In vitro reconstitution of nucleoid-guided cargo positioning by ParA ATPases (P02)

• Subject Area: Biophysics
• Term: from 2017 to 2021
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 269423233

We aim to explore the structural and functional role of liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) in bacteria, focusing on how they participate in and modulate active processes driven by NTPases. Based on theoretical predictions, our hypothesis is that when energy-dissipating NTPases are confined to condensates, they will lead to mechanical and biochemical transformations of the condensates, as well as the active process itself. Those transformations might not only enable transport and positioning, but could generally play a substantial structural role in cell division. We will continue exploring the PomXYZ system in this regard, but also other bacterial systems potentially exhibiting LLPS, such as the ParABS system. In collaboration with other experimental and theory groups, we seek to establish an in vitro model to generalize the role of active condensates in bacterial cell biology.

• DFG Programme: CRC/Transregios
• Subproject of: TRR 174: Spatiotemporal dynamics of bacterial cells
• Applicant Institution: Philipps-Universität Marburg
• Project Head: Professorin Dr. Petra Schwille