Biography
Dr Gaurav Kumar Bhati is a Research Associate at Professor Sergi Garcia-Manyes’ Lab at the king’s College London, in the Department of Physics. His research aims to investigate the nanomechanical properties of cell-cell junction proteins using single-molecule force spectroscopy, including magnetic tweezers (MT) and atomic force microscopy (AFM), combined with protein engineering and steered molecular dynamics (SMD) simulation.
Dr Bhati completed his PhD in biophysics from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER) Mohali (India) in 2025. His doctoral research focused on investigating the folding dynamics and force-dependent behaviour of the tip-link complex, utilising single-molecule approaches to reveal how disease-linked mutations alter the mechanical properties and are associated with hereditary hearing loss.
At King’s, Dr Bhati will investigate how the cell-cell junctions are regulated by mechanical force. The goal of his research is to advance the understanding of how proteins and protein complex dynamics affect tissue integrity and the course of disease. This is part of a multi-partner project funded through a BBSRC sLOLA award.
Research
- Protein engineering and nanomechanical characterisation of cell–cell junction proteins
- Single-molecule force spectroscopy using AFM and magnetic tweezers
- Molecular and steered molecular dynamics (SMD) simulations
Dr Bhati’s research lies at the interface of molecular biology, biophysics, and biochemistry, focusing on how cell–cell junction proteins sense and respond to mechanical forces.
His current research work explores the mechanistic principles of force sensing and mechanotransduction in junctional complexes, advancing our understanding of how mechanical forces regulate cellular adhesion and tissue function.
Publications
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Cadherin-23 mutations cause calcium-dependent, allele-sensitive mechanosensory defects
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Titin as a mechanical damper: Balancing Stability and longevity through inter-domain linker design
- In vitro and in vivo neutralization of Dengue virus by a single domain antibody
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Emergence of slip-ideal-slip behavior in tip-links serve as force filters of sound in hearing
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Superior Proton-Transfer Catalytic Promiscuity of Cytochrome c in Self-Organized Media
Research
Biological Physics & Soft Matter
The Biological Physics and Soft Matter group aims to use bespoke technology and analytical methods borrowed from the Physical Sciences to address important fundamental questions in Biology.
Research
Biological Physics & Soft Matter
The Biological Physics and Soft Matter group aims to use bespoke technology and analytical methods borrowed from the Physical Sciences to address important fundamental questions in Biology.