Jonathan Essuman

At Arizona State University, Jonathan is undertaking advanced training at the intersection of structural biology, biochemistry, and biomedical innovation. He conducts his research in the esteemed Fromme Lab at the Biodesign Center for Applied Structural Discovery, where he investigates how proteins within the focal adhesion complex coordinate to regulate cell adhesion, migration, and mechanical stability—key processes hijacked during cancer invasion and metastasis.

Jonathan’s work centers on vinculin, a pivotal mechanosensitive protein that reinforces focal adhesions in response to intracellular force. Upon mechanical stimulation, vinculin transitions from an autoinhibited state to an active conformation by binding to Talin, a cytoskeletal protein that links integrins to the actin cytoskeleton. This conformational change is essential for strengthening adhesion sites and transmitting mechanical signals.

Through an integrative approach combining X-ray crystallography, computational modeling, and biochemical assays, Jonathan aims to resolve the structural dynamics of the vinculin–Talin interface. His research explores how peptide-based modulators can either mimic or disrupt this interaction, offering novel insights into how adhesion signaling can be tuned for therapeutic purposes. The ultimate goal is to enable structure-guided drug discovery targeting focal adhesion machinery in metastatic cancers.