Separation of sticker-spacer energetics governs the coalescence of metastable condensates.

ABSTRACT: Biological condensates often emerge as a multi-droplet state and never coalesce into one large droplet within the experimental timespan. Previous work revealed that the sticker-spacer architecture of biopolymers may dynamically stabilize the multi-droplet state. Here, we simulate the condensate coalescence using metadynamics approach and reveal two distinct physical mechanisms underlying the fusion of droplets. Condensates made of sticker-spacer polymers readily undergo a kinetic arrest when stickers exhibit slow exchange while fast exchanging stickers at similar levels of saturation allow merger to equilibrium states. On the other hand, condensates composed of homopolymers fuse readily until they reach a threshold density. Increase in entropy upon inter-condensate mixing of chains drives

SUBMITTER: Chattaraj A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10592914 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature