J. D. Schmit

Decoding optimal ligand design for multicomponent condensates

This study identifies optimal polyubiquitin ligand architectures that promote UBQLN2 phase separation by analyzing the energetic penalties and spatial configurations of Ub units.

Reduction of oligomer size modulates the competition between cluster formation and phase separation of the tumor suppressor SPOP

This study shows that reducing SPOP oligomer size shifts its function from cluster formation to phase separation, enhancing ubiquitination activity and providing insights into separation-of-function mutations.

Physical limits to acceleration of chemical reactions inside phase-separated compartments

The paper analyzes how phase-separated compartments affect chemical reaction rates, finding that optimal sticker affinity and compartment size can enhance reaction efficiency.

Beneficial and Detrimental Effects of Nonspecific Binding During DNA Hybridization

This paper investigates how nonspecific binding during DNA hybridization impacts hybridization rates and native structure stability through three stages: diffusion, registry search, and zipping.

Multiphase condensates from a kinetically arrested phase transition

This paper shows that multiphase biomolecular condensates form due to kinetic trapping during phase transitions, not thermodynamic stability, and explains how this leads to internal sub-compartments.

Conformational entropy limits the transition from nucleation to elongation in amyloid aggregation

This paper uses simulations to model amyloid fibril formation, showing that conformational entropy limits the transition from nucleation to elongation in amyloid aggregation.

Structure-function properties in disordered condensates

The paper studies client recruitment in biomolecular condensates using poly-SUMO and poly-SIM proteins, finding that filament structure influences functional client binding.

Thermodynamics of Homopeptide Aggregation

This study investigates the thermodynamics of homopeptide aggregation, showing how flanking sequences modulate fibril and oligomer formation in huntingtin exon 1.

Protein network structure enables switching between liquid and gel states

The paper uses analytic theory to show how protein interactions determine phase separation behavior, revealing that gel formation is driven by entropy rather than binding energy.