LC Seminar- Andriy Goychuk 11/18 @10:00 AM

Dr. Andriy Goychuk

Title Active organization of the cell nucleus

Abstract Human cell nuclei contain roughly 2 meters of DNA, crammed together with different chemically active proteins that are involved in transcribing genes to RNA, splicing RNA, and assembling ribosomes that translate RNA to proteins. Thus, the spatiotemporal organization of the nucleus is tightly connected to gene expression and cell state. Part of this organization is achieved by biomolecular condensates that compartmentalize the different chemical reactions that are required for nuclear function. In the first part, I will describe how the active transcription of RNA, a key regulator of condensate formation and dissolution, influences condensate patterning. I will then present theoretical work that shows how generic design principles of chemically active droplets can give rise to dynamic states such as self-propulsion. Finally, I will discuss how nonequilibrium fluctuations that arise from chemical reactions or condensate motion can potentially contribute to genome organization. These results highlight how structure and function in living matter are often intertwined.

Location: LC 101