Universal relations in the self-assembly of proteins and RNA

TL;DR

This paper discusses surprising universal behaviors in the self-assembly of proteins and RNA, highlighting how physics principles can reveal fundamental biological processes across various levels.

Contribution

It introduces the concept of universal relations in biological self-assembly, bridging physics and biology to uncover common principles in complex biological systems.

Findings

Universal behaviors observed in protein and RNA self-assembly

Physics-based models reveal common principles in biological processes

Potential for discovering fundamental biological laws

Abstract

Concepts rooted in physics are becoming increasingly important in biology as we transition to an era in which quantitative descriptions of all processes from molecular to cellular level are needed. In this essay I discuss two unexpected findings of universal behavior, uncommon in biology, in the self-assembly of proteins and RNA. These findings, which are surprising, reveal that physics ideas applied to biological problems ranging from folding to gene expression to cellular movement and communication between cells might lead to discovery of universal principles operating in adoptable living systems.