What we can learn from bottom-up biology
Even if the molecules required for cellular processes have been identified, how they act together to accomplish a specific task is often not well understood. In our lab, instead of looking at complex phenomena in intact cells, we aim to rebuild cellular functions from purified components. This bottom-up synthetic biology approach allows us to quantitatively characterize molecular events underlying a particular cellular processes.
In my seminar, I will present our results from two research directions: First, the mechanism of bacterial cell division, and second, the emergent properties of Small GTPase networks. I will show how our results not only help us to understand the molecular mechanisms, but also to identify the general principles of protein self-organization, which eventually give rise to the living cell.