03/19/2021
By Joanne Gagnon-Ketchen
Location: Contact Joanne Gagnon-Ketchen for link.
“Muscle function through the lens of physics,“ Nicolai Konow, Assistant Professor, University of Massachusetts Lowell
Abstract: Muscle is a magnificent organ-system that despite its conserved ultrastructure can generate an impressive range of motion feats that we can observe across the animal kingdom. Muscle abides by physiological trade-offs as its production of force and work is length- and speed-dependent. However, our work reveals that muscle uses physics “tricks” to circumvent these trade-offs. I will showcase our approaches to determine how muscle function depends on (i) the architecture of its fibers and (ii) its interaction with compliant collagenous tissues, to tune its production of power, and work and not only act efficiently as motors but also safely as brakes. A third vignette will motivate and present plans for a high resolution biplanar videofluoroscopy system to study movement in small animal systems.
Bio: Nicolai Konow graduated from the University of Copenhagen with a B.Sc and M.Sc in Biology, following which he received his Ph.D. in Biology from James Cook University. He did his postdoctoral work at Harvard, Brown University and John Hopkins University prior to joining the Department of Biology at UMass Lowell as an Assistant Professor. In his lab, they study how biological movements, as seen during feeding and locomotion arise from mechanical interactions between contracting muscles, springy tendons and jointed skeletons. They combine tools from biomechanics, muscle physiology, and functional morphology into a research program that is relevant to students interested in organismal biology, ecology and evolution, and biomedical or health-care careers. He has authored more than 60 papers and currently also serves as the Co-director of UMOVE.
Round Table: Please join the speaker for a round-table discussion following the colloquium. The round table will run from 5 to 5:30 p.m.