How spatial organization of biomolecular condensates gives rise to function
Mesoscale architecture of condensates organizes RNA metabolism and cellular activity.
I investigate how mesoscale architectures within biomolecular condensates regulate cellular function. From lncRNA-dependent nuclear bodies to nucleolar substructures, my work shows how spatial organization shapes condensate architecture and coordinates RNA transcription, processing, and flux in living cells.
Size, connectivity, and material state define how condensates encode biochemical function.
I study how condensate function is shaped by mesoscale physical properties, including size, internal organization, and material state. My work focuses on how these properties influence molecular dynamics and biochemical activity in condensates.
Quantitative imaging and reconstitution tools to measure and control condensates across scales.
I develop quantitative imaging and reconstitution approaches to measure and control biomolecular condensates across scales. My work includes dedicated methods for preserving condensate architecture and enabling high-sensitivity condensate assays, as well as a range of integrated tools—such as perturbation strategies, super-resolution imaging, and single-molecule approaches—to probe molecular organization and dynamics within condensates.
When molecules assemble into higher-order structures, new properties emerge that cannot be understood from individual components alone. Biomolecular condensates provide a striking example of this principle, where dynamic assemblies of proteins and RNAs give rise to new modes of cellular organization and regulation.
Understanding these systems requires examining their spatiotemporal organization at the mesoscale (10s to 100s nm) where molecular interactions are integrated into structured yet dynamic architectures. At this scale, organization is not merely structural but functional: spatial and temporal arrangements define condensate architecture, which shapes physical properties such as molecular mobility and material state, ultimately governing biochemical activity. This regime has long remained difficult to access, lying between the resolution limits of conventional light microscopy and the static snapshots of structural approaches.
My research seeks to uncover how cellular function emerges from this mesoscale organization. I investigate how condensates organize molecular processes in cells, identify the physical principles that govern their behavior, and develop quantitative approaches to measure and control these systems. Together, these efforts aim to establish a unified framework linking spatial organization, physical properties, and biological function of biomolecular condensates.