People Faculty

Partha Roy, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor of Bioengineering and Pathology

Email: Phone: (412) 624-7867 Fax: (412) 383-8788 Office: Department of Bioengineering University of Pittsburgh 300 Technology Dr. Room 306 CNBIO Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Education

Ph. D. (Biomedical Engineering), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX

Post-doc Fellowship (Cell Biology), Harvard Medical School, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Courses Taught

Graduate

Molecular Cell Biology and Biophysics I (BIOE 2520 - Fall semester)
Molecular Cell Biology and Biophysics II (BIOE 2521 - Spring semester)
Graduate Seminar Series (BIOE 2023/24 - Fall and Spring semesters)

 

Undergraduate

Introduction to cell biology-1 (BIOE 1070 - Fall semester)
Introduction to cell biology-2 (BIOE 1071 - Fall semester)

Co-director of Graduate Seminar Series

Research

Directed cell migration plays an important role in embryonic development, wound healing, angiogenesis, immune response, cancer invasion and metastasis. Dynamic reorganization of actin cytoskeleton, a key aspect of cell migration, is regulated by the concerted actions of various classes of actin-binding proteins (ABPs). Altered expressions of several ABPs have been previously correlated with aberrant cell motility in pathologic scenarios. One of our main research interests is to study the role of actin-binding proteins in tumor cell invasion and metastasis. Our current effort is focused on profilin-1 (Pfn1), a ubiquitously expressed ABP that is essential for embryonic development and has been shown to be important for cell motility. Interestingly, Pfn1 has also been recently implicated as a tumor suppressor protein based on its reduced expression in several types of invasive cancers (breast, pancreatic, heapatocytic) and ability to suppress tumorigenicity when overexpressed in breast cancer cells. We have previously shown that overexpression of Pfn1-1 significantly inhibits the migration of breast cancer cells (Cell Motility Cytoskel. 57(2): 84-95, 2004). Utilizing a combination of in vitro and in vivo experimental approaches, we are now attempting to 1) identify the molecular mechanisms underlying the tumor suppressive action of Pfn1, and 2) determine how various molecular perturbations of Pfn1 affect tumor cell migration, invasion and metastasis.

In addition to studying the role of Pfn1 in tumor cell migration, we are also interested in studying what role Pfn1 plays in migration of normal cells using endothelial morphogenesis/ angiogenesis as a model system (J. Cell Science 119: 4127-4137, 2006). Other research interests in the lab are to 1) identify molecular regulations and novel interacting partners of Pfn1, and 2) study protein-protein interactions in migrating cells.

Funding Sources

National Cancer Institute
American Heart Association
Competitive Medical Research Fund from University of Pittsburgh

Lab Members

Current
Tuhin Das (Post-doctoral Research Associate)
Zhijie Ding(Graduate Student)
Maria Jaramillo(Graduate Student)
Li Zou(Graduate Student)
Yong Ho Bae(Graduate Student)
Anna DiRienzo(Undergraduate Researcher)

Alumni
Vaishnavi Panchapakesa(Graduate Student)
Mayur Parepally(Undergraduate Researcher)
Nitin Narayan(Undergraduate Researcher)
Andrew Roland(Undergraduate Researcher)
Ted Askar(Undergraduate Researcher)
Kunjan Patel(Undergraduate Researcher)

Selected Publications

• Ding Z., Lambrechts A., Parepally M., Roy P. (2006): Silencing profilin-1-1 inhibits endothelial cell proliferation, migration and cord morphogenesis. J. Cell Science 119: 4127-4137.
• Boukhelifa, M., Moza, M., Johansson, J., Rachlin, A., Parast, M., Huttelmaier, S., Roy, P., Jockusch, B. M., Carpen, O., Karlsson, R., Otey, C. A. (2006): The proline-rich protein palladin is a binding partner for profilin. FEBS J. 273(1):26-33.
• Humphrey, D., Rajfur, Z., Imperiali, B., Marriott, G., Roy, P., and Jacobson, K."Application of light-directed activation of caged biomolecules and CALI (chromophore-assisted light inactivation) to problems in cell motility in Live Cell Imaging: A Laboratory Manual (David Spector and Bob Goldman editors)", Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, pp159-176 (2005).
• Roy, P., Jacobson, K. (2004). Overexpression of profilin reduces the migration of invasive breast cancer cells. Cell Motility Cytoskel. 57(2): 84-95.
• Marriott, G., Jacobson, K., Roy, P. (2003). Preparation and light-directed activation of caged proteins. Methods in Enzymol. (Biophotonics). 360: 274-288.
• Rajfur Z., Roy, P., Otey, C., Romer, L., Jacobson, K. (2002). Dissecting the link between stress fibers and focal adhesions by CALI of EGFP-fusion proteins. Nature Cell Biol. 4(4): 286-293.
• Roy P., Rajfur, Z., Pomorski, P., Jacobson, K. (2002). Microscope-based techniques for studying cell adhesion and migration. Nature Cell Biol. 4(4): E91-96.
• Roy P., Rajfur, Z., Jones, D., Marriott, G., Loew, L., Jacobson, K. (2001). Local photorelease of caged-T?4 in locomoting keratocytes causes cell turning. J. Cell Biol. 153 (5): 1035-1048.
• Mar, P. K. Roy, P., Yin, H. L., Cavanagh, H. D. , Jester, J. V. (2001). Stress fiber formation is required for matrix reorganization in a corneal myofibroblast cell line. Exp. Eye Res. 72(4): 455-66.
• Roy. P., Petroll, W. M., Chuong, C. J., Cavanagh, H. D., Jester, J. V. (1999). Effect of cell migration on the maintenance of tension on a collagen matrix. Annals of Biomedical Engineering 27(6): 721-730.
• Roy, P., Petroll, W. M., Cavanagh, H. D., Jester, J. V. (1999). Exertion of Tractional Force Requires the Coordinated Up-Regulation of Cell Contractility and Adhesion. Cell Motility and Cytoskel. 42: 23-34.
• Roy, P., Petroll, W. M., Cavanagh, H. D., Chuong, C. J., Jester, J. V. (1997). An in vitro force measurement assay to study the early mechanical interaction between corneal fibroblasts and collagen matrix. Exp. Cell Res. 232(1): 106-117.
• Petroll W. M., Roy, P., Chuong, C. J., Hall, B., Cavanagh, H. D., Jester, J. V. (1996). Measurement of surgically induced corneal deformations using three-dimensional confocal microscopy. Cornea. 15(2): 154-164.
• Roy, P., Petroll, W. M., McKinney, A. E., Chuong, C. J. (1996). Computational models of the effects of hydration on corneal biomechanics and the results of Radial Keratotomy. J. Biomech. Engg. (Trans. of ASME). 118: 255-258.