23 February 2026 – Erdem KARATEKIN – Going with the flow: how cell membrane tension dynamics impact cellular processes from bacteria to neurons

Erdem KARATEKIN – Yale School of Medicine

SPPIN’s seminar series winter-spring 2026

Going with the flow: how cell membrane tension dynamics impact cellular processes from bacteria to neurons

The plasma membrane receives and responds to mechanical signals, arising from cytoskeleton activity, membrane trafficking, and external forces such as shear flow in endothelia, or mechanical stretch in tissues. Such pushing and pulling cause changes in plasma membrane tension, which is important for development, signaling, immune response, and axon branching, among others.

Mechanosensitive channels respond to local changes in membrane tension and transmit this mechanical information across the PM. But mechanical information is also transmitted within the plane of the cell membrane in the form of membrane tension and flow. This transmission can be long range, and dynamically regulated. I will present examples we have studies across domains of life in which membrane tension and flow dynamics play a critical role: (1) membrane fission in bacteria, (2) exo-endocytosis coupling in neurons and endocrine cells, and (3) B-cell responses to antigen encounter.

PLEASE CONTACT Martin Oheim if you want to arrange a meeting with Erdem or sign up for lunch.