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Phase-separated droplets swim to their dissolution

Author

Listed:
  • Etienne Jambon-Puillet

    (ETH Zürich
    Institut Polytechnique de Paris)

  • Andrea Testa

    (ETH Zürich)

  • Charlotta Lorenz

    (ETH Zürich
    Cornell University)

  • Robert W. Style

    (ETH Zürich)

  • Aleksander A. Rebane

    (ETH Zürich
    New York University Abu Dhabi)

  • Eric R. Dufresne

    (ETH Zürich
    Cornell University)

Abstract

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

Suggested Citation

  • Etienne Jambon-Puillet & Andrea Testa & Charlotta Lorenz & Robert W. Style & Aleksander A. Rebane & Eric R. Dufresne, 2024. "Phase-separated droplets swim to their dissolution," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-47889-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47889-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Viet Sang Doan & Ibraheem Alshareedah & Anurag Singh & Priya R. Banerjee & Sangwoo Shin, 2024. "Diffusiophoresis promotes phase separation and transport of biomolecular condensates," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-12, December.

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