Phase Transitions in Cell Biology and Disease

This lecture explores the emerging role of phase transitions in cell biology and disease, focusing on membrane-less compartments, stress granules, and the impact of RNA on granule formation. The instructor discusses the aberrant phase transition of FUS, the essential role of G3BP1 and 2 in stress granule formation, and the regulation of phase separation by acidic domains. The lecture also covers the function of G3BP condensates, the translation defects caused by Ded1 inactivation, and the stress adaptation mechanisms observed in yeast. Through various experiments and models, the lecture sheds light on how phase separation is an ideal mechanism for organizing living matter.