[BK21 Plus Seminar]

▶Subject: Using light to control phase separation in living cells

▶Speaker: Prof. Yongdae Shin (Seoul National University)

▶Date: 4:30PM/Nov. 19(Tue.)/2019

▶Place: Auditorium(1F), Postech Biotech Center

▶Abctract
The cell is compartmentalized with numerous organelles that facilitate spatio-temporal regulation of biological reactions. Cellular organelles are not limited to canonical membrane-bound structures such as nucleus and mitochondria but include membrane-less assemblies – for example, nucleoli, nuclear speckles and Cajal bodies in nucleus and cytoplasmic stress/germ granules. Emerging evidence suggests that membrane-less structures represent mesoscale liquid-like droplets surrounded by coexisting nucleo/cytoplasm, which form through liquid-liquid phase separation. An aberrant transition from a liquid-like state into solid aggregates is thought to underlie the pathogenesis of several neurodegenerative diseases. In this talk, I will discuss a series of efforts aiming to develop novel optogenetic technologies that enable the control of intracellular phases. Using these tools, a relation between different material states (liquid vs solid) has been examined and physical parameters shaping localized phase separation are probed. A recent version of the optogenetic approach combines genomic targeting with phase separating modules, revealing an interesting mechanical interplay between phase-separated liquids and surrounding genome. Together, these approaches open a new opportunity to navigate intracellular phase space which is central to the basic biology of cellular organization as well as the onset of protein condensation diseases.

 

▶Inquiry: Prof. Joo-Yeon Yoo (279-2346)

 

 * This seminar will be given in Korean.
  Please refrain from taking photos during seminars. *