mechanical Engineering\, Stanford\n1
 989\, MS\, Mechanical Engineering\, Stanford\n1988\, BS\, Systems Science 
 and Mathematics\, Washington University\n    \nPROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
 \n1994-2001 Assistant Professor\, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery\, Penn
 sylvania State University\n2001-2008 Associate Professor\, Department of M
 echanical Engineering\, Stanford University\n2008-Present Associate Profes
 sor\, Department of Biomedical Engineering\, Columbia University
LOCATION:SV1717a http://map.epfl.ch/?room=sv1717a
STATUS:CONFIRMED
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