A conceptual framework for understanding phase separation and addressing open questions and challenges

T Mittag, RV Pappu - Molecular cell, 2022 - cell.com
Macromolecular phase separation is being recognized for its potential importance and
relevance as a driver of spatial organization within cells. Here, we describe a framework …

Coacervate droplets for synthetic cells

Z Lin, T Beneyton, JC Baret, N Martin - Small Methods, 2023 - Wiley Online Library
The design and construction of synthetic cells–human‐made microcompartments that mimic
features of living cells–have experienced a real boom in the past decade. While many efforts …

Phase separation in transcription factor dynamics and chromatin organization

K Wagh, DA Garcia, A Upadhyaya - Current opinion in structural biology, 2021 - Elsevier
Studies over the past decade have highlighted the key role of liquid–liquid phase separation
in cellular organization and function. Dynamic compartmentalization of transcription factors …

Liquid-like VASP condensates drive actin polymerization and dynamic bundling

K Graham, A Chandrasekaran, L Wang, A Ladak… - Nature physics, 2023 - nature.com
The organisation of actin filaments into bundles is required for cellular processes such as
motility, morphogenesis and cell division. A network of actin-binding proteins, some of which …

Liquid–liquid crystalline phase separation in biomolecular solutions

TP Fraccia, G Zanchetta - Current Opinion in Colloid & Interface Science, 2021 - Elsevier
Liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) and liquid crystalline (LC) ordering are ubiquitous
phenomena in nature, in a variety of biomolecular solutions. Here, we review instances in …

[HTML][HTML] Sha** synthetic cells through cytoskeleton-condensate-membrane interactions

KA Ganar, LW Honaker, S Deshpande - Current Opinion in Colloid & …, 2021 - Elsevier
Constructing synthetic cells is fascinating both from the standpoints of understanding cellular
machinery and develo** bioinspired materials for targeted applications. The ability to …

Motor crosslinking augments elasticity in active nematics

SA Redford, J Colen, JL Shivers, S Zemsky, M Molaei… - Soft Matter, 2024 - pubs.rsc.org
In active materials, uncoordinated internal stresses lead to emergent long-range flows. An
understanding of how the behavior of active materials depends on mesoscopic …

The effect of ion shape and concentration on tunable wetting of water droplets on graphite surfaces

A Verduzco, S Meng - Physics of Fluids, 2023 - pubs.aip.org
We study the wetting behaviors of aqueous NaCl and NaNO3 electrolyte nano-droplets on
graphite surfaces by molecular dynamics simulations. Despite the same ion charge and …

Structure of nematic tactoids of hard rods

A Kuhnhold, P van der Schoot - The Journal of Chemical Physics, 2022 - pubs.aip.org
We study by means of Monte Carlo simulations the internal structure of nematic droplets or
tactoids formed by hard, rod-like particles in a gas of spherical ghost particles that act as …

[HTML][HTML] Anillin forms linear structures and facilitates furrow ingression after septin and formin depletion

M Lebedev, FY Chan, A Lochner, J Bellessem… - Cell Reports, 2023 - cell.com
During cytokinesis, a contractile ring consisting of unbranched filamentous actin (F-actin)
and myosin II constricts at the cell equator. Unbranched F-actin is generated by formin, and …