We study how cells change shape and move, with implications for understanding cancer invasion and metastasis. Our approach is based on the study of in vitro biomimetic systems and in vivo cellular and animal models to dissect the physical and biochemical mechanisms governing cell shape change and movement. We use techniques such as optical microscopy, micropipette aspiration, optical tweezers, microrheology, microfluidics and apply these techniques to cells, nematode worms and embryos, chicken embryos and mouse oocytes.
If you are interested in joining our team, please check-out our proposed projects.
Key publications
Year of publication 2019
Simon C*, Kusters R*, Caorsi V*, Allard A, Abou-Ghali M, Manzi J, Di Cicco A, Lévy D, Lenz M, Joanny J-F, Campillo C, Plastino J, Sens P*, Sykes C* (2019 Mar 18)
Actin dynamics drive cell-like membrane deformation
Nature Physics : DOI : 10.1038/s41567-019-0464-1Year of publication 2018
Cáceres R, Bojanala N, Kelley LC, Dreier J, Manzi J, Di Federico F, Chi Q, Risler T, Testa I, Sherwood DR, Plastino J (2018 Nov 6)
Forces drive basement membrane invasion in Caenorhabditis elegans
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA : 115 : 11537-11542 : DOI : 10.1073/pnas.1808760115
Sherwood DR, Plastino J (2018 Jan 1)
Invading, leading and navigating cells in Caenorhabditis elegans: insights into cell movement in vivo
Genetics : 208 : 53-78 : DOI : 10.1534/genetics.117.300082Year of publication 2016
Caorsi V, Lemière J, Campillo C, Bussonnier M, Manzi J, Betz T, Plastino J, Carvalho K, Sykes C (2016 Jul 20)
Cell-sized liposome doublets reveal active tension build-up driven by acto-myosin dynamics
Soft Matter : 12 : 6223-31 : DOI : 10.1039/c6sm00856aYear of publication 2015
Renard HF, Simunovic M, Lemière J, Boucrot E, Garcia-Castillo MD, Arumugam S, Chambon V, Lamaze C, Wunder C, Kenworthy AK, Schmidt AA, McMahon HT, Sykes C*, Bassereau P*, Johannes L (2015 Jan 22)
Endophilin-A2 functions in membrane scission in clathrin-independent endocytosis
Nature : 517 : 493-6 : DOI : 10.1038/nature14064
Havrylenko S, Noguera P, Abou-Ghali M, Manzi J, Faqir F, Lamora A, Guérin C, Blanchoin L, Plastino J (2015 Jan 1)
All publications