ERC Consolidator Grant · 2024
Mineralization within macromolecular condensates – the chemical playground of living cells
Organisms form crystalline materials with superior structural and mechanical properties. This arises from the ability of functional macromolecules to create intricate architectures via a multi-step crystallization process. Current approaches to engineer bioinspired minerals focus on interactions between macromolecules and minerals in dilute aqueous environments, rarely considering the emergent properties of macromolecular condensates. However, we and others showed that macromolecular crowding is intimately associated with biomineral formation in vivo. In this project, we will develop a new type of chemistry—dense-phase mineralization—to unlock the pathways mastered by nature. Our hypothesis…
From the public funding record at EU CORDIS. Describes the funded project, not the reviews below.