Role of Condensates in Protein Aggregation

Explore the intricate relationship between biomolecular condensates and protein aggregation in this 46-minute conference talk delivered at the Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics. Delve into how living cells utilize membrane-less compartments called biomolecular condensates to coordinate molecular activities across space and time, examining their diverse biological functions including gene expression, signal transduction, and neurotransmission. Investigate the wide range of properties these condensates exhibit, from varying lifetimes and sizes to distinct mechanochemical properties and architectures. Learn about current theoretical frameworks and simulation approaches used to describe biomolecular condensates, while discovering new experimental methods for characterizing these structures and understanding their functions. Examine the physicochemical principles that shape condensate formation and behavior, and address the ongoing challenges in connecting computational and laboratory models to actual cellular condensates. Gain insights into how the emergent physical properties of condensates mediate their biological functions, a relationship that remains poorly understood despite recent advances in characterizing molecular interactions leading to condensation. This presentation is part of a broader conference aimed at building cross-disciplinary bridges between theorists and experimentalists working to advance understanding of biomolecular condensates and their role in cellular processes.