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.
Chemical Society Reviews,
Journal Year:
2021,
Volume and Issue:
50(6), P. 3690 - 3705
Published: Jan. 1, 2021
This
tutorial
review
describes
molecular
design
principles
for
peptides
and
peptide
derivatives
undergoing
phase
separation
highlights
the
potential
of
resulting
coacervate
protocells.
Journal of the American Chemical Society,
Journal Year:
2020,
Volume and Issue:
142(6), P. 2905 - 2914
Published: Jan. 20, 2020
Liquid–liquid
phase
separation
plays
an
important
role
in
cellular
organization.
Many
subcellular
condensed
bodies
are
hierarchically
organized
into
multiple
coexisting
domains
or
layers.
However,
our
molecular
understanding
of
the
assembly
and
internal
organization
these
multicomponent
droplets
is
still
incomplete,
rules
for
coexistence
phases
lacking.
Here,
we
show
that
formation
multiphase
with
up
to
three
layers
a
generic
phenomenon
mixtures
complex
coacervates,
which
serve
as
models
charge-driven
liquid–liquid
separated
systems.
We
present
simple
theoretical
guidelines
explain
both
hierarchical
arrangement
demixing
transition
using
interfacial
tensions
critical
salt
concentration
inputs.
Multiple
coacervates
can
coexist
if
they
differ
sufficiently
macromolecular
density,
associated
differences
be
used
predict
droplet
formation.
also
distinct
chemical
environments
concentrate
guest
molecules
different
extents.
Our
findings
suggest
condensate
immiscibility
may
very
general
feature
biological
systems,
could
exploited
design
self-organized
synthetic
compartments
control
biomolecular
processes.
Nature Communications,
Journal Year:
2020,
Volume and Issue:
11(1)
Published: Sept. 15, 2020
Liquid
phase
separation
into
two
or
more
coexisting
phases
has
emerged
as
a
new
paradigm
for
understanding
subcellular
organization,
prebiotic
life,
and
the
origins
of
disease.
The
design
principles
underlying
biomolecular
have
potential
to
drive
development
novel
liquid-based
organelles
therapeutics,
however,
an
how
individual
molecules
contribute
emergent
material
properties,
approaches
directly
manipulate
dynamics
are
lacking.
Here,
using
microrheology,
we
demonstrate
that
droplets
poly-arginine
coassembled
with
mono/polynucleotides
approximately
100
fold
greater
viscosity
than
comparable
lysine
droplets,
both
which
can
be
finer
tuned
by
polymer
length.
We
find
these
amino
acid-level
differences
formation
immiscible
tunable
kinetics
further
exploited
trigger
controlled
release
droplet
components.
Together,
this
work
provides
mechanism
leveraging
sequence-level
components
in
order
regulate
multiphase
coexistence.
Current Opinion in Colloid & Interface Science,
Journal Year:
2020,
Volume and Issue:
52, P. 101416 - 101416
Published: Dec. 30, 2020
Coacervates
are
condensed
liquid-like
droplets,
usually
formed
with
oppositely
charged
polymeric
molecules.
They
have
been
studied
extensively
in
colloid
and
interface
science
for
their
remarkable
material
properties.
The
liquid–liquid
phase
separation
underlying
coacervate
formation
also
plays
an
important
role
the
of
various
membraneless
organelles
(MLOs)
that
found
many
living
cells.
Therefore,
there
is
increasing
interest
to
use
well-characterized
coacervates
as
vitro
models
mimic
specific
aspects
MLOs.
Here,
we
review
five
–
physical
chemical
properties,
hierarchical
organization,
uptake
selectivity,
dynamics,
maturation
particular
discuss
how
useful
better
understand
these
Nature Communications,
Journal Year:
2021,
Volume and Issue:
12(1)
Published: Feb. 8, 2021
Multivalent
protein-protein
and
protein-RNA
interactions
are
the
drivers
of
biological
phase
separation.
Biomolecular
condensates
typically
contain
a
dense
network
multiple
proteins
RNAs,
their
competing
molecular
play
key
roles
in
regulating
condensate
composition
structure.
Employing
ternary
system
comprising
prion-like
polypeptide
(PLP),
arginine-rich
(RRP),
RNA,
we
show
that
competition
between
PLP
RNA
for
single
shared
partner,
RRP,
leads
to
RNA-induced
demixing
PLP-RRP
into
stable
coexisting
phases-homotypic
heterotypic
RRP-RNA
condensates.
The
morphology
these
biphasic
(non-engulfing/
partial
engulfing/
complete
engulfing)
is
determined
by
RNA-to-RRP
stoichiometry
hierarchy
intermolecular
interactions,
providing
glimpse
broad
range
multiphasic
patterns
accessible
Our
findings
provide
minimal
set
physical
rules
govern
spatial
organization
multicomponent
biomolecular
Annual Review of Condensed Matter Physics,
Journal Year:
2020,
Volume and Issue:
12(1), P. 155 - 176
Published: Nov. 24, 2020
Polyelectrolyte
complex
coacervates
represent
a
wide
class
of
materials
with
applications
ranging
from
coatings
and
adhesives
to
pharmaceutical
technologies.
They
also
underpin
multiple
biological
processes,
which
are
only
now
beginning
be
deciphered.
The
means
by
molecular-scale
architecture
propagates
into
macroscopic
structure,
thermodynamics,
dynamics
in
is
central
concern
physics,
chemistry,
biology,
science.
How
does
polyion
charge
sequence
dictate
thermodynamic
behavior?
one
tailor
rheology
or
interfacial
tension
using
macromolecular
architecture?
What
emergent
functionality
polymer
has
consequences?
Recent
developments
coacervate
science
shed
light
on
many
these
issues
raise
exciting
new
challenges
for
the
close
integration
theory,
simulations,
experiment.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
119(26)
Published: June 21, 2022
Phase-separated
biomolecular
condensates
that
contain
multiple
coexisting
phases
are
widespread
in
vitro
and
cells.
Multiphase
emerge
readily
within
multicomponent
mixtures
of
biomolecules
(e.g.,
proteins
nucleic
acids)
when
the
different
components
present
sufficient
physicochemical
diversity
intermolecular
forces,
structure,
chemical
composition)
to
sustain
separate
phases.
Because
such
is
highly
coupled
solution
conditions
temperature,
pH,
salt,
composition),
it
can
manifest
itself
immediately
from
nucleation
growth
stages
condensate
formation,
develop
spontaneously
due
external
stimuli
or
progressively
as
age.
Here,
we
investigate
thermodynamic
factors
explain
progressive
intrinsic
transformation
single-component
into
multiphase
architectures
during
nonequilibrium
process
aging.
We
a
multiscale
model
integrates
atomistic
simulations
proteins,
sequence-dependent
coarse-grained
condensates,
minimal
dynamically
aging
with
nonconservative
forces.
Our
predict
initially
homogeneous
liquid
like
transform
gel-core/liquid-shell
liquid-core/gel-shell
they
age
gradual
irreversible
enhancement
interprotein
interactions.
The
type
architecture
determined
by
mechanism,
molecular
organization
gel
phases,
makeup
protein.
Notably,
disorder
order
transitions
prion-like
domains
intracellular
lead
required
study,
therefore,
predicts
potential
mechanism
which
results
condensates.