Refractive index as an indicator for dynamic protein condensation in cell nuclei.

ABSTRACT: Protein condensation is the basis for formation of membrane-less organelles in the cell. Most famously, weak, polyvalent interactions, often including RNA, may lead to a liquid-liquid phase separation. This effect greatly enhances local concentrations and is thought to promote interactions that would remain rare in dilute solution. Synthetic systems provide a means to clarify the underlying biophysical mechanisms at play, both in vitro and in the cell via exogenous expression. In this regard, ferritin is a useful substrate, as its composition of 24 subunits with octahedral symmetry supports self-assembly by close packing in 3D. The conventional diagnostic tool for protein condensation is fluorescence imaging. In this work, we explore the use of refractive index mapping to detect states of

SUBMITTER: Marin O 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12666831 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature