Portrait from Anthony A. Hyman
© Sven Döring

Expertise

The Hyman group has made significant contributions to molecular and cell biology, particularly in understanding the mechanisms of cell division and cell compartmentalization. Perhaps the two most notable achievements include utilizing RNA interference to map various cytoplasmic processes1 and discovering that compartments in cells can form via phase separation2. Their expansive body of work has also illuminated fundamental interworking of protein complexes and cellular structures like the mitotic spindle, centrioles, and P granules3,4. Currently, their research is aimed at exploring how phase separation of intrinsically disordered proteins may drive neurodegenerative diseases including ALS.

References:

  1. Kittler, Hyman et al. RNA interference rescue by bacterial artificial chromosome transgenesis in mammalian tissue culture cells. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2005;102(7):2396-2401. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0409861102

  2. Brangwynne, Hyman et al. Germline P granules are liquid droplets that localize by controlled dissolution/condensation. Science. 2009;324(5935):1729-1732. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1172046

  3. Hyman et al. Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation in Biology. Annu Rev Cell Dev Biol. 2014;30(1):39-58. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-cellbio-100913-013325

  4. Banani, Hyman et al. Biomolecular condensates: organizers of cellular biochemistry. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol. 2017;18(5):285-298. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrm.2017.7


Current news by this research group

New Research Training Group for Biomolecular Condensates in Dresden

The DFG approved a funding application to establish a new Research Training Group (RTG 3120) in Dresden to train PhD students interdisciplinary methods and approaches to study Biomolecular Condensates. Read the press releases for more:…

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CD-Code is now published in Nature Methods

CD-CODE is now published in Nature Methods. It is a “living database” that we designed for fast…

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A quick intro to the Phase Diagram

Phase Diagrams are graphic representations that help understand many physical systems such as magnets and pure substances like water. These diagrams also help us understand how dense droplets of biomolecules, called Biomolecular Condensates, form inside cells. Phase Diagrams predict under which…

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