Carine Benadiba
Papers
1
Total Citations
19
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1
About
Carine Benadiba is a biophysicist whose research lies at the intersection of single-molecule mechanics and neuronal cell adhesion. Her work is central to understanding how the physical properties of cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) shape synaptic function and integrity. Benadiba’s most cited study, “Nanomechanics of multidomain neuronal cell adhesion protein contactin revealed by single molecule AFM and SMD” (2017, 19 citations), provides a landmark characterization of Contactin-4 (CNTN4). By combining atomic force microscopy (AFM) with steered molecular dynamics (SMD), she and her team revealed the mechanical unfolding pathways of CNTN4’s six immunoglobulin C2 type (IgC2) and four fibronectin type III (FnIII) domains. This work demonstrates how the multidomain architecture of CNTN4 confers both stability and flexibility, enabling it to maintain synaptic mechanical integrity while supporting dynamic signaling. Benadiba’s contributions are foundational for linking nanoscale mechanical forces to neuronal development and neurological disorders, offering a molecular blueprint for how CAMs function as both structural scaffolds and signaling hubs at the synapse.
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