Angewandte Chemie International Edition,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
61(46)
Published: Sept. 6, 2022
Abstract
Membraneless
organelles
are
droplets
in
the
cytosol
that
regulated
by
chemical
reactions.
Increasing
studies
suggest
they
internally
organized.
However,
how
these
subcompartments
remains
elusive.
Herein,
we
describe
a
complex
coacervate‐based
model
composed
of
two
polyanions
and
short
peptide.
With
reaction
cycle,
control
affinity
peptide
for
polyelectrolytes
leading
to
distinct
regimes
inside
phase
diagram.
We
study
transitions
from
one
regime
another
identify
new
can
only
occur
under
kinetic
control.
Finally,
show
cycle
controls
liquidity
offering
insights
into
active
processes
cells
play
an
important
role
tuning
liquid
state
membraneless
organelles.
Our
work
demonstrates
not
thermodynamic
properties
but
also
kinetics
should
be
considered
organization
multiple
phases
droplets.
Small Methods,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
7(12)
Published: July 18, 2023
Abstract
The
design
and
construction
of
synthetic
cells
–
human‐made
microcompartments
that
mimic
features
living
have
experienced
a
real
boom
in
the
past
decade.
While
many
efforts
been
geared
toward
assembling
membrane‐bounded
compartments,
coacervate
droplets
produced
by
liquid–liquid
phase
separation
emerged
as
an
alternative
membrane‐free
compartmentalization
paradigm.
Here,
dual
role
cell
research
is
discussed:
encapsulated
within
membrane‐enclosed
coacervates
act
surrogates
membraneless
organelles
ubiquitously
found
cells;
alternatively,
they
can
be
viewed
crowded
cytosol‐like
chassis
for
constructing
integrated
cells.
After
introducing
key
concepts
coacervation
illustrating
chemical
diversity
systems,
their
physicochemical
properties
resulting
bioinspired
functions
are
emphasized.
Moving
from
suspensions
free
floating
coacervates,
two
nascent
roles
these
highlighted:
organelle‐like
modules
templates.
Building
discussion
on
recent
studies
literature,
potential
to
assemble
capable
multiple
life‐inspired
showcased.
Future
challenges
still
tackled
field
finally
discussed.
Chemical Reviews,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
124(6), P. 3186 - 3219
Published: March 11, 2024
It
is
now
generally
accepted
that
macromolecules
do
not
act
in
isolation
but
"live"
a
crowded
environment,
is,
an
environment
populated
by
numerous
different
molecules.
The
field
of
molecular
crowding
has
its
origins
the
far
80s
became
only
end
90s.
In
present
issue,
we
discuss
various
aspects
are
influenced
and
need
to
consider
effects.
This
Review
meant
as
introduction
theme
analysis
evolution
concept
through
time
from
colloidal
polymer
physics
more
biological
perspective.
We
introduce
themes
will
be
thoroughly
treated
other
Reviews
issue.
our
intentions,
each
may
stand
itself,
complete
collection
aspiration
provide
complementary
perspectives
propose
holistic
view
crowding.
Communications Chemistry,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
7(1)
Published: Jan. 4, 2024
Abstract
Coacervation,
or
liquid-liquid
phase
separation
(LLPS)
of
biomacromolecules,
is
increasingly
recognized
to
play
an
important
role
both
intracellularly
and
in
the
extracellular
space.
Central
questions
that
remain
be
addressed
are
links
between
material
properties
coacervates
(condensates)
primary
secondary
structures
their
constitutive
building
blocks.
Short
LLPS-prone
peptides,
such
as
GY23
variants
explored
this
study,
ideal
model
systems
investigate
these
because
simple
sequence
modifications
chemical
environment
strongly
affect
viscoelastic
coacervates.
Herein,
a
systematic
investigation
structure/property
relationships
peptide
was
conducted
using
variants,
combining
biophysical
characterization
(plate
rheology
surface
force
apparatus,
SFA)
with
structure
investigations
by
infrared
(IR)
circular
dichroism
(CD)
spectroscopy.
Mutating
specific
residues
into
either
more
hydrophobic
hydrophilic
regulates
Furthermore,
ionic
strength
kosmotropic
characteristics
(Hofmeister
series)
buffer
which
LLPS
induced
also
significantly
impact
formed
Structural
CD
IR
indicate
direct
correlation
variations
endogenous
(peptide
sequence)
exogenous
(ionic
strength,
characteristics,
aging)
factors
β-sheet
content
within
These
findings
provide
valuable
insights
rationally
design
short
programmable
materials
used
biomedical
applications.
Communications Chemistry,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
7(1)
Published: April 9, 2024
Dynamic
microscale
droplets
produced
by
liquid-liquid
phase
separation
(LLPS)
have
emerged
as
appealing
biomaterials
due
to
their
remarkable
features.
However,
the
instability
of
limits
construction
population-level
structures
with
collective
behaviors.
Here
we
first
provide
a
brief
background
in
context
materials
properties.
Subsequently,
discuss
current
strategies
for
stabilizing
including
physical
and
chemical
modulation.
We
also
recent
development
LLPS
various
applications
such
synthetic
cells
biomedical
materials.
Finally,
give
insights
on
how
stabilized
can
self-assemble
into
higher-order
displaying
coordinated
functions
fully
exploit
potentials
bottom-up
biology
applications.
Journal of the American Chemical Society,
Journal Year:
2021,
Volume and Issue:
143(12), P. 4782 - 4789
Published: March 22, 2021
Complex
coacervated-based
assemblies
form
when
two
oppositely
charged
polyelectrolytes
combine
to
phase
separate
into
a
supramolecular
architecture.
These
architectures
range
from
complex
coacervate
droplets,
spherical
and
worm-like
micelles,
vesicles.
are
widely
applied,
for
example,
in
the
food
industry,
as
underwater
or
medical
adhesives,
but
they
can
also
serve
great
model
biological
assemblies.
Indeed,
biology
relies
on
coacervation
so-called
membraneless
organelles,
dynamic
transient
droplets
formed
by
of
nucleic
acids
proteins.
To
regulate
their
function,
organelles
dynamically
maintained
chemical
reaction
cycles,
including
phosphorylation
dephosphorylation,
exact
mechanisms
remain
elusive.
Recently,
some
systems
regulated
cycles
have
been
introduced,
how
design
such
molecular
affects
properties
is
unclear.
In
this
work,
we
test
series
cationic
peptides
chemically
fueled
coacervation,
affect
dynamics
assembly
disassembly
emerging
structures.
We
them
with
both
homo-
block
copolymers
study
morphologies
assemblies,
morphological
transitions
that
driven
cycle.
deduce
heuristic
rules
be
applied
other
systems.
will
help
develop
organelle
lead
exciting
new
applications
coacervate-based
examples
like
temporary
adhesives.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
119(36)
Published: Aug. 29, 2022
There
is
notable
discrepancy
between
experiments
and
coarse-grained
model
studies
regarding
the
thermodynamic
driving
force
in
polyelectrolyte
complex
coacervation:
find
free
energy
change
to
be
dominated
by
entropy,
while
simulations
using
models
with
implicit
solvent
usually
report
a
large,
even
dominant
energetic
contribution
systems
weak
intermediate
electrostatic
strength.
Here,
coarse-grained,
implicit-solvent
molecular
dynamics
simulation
combined
analysis,
we
study
potential
of
mean
(PMF)
two
key
stages
on
coacervation
pathway
for
symmetric
mixtures:
polycation–polyanion
complexation
polyion
pair–pair
condensation.
We
show
that
temperature
dependence
dielectric
constant
water
gives
rise
substantial
entropic
interaction.
By
accounting
this
which
due
reorganization,
under
common
conditions
(monovalent
ions,
room
temperature)
aqueous
systems,
both
are
strongly
entropy-driven
negligible
or
unfavorable
contributions,
consistent
experimental
results.
Furthermore,
strengths,
rather
than
counterion-release
primary
entropy
contribution.
From
calculated
PMF,
supernatant
phase
consists
predominantly
pairs
vanishingly
small
concentration
bare
polyelectrolytes,
provide
an
estimate
spinodal
phase.
Finally,
prior
contact,
neutral
weakly
attract
each
other
mutually
induced
polarization,
providing
initial
fusion
pairs.
Journal of the American Chemical Society,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
144(9), P. 3855 - 3862
Published: Feb. 22, 2022
Controlling
the
dynamics
of
mixed
communities
cell-like
entities
(protocells)
provides
a
step
toward
development
higher-order
cytomimetic
behaviors
in
artificial
cell
consortia.
In
this
paper,
we
develop
caged
protocell
model
with
molecularly
crowded
coacervate
interior
surrounded
by
non-cross-linked
gold
(Au)/poly(ethylene
glycol)
(PEG)
nanoparticle-jammed
stimuli-responsive
membrane.
The
jammed
membrane
is
unlocked
either
exogenous
light-mediated
Au/PEG
dissociation
at
Au
surface
or
endogenous
enzyme-mediated
cleavage
ketal
linkage
on
PEG
backbone.
assembly/disassembly
process
used
for
controlled
and
selective
uptake
guest
protocells
into
microdroplets
as
path
an
all-water
triggerable
transmembrane
synthetic
communities.
Active
capture
stems
from
high
sequestration
potential
such
that
tailoring
properties
rudimentary
system
sorting.
Our
results
highlight
programming
surface-contact
interactions
between
membrane-bounded
compartments
could
have
implications
networks,
storage
delivery
microsystems,
microreactor
technologies.