T. J. Welsh

Linking modulation of bio-molecular phase behaviour with collective interactions

This paper introduces a dominance analysis framework to determine the molecular mechanism of condensate modulation, demonstrating its application to G3BP1/RNA condensates disrupted by suramin.

Glutamate helps unmask the differences in driving forces for phase separation versus clustering of FET family proteins in sub-saturated solutions

The paper shows that glutamate reveals distinct energy and length scales for phase separation and clustering of FET family proteins in sub-saturated solutions.

Single-molecule digital sizing of proteins in solution

This paper introduces smMDS, a method for digital sizing of proteins in solution, enabling sensitive and accurate measurement of protein sizes and interactions.

Quantifying collective interactions in biomolecular phase separation

This study quantifies collective interactions in biomolecular phase separation by analyzing dilute phase concentrations and free energy, revealing how salts and small molecules modulate condensate formation.

Modulating Nucleic Acid Phase Transitions as a Mechanism of Action for Cell-Penetrating Antimicrobial Peptides

This study identifies that antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) induce nucleic acid phase separation, which may be a novel mechanism for their antibacterial activity.

Adsorption of RNA to interfaces of biomolecular condensates enables wetting transitions

This study shows that pyrimidine-rich RNAs act as adsorbents enabling wetting transitions in condensates formed by purine-rich RNAs, revealing orientation differences between scaffolds and adsorbents.

Multi-dimensional protein solubility optimization with an ultra-high-throughput microfluidic platform

This paper introduces a high-throughput microfluidic platform for protein solubility screening, enabling rapid and efficient optimization of formulation additives and mutations.

Integrative solution structure of a PTBP1-viral IRES complex reveals strong compaction and ordering with residual conformational flexibility

The paper determines the solution structure of a PTBP1-viral IRES complex using integrative modeling, revealing compaction, ordering, and residual flexibility essential for IRES-mediated translation.

Surface interaction patches link non-specific binding and phase separation of antibodies

This study links antibody non-specific binding to surface interaction patches and shows how they drive liquid-liquid phase separation under certain conditions.

Tie-lines reveal interactions driving heteromolecular condensate formation

The paper develops a method to determine tie-line gradients in ternary LLPS systems using dilute phase concentration measurements, revealing interaction types and compositions in biomolecular condensates.

Phase separating RNA binding proteins form heterogeneous distributions of clusters in subsaturated solutions

This study investigates cluster formation in subsaturated solutions of RNA binding proteins with prion-like domains and finds that cluster formation and phase separation are coupled through sequence-specific interactions.

The chromatin regulator HMGA1a undergoes phase separation in the nucleus

This study shows HMGA1a undergoes phase separation in the nucleus, driven by protein-DNA interactions and its disordered C-terminal tail.

Reentrant liquid condensate phase of proteins is stabilized by hydrophobic and non-ionic interactions

The paper shows that proteins forming liquid condensates can reenter a phase-separated state at high salt concentrations due to hydrophobic and non-ionic interactions, distinct from low-salt electrostatic-driven phase separation.

High Resolution Biomolecular Condensate Phase Diagrams with a Combinatorial Microdroplet Platform

This paper introduces a microdroplet platform to rapidly generate high-resolution phase diagrams of biomolecular condensates and demonstrates its application in studying phase transitions.

Direct digital sensing of protein biomarkers in solution

This paper introduces a single-molecule microfluidic platform for digital protein biomarker detection, demonstrating its ability to quantify protein concentrations and provide insights beyond traditional immunoassays.

Surface electrostatics govern the emulsion stability of biomolecular condensates

The paper investigates how surface electrostatics influence the stability of biomolecular condensates by comparing their fusion propensity using zeta potential measurements and molecular modeling.