Emergence of life-like properties in coacervate droplets

Add to your list(s) Download to your calendar using vCal

• Evan Spruijt, Radboud University, the Netherlands
• Wednesday 20 November 2019, 10:30-11:30
• Department of Chemistry, Cambridge, Unilever lecture theatre.

If you have a question about this talk, please contact Magdalena.

Being able to organize the complex biomolecular chemistry that takes place in cells in space and time is essential for life. Liquid-liquid phase separation has emerged as an important biological organizing principle that can result in the formation of dynamic membraneless compartments, also known as coacervate droplets. By studying model coacervate droplets in vitro, we are able to probe how their unique chemical microenvironment can affect reactivity, self-assembly, phase behaviour and potentially aggregation of biomolecules. Here, we focus on how mixtures of coacervates will typically lead to hierarchically organized multiphase compartments, and how the enhanced assembly of proteins such FtsZ into filaments inside these compartments gives rise to spontaneous elongation and splitting upon supply of energy. These insights are not only relevant to better understand living cells in health and disease, but also to guide efforts to build a functional synthetic cell.

This talk is part of the Biophysical Seminars series.

This talk is included in these lists:

• All Talks (aka the CURE list)
• Biophysical Seminar Series 2016/17
• Biophysical Seminars
• Department of Chemistry
• Department of Chemistry, Cambridge, Unilever lecture theatre
• Featured lists
• School of Physical Sciences

Note that ex-directory lists are not shown.