The Journal of Physical Chemistry B,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Sept. 19, 2024
Phoresis
of
biocolloidal
objects
in
response
to
chemical
gradients
is
a
matter
interest
among
diverse
scientific
disciplines
owing
their
importance
the
spatiotemporal
orchestration
biochemical
processes.
Although
there
are
reports
soft
transport/phoresis
gradient
ions
or
salts
aqueous
system,
phoretic
behavior
presence
macromolecular
crowder
largely
unexplored.
Notably,
cellular
cytoplasm
illustrated
as
crowded
milieu
and
thereby
understanding
biomolecular
phoresis
polymeric
macromolecules
would
endorse
biomimetic
environment.
Here,
we
report
phoresis-induced
enhanced
aggregation
fusion
vesicles
monovalent
(NaCl)
divalent
salt
(MgCl
Nature Communications,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
16(1)
Published: March 11, 2025
Abstract
Biomolecular
condensates
formed
by
proteins
and
nucleic
acids
are
critical
for
cellular
processes.
Macromolecule-based
coacervate
droplets
liquid-liquid
phase
separation
serve
as
synthetic
analogues,
but
limited
complex
compositions
high
molecular
weights.
Recently,
short
peptides
have
emerged
an
alternative
component
of
coacervates,
tend
to
form
metastable
microdroplets
that
evolve
into
rigid
nanostructures.
Here
we
present
programmable
coacervates
using
binary
mixtures
diphenylalanine-based
peptides.
We
show
the
presence
different
stabilizes
prevents
formation
structures,
allowing
peptide
be
used
stable
adaptive
compartments.
This
approach
allows
fine
control
droplet
dynamic
morphological
changes
in
response
physiological
triggers.
As
compartments,
sequester
hydrophobic
molecules
enhance
bio-orthogonal
catalysis.
In
addition,
incorporation
model
cells
enables
design
Boolean
logic
gates.
Our
findings
highlight
potential
creating
biomimetic
systems
provide
insight
principles
biomolecular
condensates.
Quarterly Reviews of Biophysics,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
58
Published: Jan. 1, 2025
Abstract
Yeast
frataxin
(Yfh1)
is
a
small
natural
protein
from
yeast
that
has
the
unusual
property
of
undergoing
cold
denaturation
at
temperatures
above
freezing
point
water
when
under
conditions
low
ionic
strength.
This
peculiarity,
together
with
remarkable
resilience,
allows
determination,
for
whole
as
well
individual
residues,
stability
curve,
temperature
dependence
free
energy
difference
between
unfolded
and
folded
forms.
The
ease
measuring
curves
without
need
to
add
denaturants
or
introduce
ad
hoc
destabilizing
mutations
makes
this
an
ideal
‘tool’
investigating
influence
many
environmental
factors
on
stability.
present
review
aims
recapitulating
all
open
questions
Yfh1
helped
address,
including
understanding
differences
commonalities
cold,
heat
pressure
states.
thus
offers
unique
tool
studying
aspects
so
far
been
considered
difficult
assess
provides
important
guidelines
could
allow
identification
other
similar
systems.
Advanced Biology,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Feb. 17, 2025
Abstract
Cell‐like
platforms
are
being
studied
intensively
for
their
application
in
synthetic
biology
to
mimic
aspects
of
life
an
artificial
environment.
Here,
micrometer‐sized,
bifunctional
microgels
used
as
experimental
platform
investigate
the
interplay
cell‐free
protein
synthesis
(CFPS)
and
situ
accumulation
inside
microgel
volume.
In
detail,
made
hyaluronic
acid
(HA)
first
modified
with
different
amounts
nitrilotriacetic
(NTA)
moieties
characterize
capability
maximum
capacity
binding
His‐tag
GFP.
CFPS
is
optimized
system
here,
particularly
when
using
a
linear
DNA
template.
Afterward,
HA‐microgels
functionalized
template
Ni
2+
‐activated
NTA
bind
synthesized
GFP‐His.
parallel
within
observed
over
time
determine
GFP‐His
platform.
With
this
approach,
study
presents
steps
temporal‐spatial
regulation
by
tailored
or
release
from
matrix‐based
reaction
ChemCatChem,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: May 8, 2024
Abstract
Biomolecular
condensates
are
membraneless
organelles
that
orchestrate
various
metabolic
pathways
in
living
cells.
Understanding
how
these
crowded
structures
regulate
enzyme
reactions
remains
yet
challenging
due
to
their
dynamic
and
intricate
nature.
Coacervate
microdroplets
formed
by
associative
liquid‐liquid
phase
separation
of
oppositely
charged
polyions
have
emerged
as
relevant
condensate
models
study
catalysis.
Enzyme
within
droplets
show
altered
kinetics,
influenced
factors
such
substrate
partitioning,
crowding,
interactions
with
coacervate
components;
it
is
often
disentangle
the
contributions
each.
Here,
we
investigate
peroxidase
activity
a
de
novo
polysaccharide‐based
coacervates.
By
comparing
reaction
kinetics
buffer,
suspension
coacervates
bulk
collected
after
centrifugation
droplets,
significantly
increases
catalytic
efficiency.
We
demonstrate
main
origin
this
enhanced
lies
macromolecular
crowding
coupled
changes
conformational
dynamics
environment.
Altogether,
findings
underline
crucial
role
matrix
catalysis,
beyond
simple
partitioning
effects.
The
observed
boost
provides
insights
for
designing
biocatalytically
active
synthetic
organelles.
Physical review. E,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
110(4)
Published: Oct. 29, 2024
Understanding
actual
transport
mechanisms
of
self-propelled
particles
(SPPs)
in
complex
elastic
gels---such
as
the
cell
cytoplasm,
vitro
networks
chromatin
or
F-actin
fibers,
mucus
gels---has
far-reaching
consequences.
Implications
beyond
biology/biophysics
are
engineering
and
medicine,
with
a
particular
focus
on
microrheology
targeted
drug
delivery.
Here,
we
examine
via
extensive
computer
simulations
dynamics
SPPs
deformable
gellike
structures
responsive
to
thermal
fluctuations.
We
treat
tracer
comparable
larger
than
mesh
size
gel.
observe
distinct
trapping
events
active
tracers
at
relatively
short
times,
leading
subdiffusion;
it
is
followed
by
an
escape
from
meshwork-induced
traps
due
flexibility
network,
resulting
superdiffusion.
thus
find
crossovers
between
different
regimes.
also
pronounced
nonergodicity
non-Gaussianity
intermediate
times.
The
distributions
times
escaping
``cages''
our
quasiperiodic
gel
often
reveal
existence
two
timescales
dynamics.
At
high
activity
these
become
comparable.
Furthermore,
that
mean
waiting
time
exhibits
power-law
dependence
(in
terms
their
P\'eclet
number).
Our
results
additionally
showcase
both
exponential
nonexponential
activities.
Extensions
this
setup
possible,
factors
such
anisotropy
particles,
topologies
various
interactions
(also
nonlocal
nature)
be
considered.
Advanced Materials,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Nov. 12, 2024
Abstract
Optical
sensors
are
powerful
tools
to
identify
and
image
(biological)
molecules.
Because
of
their
optoelectronic
properties,
nanomaterials
often
used
as
building
blocks.
To
transduce
the
chemical
interaction
with
analyte
into
an
optical
signal,
interplay
between
surface
chemistry
nanomaterial
photophysics
has
be
optimized.
Understanding
these
aspects
promises
major
opportunities
for
tailored
optimal
performance.
However,
this
requires
methods
create
explore
many
permutations.
Indeed,
current
approaches
limited
in
throughput.
This
affects
design
space
that
can
studied,
application
machine
learning
well
fundamental
mechanistic
understanding.
Here,
overview
selection‐limited
synthesis‐limited
is
provided
molecular
nanosensors.
Bottlenecks
discussed
non‐classical
recognition
strategies
highlighted
such
corona
phase
requirements
high
throughput
scalability.
Fluorescent
carbon
nanotubes
blocks
huge
makes
them
ideal
platform
approaches.
Therefore,
they
focus
article,
but
insights
transferable
any
nanosensor
system.
Overall,
perspective
aims
provide
a
fresh
overcome
challenges
field.
The Journal of Physical Chemistry Letters,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
15(42), P. 10505 - 10513
Published: Oct. 11, 2024
Phase
separation
within
cellular
membranes,
a
critical
process
underpinning
diverse
functions,
is
significantly
influenced
by
transmembrane
proteins.
Therefore,
elucidating
the
behavior
of
protein
in
its
phase-separated
state
utmost
importance.
Our
study
explores
mucin
milieu,
aiming
to
determine
role
crowder
chain
length
and
excluded
volume
phase
separation.
Confocal
microscopy
images
demonstrate
strong
partitioning
into
condensed
hydrophobic
electrostatic
interactions.
Fluorescence
recovery
after
photobleaching
analysis
revealed
increased
mobility
presence
shorter
crowders,
indicating
dynamic
phases.
Excluded
calculation
using
theoretical
model
emphasizes
importance
under
crowded
conditions.
findings
underscore
ability
phase-separate
conditions,
highlighting
crucial
enhancing
our
understanding
involvement
cancer
progression.
