© MPI-CBG

Expertise

The Brugués group has a strong background in biophysics, combining both theory and experiments. From the experimental side the Brugués lab uses cytoplasmic extracts, in vivo measurements and in vitro reconstitution. Key research topics have included co-condensation of DNA and protein interactions1,2, methods to quantitatively measure protein concentration in condensates3, reconstitution of chromatin processes in single DNA strands4, and self-organization and mechanics of the mitotic spindle as an active liquid droplet5-8. In recent years, the group has developed a theoretical framework for polymers in mixed solvents which explaining unusual phase transition scenarios. In collaboration with the Alberti and Jahnel groups, we have demonstrated that capillary-like forces arising from DNA-protein interactions play a key role in DNA damage2.

References:

  1. Quail et al. Force generation by protein–DNA co-condensation. Nat Phys. 2021;17(9):1007-1012. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-021-01285-1
  2. Chappidi et al. PARP1-DNA co-condensation drives DNA repair site assembly to prevent disjunction of broken DNA ends. Cell. 2024;187(4):945-961.e18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cell.2024.01.015
  3. McCall et al. Quantitative phase microscopy enables precise and efficient determination of biomolecular condensate composition. bioRxiv. Published online October 2020. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.10.25.352823
  4. Golfier et al. Cohesin and condensin extrude DNA loops in a cell cycle-dependent manner. eLife. 2020;9:e53885.
  5. Dalton et al. A gelation transition enables the self-organization of bipolar metaphase spindles. Nat Phys. 2022;18(3):323-331. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-021-01467-x
  6. Oriola et al. Active forces shape the metaphase spindle through a mechanical instability. Proc Natl Acad Sci. 2020;117(28):16154-16159. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2002446117
  7. Golfier et al. Single-Molecule Approaches to Study DNA Condensation. Methods Mol Biol Clifton NJ. 2024;2740:1-19. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-0716-3557-5_1
  8. Rieckhoff et al. Spindle Scaling Is Governed by Cell Boundary Regulation of Microtubule Nucleation. Curr Biol. 2020;30(24):4973-4983.e10. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cub.2020.10.093


Current news by this research group

A role for RNA in Stress Granules assembly

Stress granules are membraneless compartments formed by phase separation of specific molecules upon exposure to cellular stress such as oxidative stress, heat shock, or osmotic stress. The Alberti, Jahnel, Honigmann, and Hyman labs published a study in cell highlighting the role of RNA in the…

Read More

Filament formation by the translation factor eIF2B regulates protein synthesis in starved cells

Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases (aaRSs), the enzymes responsible for coupling tRNAs to their cognate amino acids, minimize translational errors by intrinsic hydrolytic editing. Here, we compared norvaline (Nva), a linear amino acid not coded for protein synthesis, to the proteinogenic, branched valine…

Read More

Condensation regulates translation

New insights into the influence of Ded1p condensation on translation comes from the Hyman, Alberti and Kreysing labs. The study published in Cell is entitled "Condensation of Ded1p Promotes a Translational Switch from Housekeeping to Stress Protein Production". Graphical abstract:

Read More

Alberti Lab is accepting applications for MSc, PhD, and Postdoc

We are always looking for highly motivated and creative students. Students interested in a master’s project with a focus on biochemistry, biophysics or cell biology are encouraged to apply. Students interested in a PhD project should apply to the Dresden International Graduate School for…

Read More

Local nucleation of microtubule bundles through tubulin concentration into a condensed tau phase

Theskeleton that supports the structure of our cells, termed cytoskeleton is formed of several kinds of polymers including actin and microtubules. How the single units on the polymers (monomers and dimers) are concentrated to gether to synthesize the polymer is the subject of this study by the labs…

Read More