ÌÀÍ·Ìõ

The Folkmann laboratory investigates how molecular interactions give rise to the emergent physical and chemical properties of biomolecular condensates. Biomolecular condensates are widespread, membrane-free compartments that organize molecules and biochemical reactions throughout the cell, contributing to processes ranging from gene regulation and RNA metabolism to signaling and development. These compartments emerge through the collective action of many individually weak molecular interactions, which together drive assembly and give rise to material properties that are not apparent from any single interaction alone.ÌýThe Folkmann laboratory studies condensates as a form of biological soft matter, asking how molecular-scale interactions give rise to emergent properties such as selective transport, internal organization, mechanics, and distinct chemical microenvironments.

Ìý

We leverage complementary in vitro and in vivo approaches to understand how molecular-scale interactions give rise to condensate-scale behavior and biological function. In vitro, we use biochemical reconstitution together with biophysical approaches, single-molecule microscopy, and quantitative microscopy to define the physical principles that govern condensate organization. In living cells, we use single-molecule and quantitative microscopy to determine how these principles operate in their native biological context. We integrate these experiments with computational modeling to connect molecular interactions, condensate material properties, and cellular behavior. A major goal of the laboratory is to understand how protein sequence and molecular architecture shape the interaction networks that build condensates, and how perturbing these networks alters condensate properties and function.