Molecular Biomechanics Laboratory

The Molecular Biomechanics Lab studies kinesin motor proteins and the cytoskeleton. They focus on the fundamental questions of kinesin mechanochemistry and pursue biotechnology applications using kinesin motor proteins and microtubules.

The group is interested in how protein nanomachines work and how their design is optimized for their cellular tasks. These questions are pursued using fluorescence microscopy and single-molecule investigations of recombinant kinesin motors, biochemical assays, and computational and analytical modeling of the kinesin ATP hydrolysis cycle.

The group is also interested in applications of the kinesin-microtubule system in micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) and microfluidic channels. These hybrid biological/engineered systems are used to investigate the maintenance of microtubule polarity in neurons and the interactions of motors, microtubules and microtubule binding proteins in mitosis. These efforts are relevant to understanding neurodegenerative diseases and developing novel drug approaches to inhibit tumor growth.

Contact Information

Bioengineering Facilities and Labs Bioengineering and biomedical engineering research areas
 
 

About

The Department of Biomedical Engineering administers the undergraduate major in biomedical engineering, and is a part of the university-wide Intercollege Graduate Degree Program, offering both M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in Bioengineering. Our work combines traditional engineering principles with medicine and technology for the betterment of human health and society. 

Department of Biomedical Engineering

122 Chemical and Biomedical Engineering Building

The Pennsylvania State University

University Park, PA 16802-4400

Phone: 814-863-6614

Email: bme@engr.psu.edu