Dr. Ben Goult, University of Kent, UK

Host: Johanna Ivaska

Dr. Goult is available for discussions on Monday and Tuesday (26^th– 27^th March). If you would like to meet with Dr Goult, please contact Hellyeh Hamidi hellham@utu.fi.

Dr Goult’s research is centred on a fundamental question in biology: how are mechanical stimuli from the extracellular environment converted into functional signals that regulate cell behaviour? Current paradigms suggest that force is transduced via specialized mechanosensory proteins, which are becoming increasingly recognised as potential targets for therapeutic intervention in a range of pathologies including cancer and vascular disorders.

Dr Goult’s group uses biochemical and biophysical approaches (e.g. single-molecule force manipulation) to understand the structure and function of these important mechanosensory proteins. His group’s particular interest lies in investigating the link between physiologically relevant, force-dependent conformational changes in talin, and talin function as a recognised mechanosensor and essential cytoplasmic adaptor for cell adhesion to the extracellular matrix.

Selected publications

Collier MEW, Ettelaie C, Goult BT, Maraveyas A, Goodall AH. Investigation of the Filamin A-Dependent Mechanisms of Tissue Factor Incorporation into Microvesicles. Thromb Haemost. 2017 Nov;117(11):2034-2044.

Qi L, Jafari N, Li X, Chen Z, Li L, Hytönen VP, Goult BT, Zhan CG, Huang C. Talin2-mediated traction force drives matrix degradation and cell invasion. J Cell Sci. 2016 Oct 1;129(19):3661-3674.

Bouchet BP, Gough RE, Ammon YC, van de Willige D, Post H, Jacquemet G, Altelaar AM, Heck AJ, Goult BT, Akhmanova A. Talin-KANK1 interaction controls the recruitment of cortical microtubule stabilizing complexes to focal adhesions. Elife. 2016 Jul 13;5. pii: e18124.

Kumar A, Ouyang M, Van den Dries K, McGhee EJ, Tanaka K, Anderson MD, Groisman A, Goult BT, Anderson KI, Schwartz MA. Talin tension sensor reveals novel features of focal adhesion force transmission and mechanosensitivity. J Cell Biol. 2016 May 9;213(3):371-83.

Atherton P, Stutchbury B, Wang DY, Jethwa D, Tsang R, Meiler-Rodriguez E, Wang P, Bate N, Zent R, Barsukov IL, Goult BT, Critchley DR, Ballestrem C. Vinculin controls talin engagement with the actomyosin machinery. Nat Commun. 2015 Dec 4;6:10038.

Villari G, Jayo A, Zanet J, Fitch B, Serrels B, Frame M, Stramer BM, Goult BT, Parsons M. A direct interaction between fascin and microtubules contributes to adhesion dynamics and cell migration. J Cell Sci. 2015 Dec 15;128(24):4601-14Goult, B. et al. (2013). RIAM and vinculin binding to talin are mutually exclusive and regulate adhesion assembly and turnover. The Journal of biological chemistry [Online] 288:8238-8249.

Goult, B. et al. (2013). Structural studies on full-length talin1 reveal a compact auto-inhibited dimer: implications for talin activation. Journal of structural biology [Online] 184:21-32.