Surface tension and super-stoichiometric surface enrichment in two-component biomolecular condensates

Andrew G.T. Pyo, Yaojun Zhang, Ned S. Wingreen

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Cells can achieve internal organization by exploiting liquid-liquid phase separation to form biomolecular condensates. Here we focus on the surface properties of condensates composed of two multivalent associative polymers held together by one-to-one “sticker” bonds. Using coarse-grained molecular-dynamics simulations, we study the influence of component stoichiometry on condensate surface properties. We find that unequal stoichiometry results in enrichment of the majority species at the interface and a sharp reduction of surface tension. To relate these two effects, we show that the reduction in surface tension scales linearly with the excess concentration of free binding sites at the interface. Our results imply that each excess free site contributes an approximately fixed additional energy and entropy to the interface, with the latter dominating such that enrichment of free majority sites lowers the surface tension. Our work provides insight into novel physical mechanisms by which cells can regulate condensate surface properties.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number103852
JournaliScience
Volume25
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 18 2022

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General

Keywords

  • Biophysical chemistry
  • Mathematical biosciences
  • Molecular dynamics

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