Prof. Roy Beck-Barkai
Research work
Nature evolved to have the unbelievable capabilities to produce nanoscale machines with incredible accuracy and functionality. In Beck’s lab, we experimentally study the physical mechanism responsible for these fantastic capabilities. Using X-ray scattering, microscopy, spectroscopy, and other biophysical techniques, we target the nano length-scale biophysics. We further combine advancing theories originating from soft-matter and statistical mechanics physics for the study of various self-assembled systems in and out of thermal equilibrium. Examples include intrinsically disordered proteins, amphiphiles self-assembly, intermediate filaments, and myelin sheaths biophysics.
Areas of interest & scientific knowledge
Cellular & Molecular Neuroscience
Selected Publications
- R. Shaharabani, M. Ram-On, Y. Talmon, R. Beck, Pathological transitions in myelin membranes driven by environmental and multiple sclerosis conditions, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the USA 44(115), 11156-11161 (2018). http://www.pnas.org/content/115/44/11156.short?rss=1
- E. Malka-Gibor, M. Kornreich, A. Laser-Azogui, O. Doron, I. Zingerman-Koladko, O. Medalia, R. Beck, Phosphorylation-induced mechanical regulation of intrinsically disordered neurofilament protein, Biophysical Journal 12(5), 892-900 (2017). http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0006349517301509
- A. Laser-Azogui M. Kornreich, E. Malka-Gibor, R. Beck, Neurofilament assembly and function during neuronal development. Current Opinion in Cell Biology 32, 92-101 (2015). http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0955067415000058
- I. Chakraborty, G. Rahamim, R. Avinery, Y. Roichman, R. Beck. Nanoparticle Mobility over a Surface as a Probe for Weak Transient Disordered Peptide-Peptide Interactions. Nano Letters 19(9), 96524-6534 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.9b02764.
- R. Beck, J. Deek, J.B. Jones, C.R. Safinya, Gel Expanded to Gel Condensed Transition in Neurofilament Networks revealed by Direct Force Measurements, Nature Materials 9, 40-46 (2010). http://www.nature.com/nmat/journal/v9/n1/full/nmat2566.html