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Biomolecular condensates form spatially inhomogeneous network fluids

Author

Listed:
  • Furqan Dar

    (Washington University in St. Louis)

  • Samuel R. Cohen

    (Washington University in St. Louis
    Washington University in St. Louis)

  • Diana M. Mitrea

    (Dewpoint Therapeutics Inc.)

  • Aaron H. Phillips

    (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

  • Gergely Nagy

    (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)

  • Wellington C. Leite

    (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)

  • Christopher B. Stanley

    (Oak Ridge National Laboratory)

  • Jeong-Mo Choi

    (Pusan National University)

  • Richard W. Kriwacki

    (St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital)

  • Rohit V. Pappu

    (Washington University in St. Louis)

Abstract

The functions of biomolecular condensates are thought to be influenced by their material properties, and these will be determined by the internal organization of molecules within condensates. However, structural characterizations of condensates are challenging, and rarely reported. Here, we deploy a combination of small angle neutron scattering, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching, and coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations to provide structural descriptions of model condensates that are formed by macromolecules from nucleolar granular components (GCs). We show that these minimal facsimiles of GCs form condensates that are network fluids featuring spatial inhomogeneities across different length scales that reflect the contributions of distinct protein and peptide domains. The network-like inhomogeneous organization is characterized by a coexistence of liquid- and gas-like macromolecular densities that engenders bimodality of internal molecular dynamics. These insights suggest that condensates formed by multivalent proteins share features with network fluids formed by systems such as patchy or hairy colloids.

Suggested Citation

  • Furqan Dar & Samuel R. Cohen & Diana M. Mitrea & Aaron H. Phillips & Gergely Nagy & Wellington C. Leite & Christopher B. Stanley & Jeong-Mo Choi & Richard W. Kriwacki & Rohit V. Pappu, 2024. "Biomolecular condensates form spatially inhomogeneous network fluids," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-17, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-47602-z
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47602-z
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