Biomolecular condensates undergo a generic shear-mediated liquid-to-solid transition.

ABSTRACT: Membrane-less organelles resulting from liquid-liquid phase separation of biopolymers into intracellular condensates control essential biological functions, including messenger RNA processing, cell signalling and embryogenesis^1-4. It has recently been discovered that several such protein condensates can undergo a further irreversible phase transition, forming solid nanoscale aggregates associated with neurodegenerative disease^5-7. While the irreversible gelation of protein condensates is generally related to malfunction and disease, one case where the liquid-to-solid transition of protein condensates is functional, however, is that of silk spinning^8,9. The formation of silk fibrils is largely driven by shear, yet it is not known what factors control the pat

SUBMITTER: Shen Y 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7116851 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature