Droplets of Life

Prof. Vladimir N. Uversky, PhD, DSc, FRSB, FRSC, F.A.I.M.B.E., Professor at the Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida (USF), is a pioneer in the field of protein intrinsic disorder. He has made a number of groundbreaking contributions in the field of protein folding, misfolding, and intrinsic disorder. He obtained his PhD from Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology and D.Sc. from the Institute of Experimental and Theoretical Biophysics, Russian Academy of Sciences. Since 2010, Professor Uversky has worked at University of South Florida, where he works on various aspects of protein intrinsic disorder phenomenon and analysis of protein folding and misfolding processes. He has authored over 1250 scientific publications and edited several books and book series on protein structure, function, folding, misfolding, and intrinsic disorder. He also servs as an editor in a number of scientific journals.

• Part I: Introduction to Membrane-less Organelles and Biomolecular Condensates1. Biophysical Principles of Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation2. Major Structural Features of MLOs3. Multiphase Complex Droplets4. Biogenesis of MLOs and Protein Condensates5. Techniques for the Detection and Analysis of LLPS and MLOs6. LLPS and Origin of LifePart II: Biology of Membrane-Less Organelles1. Known Types of Membrane-Less Organelles and Biomolecular Condensates2. Active Regulation Mechanisms3. Control of Metabolic Pathways4. Interactions and Interplay with Classical Membrane-Bound Organelles5. LLPS and Chromatin Organization6. MLOs and Cellular Fitness7. Cellular Stress8. Phase Separation in Bacteria9. Phase Separation and Virus Replication CompartmentsPart III: Pathological roles of LLPS1. Neurodegenerative Diseases2. Cancer3. Cardiovascular Diseases4. Infectious Diseases