U. Gerland

From Brownian to deterministic motor movement in a DNA-based molecular rotor

This study shows that DNA origami rotors can function as Brownian motors with intrinsic anisotropy, transitioning to deterministic motion under higher external switching fields.

The French flag problem revisited: Creating robust and tunable axial patterns without global signaling

This study explores alternative solutions to the French flag problem using local cell-cell signaling and computational models to create robust and tunable axial patterns.

Sequence- and chemical specificity define the functional landscape of intrinsically disordered regions

The paper investigates how sequence- and chemical specificity enable functional IDR diversity despite poor sequence conservation.

Optimal spatial allocation of enzymes as an investment problem

The paper derives an optimal allocation principle for enzyme distribution to maximize reaction flux, revealing a localization-delocalization transition and proposing an algorithm for synthetic systems.

A kinetic error filtering mechanism for enzyme-free copying of nucleic acid sequences

This paper introduces a kinetic error filtering mechanism to improve the accuracy of enzyme-free nucleic acid copying, showing it can produce exact 50mer sequences under cyclic environmental conditions.

MetA is a thermal fuse that arrests growth and protects Escherichia coli at elevated temperatures

The paper shows that E. coli uses MetA degradation to induce growth arrest and enhance survival at high temperatures.

Dynamics of chromosomal target search by a membrane-integrated one-component receptor

This study investigates how a membrane-integrated one-component receptor, CadC, locates its DNA target through diffusion and capture mechanisms, revealing that DNA mobility is sufficient for efficient target search.

Four different mechanisms for switching cell polarity

The paper identifies four distinct mechanisms for signal-induced polarity switching in cells using a mathematical model of a core polarity system.

Trade-offs and design principles in the spatial organization of catalytic particles

The paper investigates trade-offs in catalyst arrangements and shows their optimization relates to the Thomson problem in electrostatics.