Michael A. Model

Courses Currently Taught

Human Physiology

Animal Physiology

Human Biology

Macromolecular crowding, cell water regulation, and cell stress

Currently, our research is focused on the following questions:

1. Macromolecular crowding. These are the effects caused by the high intracellular concentration of proteins. It has long been established through theoretical and in vitro studies that macromolecular crowding has profound effects on biochemical processes. We extend these findings to living cells using imaging methods that have been developed or modified in our laboratory.
2. Cell stress and apoptosis. We are interested in the changes that occur in cells under stress conditions. One specific question we are currently investigating is why diverse forms of stress lead to similar outcomes, such as mitochondrial apoptosis.
3. Cell volume regulation under stress. The natural response to an adverse environment is the accumulation of water. However, cells are frequently found to behave in the opposite manner: they expel water and shrink. We are investigating the mechanisms and physiological consequences of stress-induced water loss. 
4. Optical microscopy. We make extensive use of optical microscopy in our research and have developed several novel imaging techniques.