UM Biophysics Faculty

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Alan J Hunt

Physical and mechanical properties of the molecular that underlie biologic motility

Hunt

Assistant Professor, Biomedical Engineering

University of Washington

Dept: Physiology and Biophysics

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Email: ajhunt@umich.edu

Current Research Activity: It is not from lack of interest that the mechanical properties of such subcellular structures are in general poorly characterized. Until recently such measurements were generally not possible, and research to develop appropriate tools is ongoing. Our group develops and applies physical tools to study nanoscale biomechanics of mitosis and the cytoskeleton. Approaches include: optical tweezers to measure forces and manipulate subcellular structures; ultrafast pulsed lasers to ablate and machine structures that are smaller than the diffraction limit; and lithography techniques to pattern proteins and construct structures to control experimental geometry. We are applying these tools to determine the mechanical properties of cells that support motility and mophologic changes, especially during mitosis.

Representative Publications

Joglekar, A., & A.J. Hunt. (2002) A simple, mechanistic model for directional instability during mitotic chromosome movement. Biophys. J. 83:42-58

Lindemann, C.B., and A.J. Hunt. (2003) Does axonemal dynein push, pull or oscillate? Cell Motility and the Cytoskeleton 56:237-244

Joglekar, A., Liu, H.H., Meyhöfer, E., Mourou, G., and A.J. Hunt. (2004) Optics at Critical Intensity: Applications to Nanomorphing. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 101(16):5856-5861

Hoff, J.D., Cheng, LJ, Meyhöfer, E., Guo, L.J., A.J. Hunt (2004) Nanoscale Protein Patterning by Imprint Lithography. Nano Lett. 4(5):853-857

Ke, K., Hasselbrink, E., Hunt, A.J. (2005) Rapidly-Prototyped Three-Dimensional Nanofluidic Channel Networks in Glass Substrates. Anal. Chem. 77(16):5083-5088

Brouhard, G.J., Hunt, A.J. (2005) Microtubule Movements on the Arms of Mitotic Chromosomes: Polar Ejection Forces Quantified In Vitro. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 102(16):13903-13908.

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Biophysics Research Division University of Michigan 4028 Chemistry Building 930 North University Avenue Ann Arbor, MI 48109-1055 UMsitemaker	Phone: (734) 763-6722 Fax: (734) 764-3323 E-mail: biophysics@umich.edu Last Updated: 1/25/2006 © Copyright 2006 University of Michigan