Life Sessions/Bioinfo4Women: Non-equilibrium molecular assembly: from NON-LIVING to LIVING and back
Channel: BSC CNS
Date: 05/03/2021

Speaker: Andela Saric, Department of Physics& Astronomy, MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London.


Abstract:
Identifying the principles that govern the emergence of organisation in non-equilibrium systems remains a central challenge of modern soft matter and physical chemistry. In a living cell, non-equilibrium conditions are necessary for functionality and are maintained by chemical gradients and mechanical forces. These conditions drive the reversible assembly of molecules into large-scaled functional structures that produce work needed for cellular trafficking, motility, division, and healing. When molecular assembly occurs without energy input, irreversibly, severe pathologies can occur.

Today I will present our research on computational modelling of molecular self-assembly processes, in healthy and diseased states. I will discuss the example of active elastic filaments (ESCRT-III) that dynamically change their geometries to reshape and cut cell membranes. I will present comparisons of our simulation results to cell reshaping processes across evolution — from cellular trafficking in eukaryotes to cell division in archaea. I will then discuss our work on modelling pathological amyloid aggregation involved in neurodegenerative disorders, which occurs via passive nucleation and self-replication processes. I will finish with our recent efforts in computationally evolving assemblies to perform a desired function.


Further information here: https://www.bsc.es/research-and-development/research-seminars/virtual-bsc-rslife-sessions-non-equilibrium-molecular-assembly-non-living-living-and-back