Spatially non-uniform condensates emerge from dynamically arrested phase separation

Nadia A. Erkamp, Tomas Sneideris, Hannes Ausserwöger, Daoyuan Qian, Seema Qamar, Jonathon Nixon-Abell, Peter George-Hyslop, Jeremy D. Schmit, David A. Weitz and Tuomas P. J. Knowles ()
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Nadia A. Erkamp: University of Cambridge
Tomas Sneideris: University of Cambridge
Hannes Ausserwöger: University of Cambridge
Daoyuan Qian: University of Cambridge
Seema Qamar: University of Cambridge
Jonathon Nixon-Abell: University of Cambridge
Peter George-Hyslop: University of Cambridge
Jeremy D. Schmit: Kansas State University
David A. Weitz: Harvard University
Tuomas P. J. Knowles: University of Cambridge

Nature Communications, 2023, vol. 14, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract The formation of biomolecular condensates through phase separation from proteins and nucleic acids is emerging as a spatial organisational principle used broadly by living cells. Many such biomolecular condensates are not, however, homogeneous fluids, but possess an internal structure consisting of distinct sub-compartments with different compositions. Notably, condensates can contain compartments that are depleted in the biopolymers that make up the condensate. Here, we show that such double-emulsion condensates emerge via dynamically arrested phase transitions. The combination of a change in composition coupled with a slow response to this change can lead to the nucleation of biopolymer-poor droplets within the polymer-rich condensate phase. Our findings demonstrate that condensates with a complex internal architecture can arise from kinetic, rather than purely thermodynamic driving forces, and provide more generally an avenue to understand and control the internal structure of condensates in vitro and in vivo.

Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36059-1

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