Research

We study biological systems through the lens of physical chemists.

ITK_mGL_4-Scale-time.avi

Receptor Tyrosine Kinase (here, ITK in T cells) form these bright clusters, condensates, upon T cell landing onto the artificial lipid bilayer.

Biomolecular Condensates in Cells

Did you know that there are protein-rich liquid droplets (sometimes, gels or solid aggregates), formed by phase transitions of biomolecules? They are known to organize other biomolecules in cells. Those droplets are called biomolecular condensates, a new class of cellular compartments.

In recent years, biomolecular condensation has emerged in various biological processes including gene regulation and cellular signaling. These condensates are proposed as a compelling mechanism for cells to organize and control biochemical reaction networks. However, mechanistic understanding of how their distinct physical properties and phase transition dynamics translate into biological functions remains largely unexplored.

Therefore, we ask this central question:

How do phase transition dynamics and mechanisms regulate biochemical reaction networks at molecular level in biology?

Bridging Biology

and Soft Materials

Our research is at the intersection of traditional physical chemistry and emerging biological questions. We apply principles of statistical mechanics, thermodynamics, soft matter physics, and chemical kinetics—foundational to physical chemistry—to understand the behavior of biomolecular condensates, a new class of cellular compartments.

Projects

The central idea is to discover new biology enabled by protein phase transition condensation in biological processes, such as RNA equilibria or signal transduction, and apply it to develop a new synthetic system.

Project 1. Synthetic Biomolecular Condensates with Controlled Physico-chemical Processes

Can specific molecular interactions tune phase transition dynamics and condensate properties in non-equilibrium condition?

Project 2. Tyrosine Kinase Phase Transition Dynamics in Cell Signaling

Whether/how does different phase transition mechanisms and dynamics connect to their roles in biology?

Project 3. High-throughput micro-condition droplets for phase-transition dynamic studies

Can we develop high-throughput platform for wide range of micro-conditions for screening different phase transition mechanisms and dynamics?

Systems and Tools

1. Liquid-liquid Phase Separation (LLPS, Coacervates)

We utilize coacervates, polymer-rich droplets formed by LLPS, as an experimental model system for biomolecular condensates.

2. Peptide/DNA/RNA Chemistry

We design simple oligopeptides and nucleic acids to develop synthetic biomolecular condensates.

3. Quatitative Microscopy Tools and Live Cell Imaging

We utilize quantative fluorescence imaging tools such as single-molecule microscopy, and plan to continue live-cell imaging.

4. Supported-lipid Bilayer Imaging Platforms

We synthesize a supported-lipid bilayer as an artificial membrane systems that can be functionalized with various types of molecules for live cell imaging.

Broader Impact

We will establish a novel framework for applying physical chemistry to living systems, addressing the emerging questions in biology. My research program has the potential to provide new insights into RNA biology and cellular signaling and may offer novel platforms for high-throughput drug screening and molecular medicine.

Understand the fundamental rules of life

Develop high-throughput experiment platforms

Lead to design novel platforms for molecular medicine

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