Jonathan Baker Ph.D. Associate Professor; INBRE Principal Investigator/Director; Interim Chair, Department of Pharmacology, Nevada

Research

We use single molecule techniques (TIR fluorescence microscopy and optical traps) to study how mechanoenzymes like actin and myosin transfer chemical free energy to mechanical work and inversely how they convert mechanical signals into chemical responses.

We are particularly interested in understanding how the mechanochemical behaviors of single molecules scale up to the mechanochemical behaviors of bulk cellular systems. We use mathematical and computer models to integrate our multi-scale experimental studies, developing self-consistent descriptions of muscle contraction, intracellular transport, and mechanical signal transduction.

Ongoing Research Support

NIH R01 HL0909038 A Multi-Scale Study of the Interplay Between Fore Generating and Force Sensing Mechanisms. $1,354,712
NIH COBRE Smooth Muscle Plasticity – a COBRE Renewal. $750,000

Josh Baker: Contact: Directory: University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (unr.edu)