Self-Organizing Active Molecular Systems

Source: https://physics-of-life.tu-dresden.de/research/vision-research-avenues/ra3-self-organizing-active-molecular-systems Parent: https://physics-of-life.tu-dresden.de/

Research Avenue 3

Self-Organizing Active Molecular Systems

Cells employ subcellular structures, such as the nucleus, the mitotic spindle, or the cortex, to perform essential cellular functions. These subcellular structures emerge through the collective interactions of many molecular players. The emergence of functional structures at the mesoscale is constrained by the physics of active matter.

Our aim is to uncover the physical principles of molecular self-organization that lead to the emergence of active and functional cytoskeletal and chromatin structures. From a biological perspective, how subcellular structures and their specific functions emerge from molecular behaviors and their interactions will be revealed. Concepts for the collective self-organization of active molecular systems will also be developed, with a specific focus on how physical principles govern self-organization of molecules into the mitotic and meiotic spindles, the actomyosin cell cortex, and the cell nucleus.

Research Topic 1

Connecting Chromatin Physics, Architecture, and Function

Research Topic 2

Time, Symmetry, and Robustness in Cytoskeletal Structures

Research Topic 3

Energetics of Structure Formation and Maintenance

Research Topic 4

Subcellular Hydraulics

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RA Leading Team

Jan Brugués (RA Leader)

Chair of Spatiotemporal Organization of Subcellular Structures

Spatiotemporal Organization of Subcellular Structures

hired by PoL

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(RA Leader)

Xingbo Yang (RA Co-Leader)

Research Group Leader

Bioenergetics of Self-Organization

hired by PoL

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(RA Co-Leader)

Christina Kurzthaler

MPI-PKS, CSBD | Research Group Leader

Transport and Flows in Complex Environments

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PoL Groups

Simon Alberti

TUD BIOTEC | Professor for Cellular Biochemistry

Organization of cytoplasm across space and time

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Elias Barriga

Research Group Leader

Biophysical Mechanisms of Morphogenesis

hired by PoL

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Catherina G. Becker

TUD CRTD, TUD Faculty of Biology | Professor for Neural Development and Regeneration

Neural Development and Regeneration

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Jan Brugués

Chair of Spatiotemporal Organization of Subcellular Structures

Spatiotemporal Organization of Subcellular Structures

hired by PoL

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Otger Campàs

Chair of Tissue Dynamics

Physics of Embryonic Self-Organization and Morphogenesis

hired by PoL

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Stefan Diez

TUD B CUBE | Professor for BioNano Tools

Molecular transport in cell biology and nanotechnology

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Miki Ebisuya

Humboldt Professor and Chair of Cell and Tissue Control

Cross-Species Comparison and Manipulation of the Organoid Zoo

hired by PoL

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Elisabeth Fischer-Friedrich

Heisenberg Professor for Mechanics of Active Biomaterials

Mechanics of Active Biomaterials

hired by PoL

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Benjamin Friedrich

Heisenberg Professor for Biological Algorithms

Biological Algorithms: Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Cells and Tissues

hired by PoL

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Anne Grapin-Botton

MPI-CBG | Director of MPI-CBG

Self-organization of cells into organ communities

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Stephan W. Grill

MPI-CBG | Director of MPI-CBG, Professor for Physics of Life

Physics of Life

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Heather Harrington

MPI-CBG, CSBD | Director of MPI-CBG and CSBD, Professor of Mathematics at the Mathematical Institute, University of Oxford

Algebraic Systems Biology

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Alf O. Honigmann

TUD BIOTEC | Professor for Biophysics

Membrane Organization of Cells and Tissues

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Meritxell Huch

MPI-CBG | Director of MPI-CBG, Lise Meitner Max Planck Research Group Leader

Organoids, tissue regeneration and its deregulation in disease

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Anthony A. Hyman

MPI-CBG | Director of MPI-CBG, Professor for Molecular Cell Biology

Organization of Cytoplasm

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Frank Jülicher

MPI-PKS | Director of MPI-PKS, Professor for Biophysics

Dynamic processes in cells and tissues

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Christina Kurzthaler

MPI-PKS, CSBD | Research Group Leader

Transport and Flows in Complex Environments

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Rita Mateus

Research Group Leader

Biophysical Principles of Vertebrate Growth

hired by PoL

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Ivo F. Sbalzarini

TUD, CSBD | Professor for Scientific Computing for Systems Biology

The MOSAIC Group: Scientific Computing for Image-based Systems Biology

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Helmut Schießel

Chair of Theoretical Physics of Living Matter

Theoretical Physics of Living Matter

hired by PoL

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Xingbo Yang

Research Group Leader

Bioenergetics of Self-Organization

hired by PoL

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PoL Associates

Arash Nikoubashman

IPF, TUD Faculty of Physics | Heisenberg Professor for Theory of Biologically Inspired Polymers

Theory of Bio-inspired polymers

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Jens-Uwe Sommer

IPF | Professor for Theory of Polymers at Interfaces

Theoretical Polymer Physics

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Pavel Tomancak

MPI-CBG | Research Group Leader

Patterns of gene expression in animal development

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Alexander von Appen

MPI-CBG | Research Group Leader

Structural Self-Organization of Membranous Organelles

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