MAE Seminar – All-optical Mechanobiology and Electrophysiology Interrogations

Details

MAE Seminar – All-optical Mechanobiology and Electrophysiology Interrogations
September 5, 2024 at 12:50pm
Location: MAE-A 303

Dr. Xin Tang, Ph.D.
Assistant professor
Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Affiliated with Department of Biomedical Engineering; UF Health Cancer Center; and McKnight Brain Institute.

Abstract
Electrically excitable cells, such as neurons and cardiomyocytes, transmit long-distance (>100 micrometers) intercellular calcium or electrical signals to regulate their physiological functions, such as brain computation and heartbeat. While the molecular mechanisms of these communications in excitable cells have been well appreciated, little is known about whether and how electrically non-excitable cancer cells initiate and transmit long-distance signals. In this talk, I will first describe my lab’s recent findings that non-excitable human colon and prostate cancer cells spontaneously initiate and spread long-distance biochemical waves. The spatial-temporal characteristics of these long-distance waves are regulated by the cellular mechanical microenvironments. Second, I will show the dissected molecular underpinnings and down-stream effects. Third, I will introduce new all-optical mechanobiology and electrophysiology technologies developed in my lab to advance our understanding of both excitable and non-excitable cells. Our research reveals how cancer cells enable long-distance coordination and opens the possibility of early detection and prevention of tumors.

Biography
Dr. Tang received his HHMI-funded postdoctoral training at Harvard University and PhD degree at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC). Currently, Dr. Tang is Principal Investigator of Integrative Mechanobiology and Biophysics Laboratory (IMBL). His research interests include cell mechanics, mechano-electrophysiology, quantitative bio-imaging, and development of new technologies to probe biological function and structure.

MAE Faculty Host: Hugh Fan Ph.D.