Explore the groundbreaking research on intracellular liquid condensates and biomolecular phase transitions in living cells presented by Cliff Brangwynne from Princeton University at the Fred Kavli Special Symposium. Delve into the role of liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) in organizing cellular contents and regulating genetic information flow. Discover how intrinsically disordered protein regions (IDRs) contribute to the formation of membrane-less RNA and protein-rich condensates, including the nucleolus's internal subcompartments. Learn about innovative light-controlled approaches developed to manipulate intracellular phase transitions, enabling the engineering of assembly and disassembly within specific cellular regions. Gain insights into the quantitative mapping of intracellular phase diagrams and the biophysical principles governing RNP condensate self-assembly. Explore the connections between intracellular liquids, gels, and pathological protein aggregation, as well as the mechanical interactions between these structures and the genome. Read more