Biomolecular condensates sustain pH gradients at equilibrium through charge neutralization
Research output: Contribution to journal › Research article › Contributed › peer-review
Contributors
Abstract
Electrochemical gradients are essential to the functioning of cells and form across membranes using active transporters. Here we show in contrast that condensed biomolecular systems—often termed condensates—sustain pH gradients without any external energy input. By studying individual condensates on the micrometre scale using a microdroplet platform, we reveal dense-phase pH shifts towards conditions of minimal electrostatic repulsion. We demonstrate that protein condensates can drive substantial alkaline and acidic gradients, which are compositionally tunable and can extend to complex architectures sustaining multiple unique pH conditions simultaneously. Through in silico characterization of human proteomic condensate networks, we further highlight potential wide-ranging electrochemical properties emerging from condensation in nature, while correlating intracellular condensate pH gradients with complex biomolecular composition. Together, the emergent nature of condensation shapes distinct pH microenvironments, thereby creating a regulatory mechanism to modulate biochemical activity in living and artificial systems. (Figure presented.)
Details
| Original language | English |
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| Pages (from-to) | 246-257 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | Nature chemistry |
| Volume | 18 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| Publication status | Published - Feb 2026 |
| Peer-reviewed | Yes |
External IDs
| PubMed | 41612036 |
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