Spectroscopy and local interactions in condensates and organization of the cytoplasm (A3)

The goal of of A3 is to understand how local interactions of solvent and biomolecules drive phase separation and regulate condensate biochemistry

Solvation water is fundamental to the structure and function of proteins and integral in coordinating biochemical reactions. Phase separation of intrinsically disordered proteins into two coexisting liquid phases is entropically unfavorable and creates compartments with a distinct solvent environment. The Adams group has developed spectroscopic methods to study the solvation of proteins and have shown that the global solvation is sensitive to molecular level changes in the protein sequence. Application of this technique to biomolecular condensates has provided insight into their solvent environment and the local water-protein interactions. Desolvation of specific molecular groups entropically drives phase transitions, while water inside of condensates is tightly bound to the proteins and has fewer degrees of freedom, resulting an environment with a stiff hydrogen bonding network.

How does physical chemistry of the solvent influence local interactions in condensates? How are molecular properties of condensates linked to their macroscopic properties? How do local mutations of proteins impact the condensate environment? What are the molecular properties of cytoplasm and how do solvent properties of the cytoplasm regulate spatiotemporal organization of condensates?

Local Hydration of Post Translationally Modified Condensate Proteins.

The PhD students will be trained in various spectroscopic methods, microscopy, and physical chemistry concepts.

• Candidates have a Masters degree in chemistry, physics or related fields
• Candidates should have a sound basis in physical chemistry, physics, biochemistry, or closely related fields.
• Experience in spectroscopy is expected

We are currently recruiting the first cohort of motivated doctoral candidates to join our research training group “RTG 3120 Biomolecular Condensates”. If you are a potential applicant, register and complete the following form . If you have questions about the research topic, then email the project supervisor >