Biomolecular condensates for early biology (B08)

• Subject Area: Biochemistry
• Term: since 2024
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 521256690

Biomolecular condensates or coacervates locally concentrate molecules. They assemble from prebiotically plausible building blocks such as RNA and peptides by phase separation driven by multivalent interactions between molecules. Thus, catalytically active molecules such as ribozymes can be locally enriched in compartments that obtain substrates for growth and synthesis of more complex molecules from the environment. This project investigates the evolution of active RNA-peptide condensates under continuous or cycling long-term supply of substrates.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 392: Molecular evolution in prebiotic environments
• Applicant Institution: Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
• Project Head: Professorin Dr. Henrike Niederholtmeyer, since 1/2024