S. Budnar

Feed-forward stimulation of CAMK2 by the oncogenic pseudokinase PEAK1 generates a therapeutically "actionable" signalling axis in triple negative breast cancer

This study identifies a novel feed-forward signalling axis between PEAK1 and CAMK2 in TNBC, showing that targeting CAMK2 can inhibit PEAK1-driven oncogenic processes.

Cortical ductility governs cell-cell adhesion mechanics

This study introduces a new method to measure energy dissipation during cell-cell junction rupture and shows that cortical tension and shape relaxation time determine whether junctions behave ductile or brittle.

Enhanced RhoA signaling stabilizes E-cadherin in migrating epithelial monolayers.

The paper shows that RhoA signaling at adherens junctions stabilizes E-cadherin during epithelial migration by increasing junctional contractility and mechanical tension.

Asymmetric Contraction of Adherens Junctions arises through RhoA and E-cadherin feedback

The paper identifies a feedback loop between RhoA and E-cadherin that drives asymmetric vertex motion in epithelial tissues through tension and frictional drag.

Snail induces epithelial cell extrusion through transcriptional control of RhoA contractile signalling and cell matrix adhesion

This study shows Snail induces cell extrusion through RhoA contractile signaling and reduced basal adhesion, independent of EMT.

Temporal gating of SIRT1 functions by O-GlcNAcylation prevents hyperglycemia and enables physiological transitions in liver

This study identifies nutrient-dependent O-GlcNAcylation of SIRT1 as a mechanism controlling hepatic metabolism and insulin signaling during fasted-to-refed transitions.

A mechanosensitive RhoA pathway that protects epithelia against acute tensile stress.

This study identifies a mechanosensitive RhoA pathway mediated by G12 and Myosin VI that protects epithelia from acute tensile stress by increasing junctional actomyosin.