Lukasz Bugaj
@bugajlab.bsky.social
Asst. Professor @ Penn Bioengineering. Cell Signaling, optogenetics, synthetic biology, cancer signaling, regenerative medicine, bio-tinkering. www.bugajlab.com
Are you interested in synthetic and systems biology approaches to study #spatiotemporal processes in cancer? Join NCI for virtual workshops on May 13, 15, & 20 (next week!) from 12:00–4:30 PM ET:
registration: events.cancer.gov/nci/syntheti...
#SynSysBio4SpatialCancerResearch
registration: events.cancer.gov/nci/syntheti...
#SynSysBio4SpatialCancerResearch
May 9, 2025 at 3:48 PM
Are you interested in synthetic and systems biology approaches to study #spatiotemporal processes in cancer? Join NCI for virtual workshops on May 13, 15, & 20 (next week!) from 12:00–4:30 PM ET:
registration: events.cancer.gov/nci/syntheti...
#SynSysBio4SpatialCancerResearch
registration: events.cancer.gov/nci/syntheti...
#SynSysBio4SpatialCancerResearch
We also developed a "universal" Aviatar that can localize to any GFP-tagged compartment using a weak nanobody, and we used it to localize to stress granules through endogenously-tagged G3BP1
April 30, 2025 at 2:09 PM
We also developed a "universal" Aviatar that can localize to any GFP-tagged compartment using a weak nanobody, and we used it to localize to stress granules through endogenously-tagged G3BP1
Aviatar regulated actin polymerization at the membrane and revealed compartment-specific differences of RTK fragments commonly mislocalized in cancer
April 30, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Aviatar regulated actin polymerization at the membrane and revealed compartment-specific differences of RTK fragments commonly mislocalized in cancer
Aviatar can target any desired compartment for which a weak binder can be found. We show common targets: plasma membrane, endosomes, Golgi, ER, and microtubules.
April 30, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Aviatar can target any desired compartment for which a weak binder can be found. We show common targets: plasma membrane, endosomes, Golgi, ER, and microtubules.
In Aviatar (Avidity assisted targeting), a single light-sensitive protein translocates from the cytoplasm to an unmodified subcellular compartment. Light induces clustering, clustering turns a weak binder to a high-avidity assembly, and Aviatar flies to its target location.
April 30, 2025 at 2:09 PM
In Aviatar (Avidity assisted targeting), a single light-sensitive protein translocates from the cytoplasm to an unmodified subcellular compartment. Light induces clustering, clustering turns a weak binder to a high-avidity assembly, and Aviatar flies to its target location.
Proteins often bind targets using avidity, the combined interaction strength of multiple weak binders. Now we’ve harnessed this principle for compact, *single*-component optogenetic tools for translocation. Lead by phenom PhD student @dennishuang.bsky.social #synbiosky🧵
📝 tinyurl.com/aviatar
📝 tinyurl.com/aviatar
April 30, 2025 at 2:09 PM
Proteins often bind targets using avidity, the combined interaction strength of multiple weak binders. Now we’ve harnessed this principle for compact, *single*-component optogenetic tools for translocation. Lead by phenom PhD student @dennishuang.bsky.social #synbiosky🧵
📝 tinyurl.com/aviatar
📝 tinyurl.com/aviatar
New preprint! We found dynamic signal processing (IFFL) in a single protein, which pulses in response to step inputs. New insights for capability of protein computation + implications for new opto and thermo probes
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Check out the 🧵 from first author Dennis Huang:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Check out the 🧵 from first author Dennis Huang:
April 16, 2025 at 1:55 PM
New preprint! We found dynamic signal processing (IFFL) in a single protein, which pulses in response to step inputs. New insights for capability of protein computation + implications for new opto and thermo probes
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Check out the 🧵 from first author Dennis Huang:
www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1...
Check out the 🧵 from first author Dennis Huang:
and the second
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
March 17, 2025 at 3:52 PM
and the second
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
Hmm -- issues with the GIFs above: here is the first!
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
March 17, 2025 at 3:52 PM
Hmm -- issues with the GIFs above: here is the first!
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...
We used the thermoPlate to explore stress adaptation to heat shock.We found beautiful stress granule dynamics and memory formation, with differences at each degree of heating. What started as a quick peek at stress granules is now an exciting new avenue of inquiry for the lab.
March 17, 2025 at 3:47 PM
We used the thermoPlate to explore stress adaptation to heat shock.We found beautiful stress granule dynamics and memory formation, with differences at each degree of heating. What started as a quick peek at stress granules is now an exciting new avenue of inquiry for the lab.
Annoyingly, thermodynamics says heat will not stay confined to individual wells, constraining the complexity of our experiments. But we can predict heat spread dynamics over time with our online app, letting us quickly know if our desired experiment is possible.
bugajlab.shinyapps.io/ThermoPlate_...
bugajlab.shinyapps.io/ThermoPlate_...
March 17, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Annoyingly, thermodynamics says heat will not stay confined to individual wells, constraining the complexity of our experiments. But we can predict heat spread dynamics over time with our online app, letting us quickly know if our desired experiment is possible.
bugajlab.shinyapps.io/ThermoPlate_...
bugajlab.shinyapps.io/ThermoPlate_...
The thermoPlate addresses the lack of methods for fast/accurate/precise/robust control of temperature for mammalian cells, in high throughput, under a microscope. Like the optoPlate but for temperature, including 96x PID controllers for precision.
March 17, 2025 at 3:47 PM
The thermoPlate addresses the lack of methods for fast/accurate/precise/robust control of temperature for mammalian cells, in high throughput, under a microscope. Like the optoPlate but for temperature, including 96x PID controllers for precision.
Our paper on 96-well control of temperature is now out @cp-cellsystems.bsky.social. Exceedingly proud of this work led by Will Benman, plus Pavan Iyengar, @trmumford.bsky.social, and much of our lab. Come for DIY hardware, stay for the stress granule dynamics and memory🧵
📝 tinyurl.com/thermoPlate
📝 tinyurl.com/thermoPlate
March 17, 2025 at 3:47 PM
Our paper on 96-well control of temperature is now out @cp-cellsystems.bsky.social. Exceedingly proud of this work led by Will Benman, plus Pavan Iyengar, @trmumford.bsky.social, and much of our lab. Come for DIY hardware, stay for the stress granule dynamics and memory🧵
📝 tinyurl.com/thermoPlate
📝 tinyurl.com/thermoPlate
Big congratulations to the phenomenal scientists that made this happen: Will Benman and Dennis Huang
@dennishuang.bsky.social, along with assists from many others in lab. Perpetually grateful to work with with such exceptional people. 🙏
@dennishuang.bsky.social, along with assists from many others in lab. Perpetually grateful to work with with such exceptional people. 🙏
January 24, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Big congratulations to the phenomenal scientists that made this happen: Will Benman and Dennis Huang
@dennishuang.bsky.social, along with assists from many others in lab. Perpetually grateful to work with with such exceptional people. 🙏
@dennishuang.bsky.social, along with assists from many others in lab. Perpetually grateful to work with with such exceptional people. 🙏
A major promise of thermal control is the ability for precise, non-invasive communication with cells in vivo. Here, Melt allowed temperature-controlled killing of cancer cells in a mouse, in response to local cooling of the mouse's skin (think ice pack).
January 24, 2025 at 11:53 AM
A major promise of thermal control is the ability for precise, non-invasive communication with cells in vivo. Here, Melt allowed temperature-controlled killing of cancer cells in a mouse, in response to local cooling of the mouse's skin (think ice pack).
Melt is highly modular and can endow thermal control over signaling, proteolysis, cell shape, and cell death, among other behaviors, through simple end-to-end fusions. Below, Melt-based induction of cell death in cancer cell lines after cooling by ~10C.
January 24, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Melt is highly modular and can endow thermal control over signaling, proteolysis, cell shape, and cell death, among other behaviors, through simple end-to-end fusions. Below, Melt-based induction of cell death in cancer cell lines after cooling by ~10C.
Melt is a single protein that both clusters and translocates to the plasma membrane as a function of temperature.
January 24, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Melt is a single protein that both clusters and translocates to the plasma membrane as a function of temperature.
Excited and grateful that our initial report on temperature-sensitive protein switches is now published
@naturemethods.bsky.social Co-led by PhD students Will Benman and @dennishuang.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Brief thread:
@naturemethods.bsky.social Co-led by PhD students Will Benman and @dennishuang.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Brief thread:
January 24, 2025 at 11:53 AM
Excited and grateful that our initial report on temperature-sensitive protein switches is now published
@naturemethods.bsky.social Co-led by PhD students Will Benman and @dennishuang.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Brief thread:
@naturemethods.bsky.social Co-led by PhD students Will Benman and @dennishuang.bsky.social
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Brief thread:
Big congratulations to the phenomenal scientists that made this happen: Will Benman and Dennis Huang @dennishuang.bsky.social, along with assists from many others in lab. Perpetually grateful to work with with such exceptional people. 🙏
January 24, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Big congratulations to the phenomenal scientists that made this happen: Will Benman and Dennis Huang @dennishuang.bsky.social, along with assists from many others in lab. Perpetually grateful to work with with such exceptional people. 🙏
A major promise of thermal control is the ability for precise, non-invasive communication with cells in vivo. Here, Melt allowed temperature-controlled killing of cancer cells in a mouse, in response to local cooling of the mouse's skin (think ice pack).
January 24, 2025 at 11:49 AM
A major promise of thermal control is the ability for precise, non-invasive communication with cells in vivo. Here, Melt allowed temperature-controlled killing of cancer cells in a mouse, in response to local cooling of the mouse's skin (think ice pack).
Melt is highly modular and can endow thermal control over signaling, proteolysis, cell shape, and cell death, among other behaviors, through simple end-to-end fusions. Below, Melt-based induction of cell death in cancer cell lines after cooling by ~10C.
January 24, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Melt is highly modular and can endow thermal control over signaling, proteolysis, cell shape, and cell death, among other behaviors, through simple end-to-end fusions. Below, Melt-based induction of cell death in cancer cell lines after cooling by ~10C.
Melt is a single protein that both clusters and translocates to the plasma membrane as a function of temperature.
January 24, 2025 at 11:49 AM
Melt is a single protein that both clusters and translocates to the plasma membrane as a function of temperature.
Big congratulations to the phenomenal scientists that made this happen: Will Benman and Dennis Huang @dennishuang.bsky.social, along with assists from many others in lab. Perpetually grateful to work with with such exceptional people. 🙏
January 24, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Big congratulations to the phenomenal scientists that made this happen: Will Benman and Dennis Huang @dennishuang.bsky.social, along with assists from many others in lab. Perpetually grateful to work with with such exceptional people. 🙏
A major promise of thermal control is the ability for precise, non-invasive communication with cells in vivo. Here, Melt allowed temperature-controlled killing of cancer cells in a mouse, in response to local cooling of the mouse's skin (think ice pack).
January 24, 2025 at 11:40 AM
A major promise of thermal control is the ability for precise, non-invasive communication with cells in vivo. Here, Melt allowed temperature-controlled killing of cancer cells in a mouse, in response to local cooling of the mouse's skin (think ice pack).
Melt is highly modular and can endow thermal control over signaling, proteolysis, cell shape, and cell death, among other behaviors, through simple end-to-end fusions. Below, Melt-based induction of cell death in cancer cell lines after cooling by ~10C.
January 24, 2025 at 11:40 AM
Melt is highly modular and can endow thermal control over signaling, proteolysis, cell shape, and cell death, among other behaviors, through simple end-to-end fusions. Below, Melt-based induction of cell death in cancer cell lines after cooling by ~10C.