Laboratoire de Physique Théorique
Toulouse - UMR 5152

The phenomenon of self-organisation is ubiquitous in biological systems. Emergent patterns and self-organised homeostasis are essential for the proper development and functioning of organisms. In this talk, I will discuss the underlying physics behind two important examples of self-organised structures : protein amyloid self-assembly and P granule formation. Protein amyloids are biopolymers that are implicated in numerous human diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease and type II diabetes. P granules, a type of cytoplasmic organelle, are important for the germline specification of the nematode C. elegans. I will discuss how the physics of phase transition helps to explain the formation of these structures.