Liquid-liquid phase-separation of small molecules and proteins

从细胞内形成无膜室到结晶过程中的前体，离子、小分子和蛋白质的液-液相分离在生物和合成系统中都是一个基本的过程。这个项目将建立在Nudelman小组和Alexander小组最近的初步发现的基础上，在这些小组中，发现小的有机分子在结晶之前在溶液中形成稠密的液体。我们将研究这一过程的驱动力和机制，从小分子到已知在细胞内形成液滴的蛋白质。这个项目将提供一系列材料表征技术的培训，包括光学和电子显微镜、X射线和电子衍射、动态光散射和红外光谱。

From forming membrane-less compartments inside cells to precursors during crystallisation processes, liquid-liquid phase separation of ions, small molecules and proteins is a fundamental process in both biological and synthetic systems. The project in this studentship will build on recent preliminary findings from both the Nudelman and Alexander groups where small organic molecules were found to form dense liquid phases in solution before crystallizing. We will study the driving force and the mechanisms of this process, going from small molecules to proteins known to form liquid droplets inside cells.This project will provide training in a range of materials characterization techniques including light and electron microscopy, X-ray and electron diffraction, dynamic light scattering and infra-red spectroscopy.