Emergent Cellular Phases
Source: https://physics-of-life.tu-dresden.de/research/vision-research-avenues/ra2-emergent-cellular-phases Parent: https://physics-of-life.tu-dresden.de/
Research Avenue 2
- Research Avenue 1RA1
- Research Avenue 3RA3
- Research Avenue 4RA4
- Research Avenue 5RA5
- Research Avenue 6RA6
- Research Avenue 7RA7
Emergent Cellular Phases
Cells organize molecules into membraneless compartments. Biological condensates, for example, represent cellular phases that may emerge via liquid-liquid phase separation. However, the relationship between physical principles underlying compartment formation (such as phase separation), and the underlying molecular mechanisms, are unclear.
Our aim is to obtain a general understanding of the physical principles underlying the formation of membraneless compartments in cells and use these to understand regulation and function. At a biological level, we aim to reveal the mechanisms underlying the robust generation of distinct cell phases, via the formation of biomolecular condensates. At a physical level, we aim to understand how distinct phases are generated, controlled and maintained using the physics of active droplets and soft matter.
Research Topic 1
Emergent Physical Chemistry of Biomolecular Condensates
Research Topic 2
Protecting and Repairing DNA Through Condensates
Research Topic 3
Metabolic Condensates
Research Topic 4
Active Wetting in Cells
News
3 September 2025\ Life’s Tiny Droplets: A Novel Method Revealing Biological Condensate Composition
27 April 2024\ The Alberti group receives Momentum funding from the Volkswagen Foundation
14 March 2024\ Charging Up: Identifying the Sequence-determinants of Condensate Material Properties
6 February 2024\ Making Ends Meet: Researcher find that a protein superglue is crucial for DNA damage repair
22 June 2023\ Repelling disorder: What makes cholesterol-containing surfaces so repulsive?
RA Leading Team
Anthony A. Hyman (RA Leader)
MPI-CBG | Director of MPI-CBG, Professor for Molecular Cell Biology
Organization of Cytoplasm
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(RA Leader) in a new tab
© Sven Döring
Simon Alberti (RA Co-Leader)
TUD BIOTEC | Professor for Cellular Biochemistry
Organization of cytoplasm across space and time
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(RA Co-Leader) in a new tab
© MPI-CBG
Ellen Adams
Research Group Leader
Physical Chemistry of Biomolecular Condensates
hired by PoL
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PoL Groups
Ellen Adams
Research Group Leader
Physical Chemistry of Biomolecular Condensates
hired by PoL
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Simon Alberti
TUD BIOTEC | Professor for Cellular Biochemistry
Organization of cytoplasm across space and time
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© MPI-CBG
Jan Brugués
Chair of Spatiotemporal Organization of Subcellular Structures
Spatiotemporal Organization of Subcellular Structures
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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© TUD CMCB, Magdalena Gonciarz
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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Benjamin Friedrich
Heisenberg Professor for Biological Algorithms
Biological Algorithms: Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Cells and Tissues
hired by PoL
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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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© MPI-CBG
Alf O. Honigmann
TUD BIOTEC | Professor for Biophysics
Membrane Organization of Cells and Tissues
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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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© Sven Döring
Frank Jülicher
MPI-PKS | Director of MPI-PKS, Professor for Biophysics
Dynamic processes in cells and tissues
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© MPI-CBG
Helmut Schießel
Chair of Theoretical Physics of Living Matter
Theoretical Physics of Living Matter
hired by PoL
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Ágnes Tóth-Petróczy
MPI-CBG | Research Group Leader
Protein plasticity and evolution
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© MPI-CBG
Xingbo Yang
Research Group Leader
Bioenergetics of Self-Organization
hired by PoL
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PoL Associates
Sebastian Aland
HTWD | Professor for Numerical Analysis
Modeling and Simulation of Biological Interfaces
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Min Ae Lee-Kirsch
TUD Medical Faculty | Professor for Molecular Pediatrics
Disorders of Nucleic Acid Immunity
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Arash Nikoubashman
IPF, TUD Faculty of Physics | Heisenberg Professor for Theory of Biologically Inspired Polymers
Theory of Bio-inspired polymers
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Michael Schlierf
TUD B CUBE | Professor for Molecular Biophysics
Conformational changes in biomolecules and enzymes
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© TUD CMCB, Magdalena Gonciarz
Jens-Uwe Sommer
IPF | Professor for Theory of Polymers at Interfaces
Theoretical Polymer Physics
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© IPF, Jürgen Lösel
Alexander von Appen
MPI-CBG | Research Group Leader
Structural Self-Organization of Membranous Organelles
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© MPI-CBG