Short talk 1
Life in Flux: Dynamic RNA:Protein Complex Assembly Shapes Biomolecular Function

Presenting Author: Nils Walter

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor, Chemistry, 930 North University Avenue, 48109-1055 Ann Arbor, US, nwalter@umich.edu

Author(s)
Prof. Dr. Nils Walter¹

¹ University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

The explosion of cryo-EM structures in recent years has underscored the stepwise assembly of stable biomolecular machines with defined, fixed compositions.  In contrast, advances in single-molecule imaging—both in vitro and in live cells—are revealing a very different picture:  Many biological complexes are not static but highly dynamic and transient.  Instead of persisting as stable entities, their functions emerge from short-lived, fluid assemblies, whose lifetimes and outputs are governed by the kinetics of their components.  This chemistry-driven paradigm shift—from rigid machines to kinetically controlled assemblies—offers a powerful framework for understanding gene regulation, proofreading, checkpoint control, and cellular adaptability.

This talk will illustrate this evolving view with two case studies: the kinetically programmed exchange behavior of RNA-guided gene expression machines, and the dynamic assembly of phase-separated RNA-protein structures (or RNP granules).  I will also explore broader implications of this model, including how regulatory signals can fine-tune molecular function by modulating kinetic parameters, rather than altering structure or affinity per se.  By reframing molecular cell biology through the lens of RNA-mediated kinetic control and spatiotemporal organization, this presentation aims to offer a unifying conceptual foundation across diverse areas of biomolecular science.

 

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