Self-programmed enzyme phase separation and multiphase coacervate droplet organization.

ABSTRACT: Membraneless organelles are phase-separated droplets that are dynamically assembled and dissolved in response to biochemical reactions in cells. Complex coacervate droplets produced by associative liquid-liquid phase separation offer a promising approach to mimic such dynamic compartmentalization. Here, we present a model for membraneless organelles based on enzyme/polyelectrolyte complex coacervates able to induce their own condensation and dissolution. We show that glucose oxidase forms coacervate droplets with a cationic polysaccharide on a narrow pH range, so that enzyme-driven monotonic pH changes regulate the emergence, growth, decay and dissolution of the droplets depending on the substrate concentration. Significantly, we demonstrate that time-programmed coacervate assembly and dis

SUBMITTER: Karoui H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8179374 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature