Paul Janmey

Paul Janmey
Standing Faculty

Secondary Appointment Professor of Physics and Astronomy, Primary Appointment Adjunct Professor of Physiology

(215) 573-7380

1010 Vagelos Laboratories, 3340 Smith Walk, Philadelphia PA 19104

Education

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

Research Interests

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.

Selected 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.

 

Affiliations

Institute for Medicine and Engineering, Penn

Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Group, Penn

Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, Penn

Pennsylvania Muscle Institute

Professional Affiliations: American Society for Cell Biology, Biophysical Society