SPA Colloquium: Ben Schuler (University of Zurich)

Title: Probing biological polymers with single-molecule spectroscopy: From disordered complexes to phase separation

Abstract: The functions of proteins have traditionally been linked to their folded structures, but many proteins perform essential functions without being folded. Quantifying the highly dynamic and conformationally diverse ensembles of these intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) and their interaction mechanisms is an important aspect of understanding their functions. A remarkable example are highly charged IDPs, which can form high-affinity polyelectrolyte interactions but retain their disorder in the resulting complexes. I will illustrate how combining advanced single-molecule spectroscopy and other biophysical methods with concepts from polymer theory and molecular simulations can reveal the physical mechanisms underlying the dynamics, interactions, and phase separation of disordered proteins.