Abstract

Biomolecular condensates formed by phase separation on have major roles in cellular organization on and physiology. RNP granules are a specific type of condensate that assemble from RNA -binding proteins and RNA . In this talk, I will discuss how the concept of biomolecular condensates has expanded our view of RNP granules and their link to the cellular stress response. I will introduce in vitro reconstitution on systems based on the concept of phase separation on that now allow us to reconstruct RNP granules in the test tube. Using these reconstitution on systems as well as cell biological and genetic approaches, we have gained important insights into the molecular rules of RNP granule assembly, such as the driving forces and amino acids that govern condensates on, the conformational changes underlying assembly and molecular mechanisms of condensate regulation and control. I will further discuss how the concept of biomolecular condensates has allowed us to dissect the functions of RNP granules, and I will demonstrate how condensate formation can be used by cells to sense and respond to changes in the environment and regulate fundamental cellular processes such as protein synthesis.