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Matthew Kutys, PhD

Assistant Professor
Cell and Tissue Biology
+1 415 502-2247

The Kutys Lab spans disciplinary boundaries between cell biology and engineering to investigate tissue morphogenic processes associated with human development, regeneration and disease. Ultimately, we are interested in uncovering fundamental molecular and mechanical mechanisms that conspire across time and length scales to organize and shape human tissues. To do so, we develop microfluidic, biomimetic human tissue models that recapitulate 3D in vivo architectures, microenvironments, cellular heterogeneity, and morphogenic behaviors that can be examined mechanistically by biochemical and cell biological approaches. Combined with advanced microscopy, cellular and molecular engineering, and 'omic' technologies, our multidisciplinary approach allows us to model, control, and dissect complex multicellular behaviors at a level previously only accessible in vivo.

At the molecular level, we are experts in elucidating new mechanisms underlying adhesion biology, the interactions of cells with their neighbors and their microenvironment. We study how core adhesion molecules like cadherins and integrins integrate and orchestrate chemical and mechano-signaling to specify multicellular behavior, proper organization and differentiation of complex tissues, as well as facilitate the progression of disease.

At the cellular level, we develop and apply quantitative imaging and molecular tools (optogenetics, synthetic biology, microenvironment biomaterials/patterning) that allow us to measure, direct, and perturb cellular behaviors to understand how collective decisions initiate and propagate within tissues.

At the tissue level, we engineer organotypic 3D microfluidic models of human tissues with defined architectures and microenvironments in vitro that permit the simulation, molecular dissection, and quantitative analysis of in vivo-like morphogenic processes. We are working to combine these platforms with organoid systems, unbiased proteomics, and single-cell analyses to build spatio-temporal road maps of human development and disease.

Publications: 

A convolutional neural network STIFMap reveals associations between stromal stiffness and EMT in breast cancer.

Nature communications

Stashko C, Hayward MK, Northey JJ, Pearson N, Ironside AJ, Lakins JN, Oria R, Goyette MA, Mayo L, Russnes HG, Hwang ES, Kutys ML, Polyak K, Weaver VM

Modeling collective cell behavior in cancer: Perspectives from an interdisciplinary conversation.

Cell systems

Adler FR, Anderson ARA, Bhushan A, Bogdan P, Bravo-Cordero JJ, Brock A, Chen Y, Cukierman E, DelGiorno KE, Denis GV, Ferrall-Fairbanks MC, Gartner ZJ, Germain RN, Gordon DM, Hunter G, Jolly MK, Karacosta LG, Mythreye K, Katira P, Kulkarni RP, Kutys ML, Lander AD, Laughney AM, Levine H, Lou E, Lowenstein PR, Masters KS, Pe'er D, Peyton SR, Platt MO, Purvis JE, Quon G, Richer JK, Riddle NC, Rodriguez A, Snyder JC, Lee Szeto G, Tomlin CJ, Yanai I, Zervantonakis IK, Dueck H

Microphysiological model of PIK3CA-driven vascular malformations reveals a role of dysregulated Rac1 and mTORC1/2 in lesion formation.

Science advances

Aw WY, Cho C, Wang H, Cooper AH, Doherty EL, Rocco D, Huang SA, Kubik S, Whitworth CP, Armstrong R, Hickey AJ, Griffith B, Kutys ML, Blatt J, Polacheck WJ

Notch1 cortical signaling regulates epithelial architecture and cell-cell adhesion.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology

White MJ, Jacobs KA, Singh T, Kutys ML

Adherens junctions organize size-selective proteolytic hotspots critical for Notch signalling.

Nature cell biology

Kwak M, Southard KM, Kim WR, Lin A, Kim NH, Gopalappa R, Lee HJ, An M, Choi SH, Jung Y, Noh K, Farlow J, Georgakopoulos A, Robakis NK, Kang MK, Kutys ML, Seo D, Kim HH, Kim YH, Cheon J, Gartner ZJ, Jun YW

Uncovering mutation-specific morphogenic phenotypes and paracrine-mediated vessel dysfunction in a biomimetic vascularized mammary duct platform.

Nature communications

Kutys ML, Polacheck WJ, Welch MK, Gagnon KA, Koorman T, Kim S, Li L, McClatchey AI, Chen CS

Microfabricated blood vessels for modeling the vascular transport barrier.

Nature protocols

Polacheck WJ, Kutys ML, Tefft JB, Chen CS

Extracellular matrix alignment dictates the organization of focal adhesions and directs uniaxial cell migration.

APL bioengineering

Wang WY, Pearson AT, Kutys ML, Choi CK, Wozniak MA, Baker BM, Chen CS

Force Generation via β-Cardiac Myosin, Titin, and α-Actinin Drives Cardiac Sarcomere Assembly from Cell-Matrix Adhesions.

Developmental cell

Chopra A, Kutys ML, Zhang K, Polacheck WJ, Sheng CC, Luu RJ, Eyckmans J, Hinson JT, Seidman JG, Seidman CE, Chen CS

A non-canonical Notch complex regulates adherens junctions and vascular barrier function.

Nature

Polacheck WJ, Kutys ML, Yang J, Eyckmans J, Wu Y, Vasavada H, Hirschi KK, Chen CS

Forces and mechanotransduction in 3D vascular biology.

Current opinion in cell biology

Kutys ML, Chen CS

Dimensions in cell migration.

Current opinion in cell biology

Doyle AD, Petrie RJ, Kutys ML, Yamada KM

Regulation of cell adhesion and migration by cell-derived matrices.

Experimental cell research

Kutys ML, Doyle AD, Yamada KM

Ubiquitylation of phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate 5-kinase type I γ by HECTD1 regulates focal adhesion dynamics and cell migration.

Journal of cell science

Li X, Zhou Q, Sunkara M, Kutys ML, Wu Z, Rychahou P, Morris AJ, Zhu H, Evers BM, Huang C

Monte Carlo analysis of neck linker extension in kinesin molecular motors.

PLoS computational biology

Kutys ML, Fricks J, Hancock WO