Ritusree Biswas is a Ph.D. student in the lab of Dr. Srikala Raghavan at inStem, Bengaluru. She completed her Master’s in Applied Microbiology from Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), Vellore, and undertook a six-month research project in Dr. Yashoda Ghanekar’s lab at inStem. Inspired by the work environment, she later joined Dr. Raghavan’s lab as a Junior Research Fellow in 2015. Her research focuses on the mechanistic regulation of skin stem cells in mice, particularly how mechanotransduction affects stem cell behavior. Outside the lab, Ritusree is a trained Kathak dancer and enjoys artwork, gardening, and playing badminton.
She recently co-authored her first paper titled “Mechanical instability of adherens junctions overrides intrinsic quiescence of hair follicle stem cells”, published in Developmental Cell.
Author interview
🧪 How would you explain your paper’s key results to a non-scientific audience?
Our skin renews itself every three weeks, and this regeneration is driven by specialized cells called stem cells, located in specific areas called niches. One such niche is the bulge region of the hair follicle. While much is known about the internal (intrinsic) factors controlling these stem cells, the external (extrinsic) environmental cues are less understood.
In our study, we explored how mechanical signals at the cell-cell junctions affect stem cell behavior. We deleted a gene called vinculin, which is involved in maintaining mechanical stability at these junctions. Mice lacking vinculin showed sparse hair, and we discovered that their hair follicle stem cells could not stay in a quiescent (resting) state. Quiescence is critical for preserving stem cell potential over time.
We found that without vinculin, the force between cells at junctions was nearly half of what is seen in normal tissue. This weak adhesion triggered the activation of a protein called YAP1, which promotes cell proliferation. As a result, the stem cells could not remain dormant and began proliferating abnormally.
🔬 What are the implications of these findings?
Our work underscores how stem cells respond to physical cues from their environment. Mechanical signals through cell junctions are not just structural—they actively regulate the resting state of stem cells. This insight helps us understand how disturbances in mechanical balance can lead to diseases, especially those involving uncontrolled cell growth.
By linking junction proteins like vinculin to stem cell regulation, we open the door to exploring similar mechanisms in other tissues and disease contexts.
✨ What was the “eureka” moment in your research?
When we measured the mechanical forces at the cell junctions of vinculin-deficient cells, we discovered the force was reduced by half—even though junction protein levels were higher. This seemed paradoxical at first. But it helped explain why the cells couldn’t maintain quiescence: the proteins were present, but the mechanical tension wasn’t.
This force measurement experiment, done in collaboration with Prof. Yan Jie’s group at the Mechanobiology Institute in Singapore, was a pivotal moment in our study.
🧭 What’s next in your research?
I’m keen to investigate how the loss of vinculin affects immune responses in the skin, as our preliminary data shows intriguing trends. I also want to study vinculin’s role in muscle stem cells—another system where mechanical force is crucial.
💡 Where do you draw scientific inspiration from?
My mentor, Dr. Srikala Raghavan, is my biggest scientific role model. Her ability to guide, motivate, and challenge me has shaped my research journey. Being part of a collaborative and stimulating research community has also helped me grow intellectually and emotionally. The biggest lesson I’ve learned during my Ph.D. is to embrace failure and keep evolving.
🌱 How do you hope to contribute to Indian science?
Science communication is key. Sharing your research with both scientific peers and the general public can foster curiosity and build trust. I believe young minds—especially school and college students—can be inspired when science is made accessible. Alongside my future work in translational research, I hope to contribute meaningfully to science outreach in India.
📖 Reference
Biswas R, Banerjee A, Lembo S, Zhao Z, Lakshmanan V, Lim R, Le S, Nakasaki M, Kutyavin V, Wright G, Palakodeti D, Ross RS, Jamora C, Vasioukhin V, Jie Y, Raghavan S.
Mechanical instability of adherens junctions overrides intrinsic quiescence of hair follicle stem cells.
Developmental Cell. 2021; 56(6): 761–780.e7.
doi: 10.1016/j.devcel.2021.02.020
Edited by: Nivedita Kamath
Explore more
🎤 Career – Real career stories and job profiles of life science professionals. Discover current opportunities for students and researchers.
💼 Jobs – The latest job openings and internship alerts across academia and industry.
📢 Advertise with BioPatrika – Reach the Right Audience, Fast!
