Tension between structured complexes and disordered assemblies

How are the many metabolic pathways and biochemical functions of cells spatially organized? In his early ideas of the organization of cells, Edmund Wilson stated that cells were packed with liquid (and by definition disordered) coacervates. Think oil droplets in vinegar. Then, membrane-bound organelles and structured complexes were discovered and took over the narrative thanks to the flourishing discipline of structural biology.

Recently, coacervates have found their way back into the narrative and now are known as membraneless organelles or biomolecular condensates. They compartmentalize cells extensively without membranes, and phase separation shapes many fundamental biological processes. Consequently, dysregulation of phase separation can result in disease. But the pendulum has swung back too far, and protein disorder now often is described as a necessary key ingredient for phase separation. 

The highly structured complexes in and internal structure of biomolecular condensates are not getting the attention they deserve. In our theme, we will highlight the spectrum between ordered molecular machines with precise stoichiometry and nonstoichiometric condensates, the latter of which can be disordered completely or have a more defined network structure. Both are necessary and shape functions in our cells.

Keywords: molecular mechanisms, structural biology, biophysics, soft matter physics 

Who should attend: everyone who likes molecular mechanisms and is not afraid of a bit of disorder

Theme song: Anything by Rage Against the Machine — or the Droplettes (just kidding)

Learn more

Check out all ten thematic symposia planned for the 2022 ASBMB annual meeting:

• Diversity, equity and inclusion
• Protein machines and disorder
• Signaling
• Quality control in organelles
• Metabolism
• Enzymology
• RNA/DNA
• Membranes/lipids
• Glycobiology
• Education and professional development