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WS 2024/25

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05.02.2025 um 16:15 Uhr in Raum 69/125

Prof. Dr. Anne Wald (Universität Göttingen)

Inverse Problems Related to Biophysical Experiments

Many processes in cells are driven by the interaction of multiple proteins, for example cell contraction, division or migration. The shape of a cell and its dynamics is largely determined by the cytoskeleton, a network of various protein filaments. Myosin motor proteins are able to bind to and move along filaments by converting energy into motion, which creates dynamic networks and yields the basis for cell deformation. A major goal in biophysics is to gain information on the mechanical properties of cells or, in general, active matter. One key quantity are the forces that are generated due to the activity. In this talk, we take a look at two inverse problems arising in biophysics, where such forces are to be determined from indirect measurements. One is traction force microscopy, a popular method to reconstruct traction forces exterted by a cell on an elastic substrate. A further experiment aims at finding the forces driving fluid flow inside an actomyosin droplet, which is a model system for active matter. We will take a look at the underlying physical models, the mathematical analysis of the inverse problems as well as numerical results for experimental data.

This is an Osnabrücker Maryam Mirzakhani Lecture