# Biomimetic cytoskeleton and advanced microscopy to reveal intracellular DNA dynamics and distributions

> **NIH NIH R15** · UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO · 2022 · $16,925

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract
The proposed diversity supplement is to support undergraduate researcher, Juexin Marfai, a Pacific Islander
non-native English speaker, and Navy veteran who transferred to University of San Diego from community
college during the pandemic; and, in turn, to enhance the diversity of the health-related workforce. The proposed
supplement to support undergraduate researcher Juexin Marfai will contribute to and advance 2 Aims of our
parent R15: (Aim 1) Design in vitro active cytoskeleton networks that exhibit tunable activity for probing non-
equilibrium dynamics and rheological properties; and (Aim 2) Determine transport and conformational dynamics
of linear and circular DNA within active cytoskeleton networks. The supplement will build on Aim 2, beyond the
initial scope of the grant by incorporating in situ enzymatically-driven alterations to the DNA topology. To achieve
these goals, we will pursue two Aims: (Aim S1) Perform macrorheology measurements on networks designed in
Aim 1 to complement measurements using active and passive microrheology; and (Aim S2) Perform Aim 2
experiments to determine transport and conformational dynamics of DNA molecules with different topologies
and which transition their topologies from circular to linear.
As an undergraduate researcher, Marfai has developed expertise in preparing and characterizing DNA
molecules, quantifying the rheological properties of composites comprised of DNA, and studying how the activity
of DNA-cutting enzymes causes time-dependent rheological properties of DNA composites. As a senior
undergraduate, Marfai will continue to hone these technical skills while applying them to build upon the Aims of
our parent grant. Further, we will focus on training Marfai in a broad range of operational and professional skills
which will prepare her to accomplish her goal of earning a MD/PhD to continue in biomedical research.
We will work with Juexin Marfai to help her achieve her short-term and long-term goals. Short-term goals include:
building her health-related research skillset; broadening her professional network and identifying new mentors;
and participating in informational interviews with MD/PhD biomedical researchers. Long-term goals include:
publishing 2 more papers on her undergraduate research; securing a postbaccalaureate research position in the
PI’s lab or in the lab of one of our collaborators; writing a competitive predoctoral fellowship application (either
an F30 or F31 NIH fellowship).

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10599773
- **Project number:** 3R15GM123420-02S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF SAN DIEGO
- **Principal Investigator:** Ryan McGorty
- **Activity code:** R15 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $16,925
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2017-04-01 → 2024-05-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10599773

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10599773, Biomimetic cytoskeleton and advanced microscopy to reveal intracellular DNA dynamics and distributions (3R15GM123420-02S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10599773. Licensed CC0.

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