Work

Single-fluorogen imaging reveals distinct environmental and structural features of biomolecular condensates

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Biomolecular condensates are viscoelastic materials. Simulations predict that condensates formed by intrinsically disordered proteins are network fluids defined by spatially inhomogeneous organization of the underlying molecules. Here, we test these predictions and find that molecules within condensates are organized into slow-moving nanoscale clusters and fast-moving dispersed molecules. These results, obtained using single-fluorogen tracking and super-resolution imaging of different disordered protein-based condensates, affirm the predicted spatially inhomogeneous organization of molecules within condensates. We map the internal environments and interfaces of condensates using fluorogens that localize differently to the interiors versus interface between dilute phase and condensate. We show that nanoscale clusters within condensates are more hydrophobic than regions outside the clusters, and regions within condensates that lie outside clusters are more hydrophobic than coexisting dilute phases. Our findings provide a structural and dynamical basis for the viscoelasticity of condensates.

Source: Nature Physics

DOI: 10.1038/s41567-025-02827-7

Authors: Tingting Wu, Matthew R. King, Yuanxin Qiu, Mina Farag, Rohit V. Pappu, Matthew D. Lew

Institution: Washington University in St. Louis

Language: English

Topic: RNA Research and Splicing

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $12,690