In recent years, the formation of biomolecular condensates has been increasingly recognized as a powerful mechanism for providing spatial and temporal organization in a broad range of cellular processes. These condensates enable the cell to create distinct assemblies at high local concentrations without the need for membranes for separation. While studies thus far provide significant insights into the cellular functions of bio-condensates, many fundamental questions related to how these biocondensates form and the physical principles driving the phase separation remain less well understood. To bridge the knowledge gap in understanding phase separation in biology, we will bring together highly interdisciplinary scientists at the forefront of this field. The lectures will provide a basic introduction to physical principles underlying the phase transition and separation, illustrate the framework for understanding the thermodynamic forces driving these phases, demonstrate the experimental methods to detect and visualize these transitions, and make aware of the open questions and challenges of the field.
Topics
- Conceptual framework for understanding phase separation related to liquid-liquid phase separation, percolation, and polymer collapse.
- Experimental methods to investigate phase separation problems of intrinsically disordered proteins.
- Open questions and challenges in the field.
Who should attend?
Graduate students, postdocs, and other scientists interested in learning about the exciting new area of physical principles of biocondensates. The lectures will provide a pedagogical introduction to the statistical mechanics underlying the assembly of biocondensates, highlight experimental approaches to investigating these condensates, and discuss the biological implications of the findings.
Organizer
- Michelle Wang, Cornell University
Presenters
- Ben Machta, Yale University
- Eric Dufresne, Cornell University
- Tanja Mittag, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
- Rohit Pappu, Washington University