Phase-separated droplets swim to their dissolution

Nature Communications, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15(1)

Published: May 9, 2024

Abstract Biological macromolecules can condense into liquid domains. In cells, these condensates form membraneless organelles that organize chemical reactions. However, little is known about the physical consequences of activity in and around condensates. Working with model bovine serum albumin (BSA) condensates, we show droplets swim along gradients. Active BSA loaded urease toward each other. Passive diverse responses to externally applied gradients enzyme’s substrate products. all cases, solvent conditions favor their dissolution. We call this behavior “dialytaxis”, expect it be generic, as which dissolution typically reduce interfacial tension, whose are well-known drive droplet motion through Marangoni effect. These results could potentially suggest alternative mechanisms for active transport living may enable design fluid micro-robots.

Language: Английский

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Self-consistent sharp interface theory of active condensate dynamics

Physical Review Research, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 6(3)

Published: July 18, 2024

Biomolecular condensates help organize the cell cytoplasm and nucleoplasm into spatial compartments with different chemical compositions. A key feature of such compositional patterning is local enrichment enzymatically active biomolecules which, after transient binding via molecular interactions, catalyze reactions among their substrates. Thereby, biomolecular provide a template for nonuniform concentration profiles In turn, substrates, interactions enzymes, drive enzyme fluxes which can enable novel nonequilibrium dynamics. To analyze this generic class systems, current focus on self-propelled droplet motion, we here develop self-consistent sharp interface theory. our theory, diverge from usual bottom-up approach, involves calculating dynamics based given potential gradient. Instead, reminiscent control take reverse approach by deriving profile required to maintain desired condensate form The currents enzymes come corresponding power dissipation rate, allows us derive thermodynamic consistency criterion passive part system (here, reciprocal enzyme-enzyme interactions). As first-use case study role where transport substrates due diffusion is, in part, compensated redistribution interactions. More generally, theory applies mass-conserved matter systems moving phase boundaries. Published American Physical Society 2024

Language: Английский

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A comprehensive understanding on droplets

Advances in Colloid and Interface Science, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown, P. 103490 - 103490

Published: March 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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RNA condensates as platforms for prebiotic chemistry

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory), Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: April 15, 2025

Abstract The emergence of the first catalytically active biopolymers remains a scientific mystery. Some abiotic chemistries for formation precursor molecules to — such as nucleotides and amino acids are known. However, polymerization usually results in short polymers only few units length. This is too meaningful information storage or catalytic activity, limitation known Flory Length Problem. Additionally, biocatalysts presumably had low activity because they were generated by random polymerization. Therefore, enrichment substrates catalysts seems necessary significant rates catalysis occur. Could RNA phase separation be solution these challenges? Our experimental evidence demonstrates that at acidic pH, RNAs ( < 20 nt) readily phase-separate into condensed enriched with longer fragments, primarily through phosphate backbone protonation. These condensates stably compartmentalize DNA species without rapid flux genetic material, maintaining their identity over extended periods even absence membranes. In addition, concentrates ions critical folding along small organic molecules, phospholipids, peptides, ribozymes, large proteins. Beyond enriching diverse components, function microreactors dual capabilities. They physically enhance reaction concentrating reactants within confined space simultaneously act inherent directly facilitate chemical transformations. also support ribozyme enzymatic activity. Collectively, findings suggest may have played crucial role life’s origins providing spatial compartmentalization, biopolymer enrichment, particularly potentially species.

Language: Английский

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Marangoni Droplets of Dextran in PEG Solution and Its Motile Change Due to Coil–Globule Transition of Coexisting DNA

ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 16(32), P. 43016 - 43025

Published: Aug. 1, 2024

Motile droplets using Marangoni convection are attracting attention for their potential as cell-mimicking small robots. However, the motion of relative to internal and external environments that generate has not been quantitatively described. In this study, we used an aqueous two-phase system [poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) dextran] in elongated chamber motile dextran a constant PEG concentration gradient. We demonstrated move by convection, resulting from gradient active transport into out droplet. Furthermore, spontaneously incorporating long DNA droplets, achieved cell-like motility changes controlled coexisting environment-sensing molecules. The its position within droplet speed response conditions. presence Mg2+, coil–globule transition inside accelerates due decrease droplet's dynamic viscosity. Globule condenses at rear part along while coil moves away central axis, separating dipole convections. These results provide blueprint designing autonomous robots phase-separated which change mobility molecular distribution reaction with environment. It will also open unexplored areas self-assembly mechanisms through phase separation under convections, such intracellular separation.

Language: Английский

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Delayed Excitations Induce Polymer Looping and Coherent Motion

Physical Review Letters, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 133(7)

Published: Aug. 15, 2024

We consider inhomogeneous polymers driven by energy-consuming active processes which encode temporal patterns of athermal kicks. find that such excitation programs, propagated tension along the polymer, can effectively couple distinct polymer loci. Consequently, distant loci exhibit correlated motions fold into specific conformations, as set local actions and their distribution polymer. Interestingly, kicks are canceled out a time-delayed echo induce strong compaction

Language: Английский

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Movement of active droplets in dense emulsion

Physics of Fluids, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 36(12)

Published: Dec. 1, 2024

The motion of a single active droplet and swarm droplets in dense emulsion can differ significantly, which is due to the interaction with each other. It has been found that decrease velocity droplets, their becomes more spatially correlated, size clusters, velocities are close, increases. During diffusion motion, spend most time confined cages move significant distances after cage rearrangements. With an increase average emulsion, residence within decreases according law ∼u−2. In this case, mean square displacement isolated turns out be proportional ∼t3/2. deviation from Brownian existence repulsive force between them.

Language: Английский

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Motility of microscopic swimmers as protocells

Chem, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 9(11), P. 3030 - 3044

Published: Nov. 1, 2023

Language: Английский

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Neue Wege zu künstlichen Zellen

Nachrichten aus der Chemie, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 72(7-8), P. 68 - 69

Published: July 1, 2024

Abstract Mit Bio‐Nanotechnik lassen sich zellähnliche Gebilde herstellen, die eine oder mehrere Funktionen lebender Zellen erfüllen. Neue Methoden versprechen jetzt Fortschritte auf dem Weg zu Kunstzellen, lebendigen mehr ähneln als je zuvor.

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