Our annual retreat has concluded, and we are grateful for the engaging and productive scientific discussions. It’s truly inspiring to see polymer and life scientists bring together their complementary perspectives!
DAY 1
On the first day we had the pleasure of hearing from Pol Besenius, Friederike Schmid, and Julian Konig on their collaborative project, A Supramolecular Chemical Biology Approach to Studying Protein-RNA-Based Regulatory Switches.
Katharina Landfester, Axel Methner and Tanja Weil focused on the latest developments of their joint project on Regulating Cellular Functions by Light-Gated Assembly of Phase Separated Nanostructures (Optoaggregates).
Oleksandra Kukharenko, Kurt Kremer, and Helle Ulrich provided insightful updates on the Functions of Ubiquitin and SUMO in Protein Phase Separation and Aggregation.
Dirk Schneider, Martin Girard, and Mischa Bonn shared their latest discoveries from their research project, Intrinsically Disordered to α-Helix Transition of the IM30 Protein Structure.
Jan Padeken presented his recent work with Lukas Stelzl on Sequence Determinants of Protein Phase Separation and Recognition by Protein Phase-Separated Condensates Through Molecular Dynamics and Active Learning.
Svenja Morsbach and Martin Möckel gave the network an overview of recent developments and the varied, dynamic uses of the Polymer Analytics and Protein Production Platforms across multiple research groups.
Peter Virnau, Susanne Gerber, and Susann Schweiger provided updates on their collaborative project, Sequence–Structure Relationships in Interphase Chromatin.
Dorothee Dormann, Andreas Walther, Miguel Andrade & their students presented their progress on using Pronuclei as a Platform to study Phase Behaviour and Biological Function of Arginine/Glycine-Rich Proteins.
Sandra Ritz and Bastian Hülsmann discussed the importance of Research Data Management, recent training initiatives, and the range of imaging equipment and expertise now accessible through Core Imaging facilities.
DAY 2
Day two began with a focus on Friederike Schmid and Andreas Wachter’s project, ‘Phase Separation of RS Splicing Regulators as a Modulator of Light-Dependent Plant Development.’
Following this, Eugene Kim and Peter Virnau presented recent advancements in their joint project on the ‘Effect of DNA Topology on SMC Protein-Mediated Loop Extrusion.’
Oleksandra Kukharenko, Kurt Kremer, Katja Luck, and Petra Beli shared updates on the progress of their work, ‘Targeted Protein Degradation in Nuclear Quality Control Condensates.’
Carla Schmidt and Jasper Michels, as fully funded members, delivered their first joint presentation on ‘Multivalent Interactions in the Pre-synapse.’
Sandra Schick and Thomas Speck highlighted recent developments in their project, ‘Regulation and Role of Physical Properties for Transcriptional Condensates.’
René Ketting and Lukas Stelzl then briefed the network on updates in their research on ‘Specificity of the Subcellular Organization of Argonaute Proteins.’
Lukas Stelzl and Dorothee Dormann presented progress on their joint research, ‘Polymer Concepts Related to Post-translational Modifications of Neurodegeneration-Linked RNA-Binding Proteins.’
As the day concluded, Edward Lemke, Sina Wittmann, and Martin Girard presented results from their complementary approach to ‘DNA-Facilitated Nano-assembly of Biological Block Co-polymers.’
We were also delighted to welcome Michael te Vrugt, Frauke Graeter, Camilo Aponte, Uladzimir Barayeu and Andreas Bock to the SFB1551 network!
A special thank you to our coordination team—Nicole Belo do Couto, Kallie Kuessner, and Maria Teresa Dias—for their seamless organization, and to Ana Beatriz Moura for her lovely design of the SFB1551 pin collection.
It was an intense and exciting couple of days, filled with valuable interactions and fresh ideas that further position the Collaborative Research Centre 1551 as a leading hub for exploring polymer concepts in cellular function!
