Natasha’s scientific career began at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research in India, where she earned her Master’s degree. Her early research investigated methods to induce mechanical forces in zebrafish embryonic epithelial tissues, subsequently exploring the critical roles of E-cadherin and Ezrin in maintaining tissue integrity under stress. This work not only deepened her understanding of how cells organize into functional tissues but also sparked her interest in understanding spatial control at smaller scales within individual cells.
This curiosity led her to pursue a PhD research at the MPI-CBG, and she joined the Hyman lab. As a developmental biologist and imaging enthusiast, she became intrigued by the spatial dynamics of P granules during the oocyte-to-embryo transition in C. elegans. At this critical stage, RNA-containing P granules must be asymmetrically distributed to the posterior half of the cell, a process regulated by the MEX-5 gradient. These membraneless organelles are essential for the maintenance of the germline fate in C. elegans.
Her latest publication covers her reductionist approach—breaking down the complex multicomponent protein-RNA organelle into a minimal in vitro system to test specific hypotheses. She focused on PGL-3 and RNA to reconstitute RNA/PGL-3 condensates. While these minimal systems were not compositionally identical to in vivo P granules, she demonstrated they maintained quantitatively similar biophysical properties through rigorous characterization. Using full-length and truncated MEX-5 constructs, she quantitatively analyzed their disassembly kinetics. Through these experiments, she revealed how RNA-binding proteins like MEX-5 modulate phase separation, establishing fundamental biophysical principles that govern condensate dynamics in development.
Check out her latest publication here!
Currently serving as a Staff Scientist at the National Center for Tumor Diseases, Natasha applies her expertise to precision oncology. Her work focuses on high-throughput multiplexed assays to functionally characterize cancer-associated genetic variants, bridging biological discovery with translational applications to provide timely patient care.