Surface Electrostatics Govern the Emulsion Stability of Biomolecular Condensates
Research output: Contribution to journal › Research article › Contributed › peer-review
Contributors
Abstract
Liquid-liquid phase separation underlies the formation of biological condensates. Physically, such systems are microemulsions that in general have a propensity to fuse and coalesce; however, many condensates persist as independent droplets in the test tube and inside cells. This stability is crucial for their function, but the physicochemical mechanisms that control the emulsion stability of condensates remain poorly understood. Here, by combining single-condensate zeta potential measurements, optical microscopy, tweezer experiments, and multiscale molecular modeling, we investigate how the nanoscale forces that sustain condensates impact their stability against fusion. By comparing peptide-RNA (PR25:PolyU) and proteinaceous (FUS) condensates, we show that a higher condensate surface charge correlates with a lower fusion propensity. Moreover, measurements of single condensate zeta potentials reveal that such systems can constitute classically stable emulsions. Taken together, these results highlight the role of passive stabilization mechanisms in protecting biomolecular condensates against coalescence.
Details
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 612-621 |
Number of pages | 10 |
Journal | Nano letters |
Volume | 22 |
Issue number | 2 |
Publication status | Published - 10 Jan 2022 |
Peer-reviewed | Yes |
External IDs
Scopus | 85123385700 |
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WOS | 000745242500001 |
Mendeley | de0c9c6c-7fd4-3408-ad0a-326babfb1262 |
ORCID | /0000-0003-4017-6505/work/142253795 |
Keywords
Research priority areas of TU Dresden
DFG Classification of Subject Areas according to Review Boards
ASJC Scopus subject areas
Keywords
- Biomolecular Condensates, Emulsions, Proteins/chemistry, RNA/chemistry, Static Electricity, FUS, zeta potential, Liquid-liquid phase separation, colloid stability, microfluidics, Liquid−liquid phase separation, Fus, Zeta potential, Colloid stability, Microfluidics