RNA modifications and phase separation are currently two popular and growing topics in biochemistry. Both fields meet in the research from the Jaffrey lab from Cornell University in their paper “m⁶A enhances the phase separation potential of mRNA.” In this paper, m⁶A binding proteins (YTHDFs) are found to phase separate into P-bodies or stress-granules along with bound m⁶A -containing mRNAs. This seminar will provide the basics to understanding RNA modifications and phase separation in addition to discussing the paper and its implications.

Ries, R. J. et al. m6A enhances the phase separation potential of mRNA. Nature (2019). 

Originally published at chemistry.nd.edu.