Matthew-Akamatsu
Matthew Akamatsu
Assistant Professor
553 LSB
206-543-1373
Accepting graduate students
Fields of interest
We combine mathematical modeling, human stem cell genome-editing, and fluorescence microscopy to study how the actin cytoskeleton produces force to function in cellular membrane bending and trafficking processes. Our research focuses on the mechanical relationship between the actin cytoskeleton and mammalian endocytosis. We aim to identify mechanisms by which emergent architectures of cytoskeletal networks arise based on the initial positions and geometries of endocytic actin-binding proteins. We also study the mechanisms by which the cytoskeleton actively adapts to changing loads to ensure the timely completion of endocytosis.
Matt Akamatsu received his PhD in the department of Molecular Biophysics and Biochemistry at Yale University as the first student in Yale's Integrated Graduate Program in Physics, Engineering and Biology. He worked in Tom Pollard's lab to study the mechanisms by which fission yeast cells assemble and position their cytokinetic contractile ring for symmetrical cell division. He carried out postdoctoral work as an Arnold O. Beckman researcher at UC Berkeley in the department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, coadvised by Padmini Rangamani (UC San Diego) and David Drubin. There, he combined computational modeling, genome editing of human stem cells, and quantitative fluorescence microscopy to study the mechanisms by which the actin cytoskeleton organizes, produces force, and responds to resistance during mammalian endocytosis. Matt is a recipient of the K99 Pathway to Independence Award, UC Berkeley Outstanding Postdoc Award in the Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, and the 2020 Porter Prize for Research Excellence from the American Society for Cell Biology. He started his lab at UW in June 2022.
Mechanistic insights into actin force generation during vesicle formation from cryo-electron tomography,
Serwas, Daniel, Akamatsu Matthew, Moayed Amir, Vegesna Karthik, Vasan Ritvik, Hill Jennifer M., Schöneberg Johannes, Davies Karen M., Rangamani Padmini, and Drubin David G.
, Developmental Cell, (2022)
Principles of self-organization and load adaptation by the actin cytoskeleton during clathrin-mediated endocytosis,
Akamatsu, Matthew, Vasan Ritvik, Serwas Daniel, Ferrin Michael A., Rangamani Padmini, and Drubin David G.
, eLife, Volume 9, (2020)
A mechanical model reveals that non-axisymmetric buckling lowers the energy barrier associated with membrane neck constriction,
Vasan, R, Rudraraju S, Akamatsu M, Garikipati K, and Rangamani P
, Soft matter, Volume 16, p.784–797, (2020)
Membrane curvature underlies actin reorganization in response to nanoscale surface topography,
Lou, Hsin-Ya, Zhao Wenting, Li Xiao, Duan Liting, Powers Alexander, Akamatsu Matthew, Santoro Francesca, Mcguire Allister F., Cui Yi, Drubin David G., et al.
, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Volume 116, p.23143–23151, (2019)
Intracellular Membrane Trafficking: Modeling Local Movements in Cells,
Vasan, Ritvik, Akamatsu Matthew, Schöneberg Johannes, and Rangamani Padmini
, Cell Movement, Volume 1788, Cham, p.259–301, (2018)
Genome-edited human stem cells expressing fluorescently labeled endocytic markers allow quantitative analysis of clathrin-mediated endocytosis during differentiation,
Dambournet, Daphné, Sochacki Kem A., Cheng Aaron T., Akamatsu Matthew, Taraska Justin W., Hockemeyer Dirk, and Drubin David G.
, The Journal of cell biology, Volume 2, p.jcb.201710084–11, (2018)
Nanoscale manipulation of membrane curvature for probing endocytosis in live cells,
Zhao, Wenting, Hanson Lindsey, Lou Hsin-Ya, Akamatsu Matthew, Chowdary Praveen D., Santoro Francesca, Marks Jessica R., Grassart Alexandre, Drubin David G., Cui Yi, et al.
, Nature nanotechnology, Volume 12, p.750–756, (2017)
Cytokinetic nodes in fission yeast arise from two distinct types of nodes that merge during interphase,
Akamatsu, Matthew, Berro Julien, Pu Kai-Ming, Tebbs Irene R., and Pollard Thomas D.
, The Journal of cell biology, Volume 204, p.977–988, (2014)
