Research - Martin Lab at MIT
The Martin lab is interested in how tissues get into shape. Understanding tissue shape requires understanding how cells generate force and work together to collectively sculpt a tissue. One system that a cell uses to generate force is the actin-myosin cytoskeleton; a network composed of the molecular motor myosin, which slides actin filaments together to pull on boundaries of the cell (contractile force). We have elucidated how cells generate force and how this force is propagated to the tissue-level to fold a tissue. We continue to study how tissue integrity is regulated and also investigate mechanisms that regulate the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition or EMT and cell division orientation. We do so using fruit fly and mouse model systems. We have an ongoing collaboration with experts in physical mechanisms of pattern formation and mathematical modeling (Jörn Dunkel’s lab, Math) to learn new things and solve interdisciplinary problems. Research in the Martin Lab falls in the follow
Research – MartinLab Skip to content Introduction The Martin lab is interested in how tissues get into shape. Understanding tissue shape requires understanding how cells generate force and work together to collectively sculpt a tissue. One system that a cell uses to generate force is the actin-myosin cytoskeleton; a network composed of the molecular motor myosin, which slides actin filaments together to pull on boundaries of the cell (contractile force). We have elucidated how cells generate force and how this force is propagated to the tissue-level to fold a tissue. We continue to study
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