Faculty Appointments
Assistant Professor of Biochemistry
Education
Ph.D., Cell Biology, Molecular Biology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TennesseeB.S., Biochemistry, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Research Description
How do you organize the crowded environment of a cell? Work over the past decade has shown that the cytosol and nucleoplasm are a non-uniform heterogeneous mixture organized by membrane-less organelles called biomolecular condensates. Unlike traditional organelles, such as the nucleus and mitochondria which have lipid membranes to facilitate the physical compartmentalization of cellular components, biomolecular condensates lack such physical barriers. Rather, compartmentalization is facilitated by collective interactions of biomolecules which form highly concentrated assemblies and, in some cases, resemble a spherical puncta within the cell. (see here for beautiful animations from the Iwasa lab describing this process).
Biomolecular condensates are dynamic, highly regulated, and sensitive to environmental changes, including the cell cycle, post-translational modifications, and stress. Condensates contain both proteins and nucleic acids and have been linked to many biological processes. However, in most processes the functional role of condensates in living cells has not been experimentally demonstrated. To investigate condensates in living cells, we utilize several model systems including the nematode worm C. elegans, tissue culture, and in vitro reconstitution. Using these condensate models my laboratory is interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms that drive condensate function and regulation.
To gain fundamental mechanistic insight into condensate function and regulation we utilize a diverse array of state-of-the-art approaches including CRISPR genome editing, in vitro reconstitution, biophysical measurements, single-molecule microscopy, super-resolution microscopy, and in silco modeling. The long-term goal of my laboratory is to understand the integration of biomolecular condensate regulation and function across biological time scales: from molecules – to cells – through animal development. Work over the past decade has shown that the cytosol and nucleoplasm are a non-uniform heterogeneous mixture organized by membrane-less organelles called biomolecular condensates. Unlike traditional organelles, such as the nucleus and mitochondria which have lipid membranes to facilitate the physical compartmentalization of cellular components, biomolecular condensates lack such physical barriers. Rather, compartmentalization is facilitated by collective interactions of biomolecules which form highly concentrated assemblies and, in some cases, resemble a spherical puncta within the cell. (see here for beautiful animations from the Iwasa lab describing this process).
Biomolecular condensates are dynamic, highly regulated, and sensitive to environmental changes, including the cell cycle, post-translational modifications, and stress. Condensates contain both proteins and nucleic acids and have been linked to many biological processes. However, in most processes the functional role of condensates in living cells has not been experimentally demonstrated. To investigate condensates in living cells, we utilize several model systems including the nematode worm C. elegans, tissue culture, and in vitro reconstitution. Using these condensate models my laboratory is interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms that drive condensate function and regulation.
To gain fundamental mechanistic insight into condensate function and regulation we utilize a diverse array of state-of-the-art approaches including CRISPR genome editing, in vitro reconstitution, biophysical measurements, single-molecule microscopy, super-resolution microscopy, and in silco modeling. The long-term goal of my laboratory is to understand the integration of biomolecular condensate regulation and function across biological time scales: from molecules – to cells – through animal development.
Biomolecular condensates are dynamic, highly regulated, and sensitive to environmental changes, including the cell cycle, post-translational modifications, and stress. Condensates contain both proteins and nucleic acids and have been linked to many biological processes. However, in most processes the functional role of condensates in living cells has not been experimentally demonstrated. To investigate condensates in living cells, we utilize several model systems including the nematode worm C. elegans, tissue culture, and in vitro reconstitution. Using these condensate models my laboratory is interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms that drive condensate function and regulation.
To gain fundamental mechanistic insight into condensate function and regulation we utilize a diverse array of state-of-the-art approaches including CRISPR genome editing, in vitro reconstitution, biophysical measurements, single-molecule microscopy, super-resolution microscopy, and in silco modeling. The long-term goal of my laboratory is to understand the integration of biomolecular condensate regulation and function across biological time scales: from molecules – to cells – through animal development. Work over the past decade has shown that the cytosol and nucleoplasm are a non-uniform heterogeneous mixture organized by membrane-less organelles called biomolecular condensates. Unlike traditional organelles, such as the nucleus and mitochondria which have lipid membranes to facilitate the physical compartmentalization of cellular components, biomolecular condensates lack such physical barriers. Rather, compartmentalization is facilitated by collective interactions of biomolecules which form highly concentrated assemblies and, in some cases, resemble a spherical puncta within the cell. (see here for beautiful animations from the Iwasa lab describing this process).
Biomolecular condensates are dynamic, highly regulated, and sensitive to environmental changes, including the cell cycle, post-translational modifications, and stress. Condensates contain both proteins and nucleic acids and have been linked to many biological processes. However, in most processes the functional role of condensates in living cells has not been experimentally demonstrated. To investigate condensates in living cells, we utilize several model systems including the nematode worm C. elegans, tissue culture, and in vitro reconstitution. Using these condensate models my laboratory is interested in understanding the molecular mechanisms that drive condensate function and regulation.
To gain fundamental mechanistic insight into condensate function and regulation we utilize a diverse array of state-of-the-art approaches including CRISPR genome editing, in vitro reconstitution, biophysical measurements, single-molecule microscopy, super-resolution microscopy, and in silco modeling. The long-term goal of my laboratory is to understand the integration of biomolecular condensate regulation and function across biological time scales: from molecules – to cells – through animal development.
Research Keywords
Biochemistry, Biophysics, Cell Biology, Developmental Biology, Genetics, Single-molecule microscopy, Super-resolution microscopy, Molecular biology, Molecular genetics, RNA biology, Quantitative Biology, Genome editing, Cell polarity
Publications
Thomas L, Putnam A, Folkmann A. Germ granules in development. Development [print-electronic]. 2023 Jan 1/15/2023; 150(2): PMID: 36715566, PMCID: PMC10165536, PII: 286764, DOI: 10.1242/dev.201037, ISSN: 1477-9129.
Folkmann AW, Putnam A, Lee CF, Seydoux G. Regulation of biomolecular condensates by interfacial protein clusters. Science [print-electronic]. 2021 Sep 9/10/2021; 373(6560): 1218-24. PMID: 34516789, PMCID: PMC8627561, DOI: 10.1126/science.abg7071, ISSN: 1095-9203.
Folkmann AW, Collier SE, Zhan X, Aditi, Ohi MD, Wente SR. Gle1 functions during mRNA export in an oligomeric complex that is altered in human disease. Cell [print-electronic]. 2013 Oct 10/24/2013; 155(3): 582-93. PMID: 24243016, PMCID: PMC3855398, PII: S0092-8674(13)01160-4, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2013.09.023, ISSN: 1097-4172.
Folkmann AW, Putnam A, Lee CF, Seydoux G. Regulation of biomolecular condensates by interfacial protein clusters. Science [print-electronic]. 2021 Sep 9/10/2021; 373(6560): 1218-24. PMID: 34516789, PMCID: PMC8627561, DOI: 10.1126/science.abg7071, ISSN: 1095-9203.
Folkmann AW, Collier SE, Zhan X, Aditi, Ohi MD, Wente SR. Gle1 functions during mRNA export in an oligomeric complex that is altered in human disease. Cell [print-electronic]. 2013 Oct 10/24/2013; 155(3): 582-93. PMID: 24243016, PMCID: PMC3855398, PII: S0092-8674(13)01160-4, DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2013.09.023, ISSN: 1097-4172.