Single-Molecule MechanoBiology Lab

Understanding the molecular basis for mechanotransduction

In cells and their microenvironments, the integration and transmission of mechanical cues are carried out by molecular machines: small groups of proteins that sense and respond to stimuli by relaying forces to other cellular components or by converting them into biochemical signals.

The information obtained during this process, known as mechanosensing, guides cellular decision-making. This is particularly important during development, when stem cells differentiate into specific lineages, and during processes such as wound healing and tissue repair—and likely also in cancer progression and immune cell migration.

Our research explores mechanotransduction at both the single-molecule and cellular levels, enabled by technological innovations. Cells can evaluate the stiffness of the substrates they adhere to and respond to tension exerted by neighboring cells within a tissue. A central focus of our work is to understand how individual proteins and cells contribute to the transmission of these mechanical inputs.

To this end, we dissect the nanoscale organization of cell-adhesion structures, concentrating on interactions mediated by receptors such as integrins. This includes both detecting and perturbing these interactions, followed by monitoring their downstream effects on cellular behavior and signaling.

Our research is fundamentally based on high-resolution single-molecule and cellular imaging. We are also developing mechanotyping approaches to profile the molecular and mechanical properties of diverse cells and to integrate these features with omics data.

Supported by
한국연구재단 우수신진연구  2025 (RS-2025-00517258)
삼성미래기술육성재단 (Science) 2025 (SSTF-BA2501-02) link

145, Anam-ro, Seongbuk-gu, Seoul, 02841, Korea | Hana Science Hall, Unit 601
02841 서울시 성북구 안암로 145, 하나과학관 601호