Abstract
Liquid-liquid phase separation is a fundamental mechanism underlying subcellular organization. Motivated by the striking observation that optogenetically generated droplets in the nucleus display suppressed coarsening dynamics, we study the impact of chromatin mechanics on droplet phase separation. We combine theory and simulation to show that cross-linked chromatin can mechanically suppress droplets’ coalescence and ripening, as well as quantitatively control their number, size, and placement. Our results highlight the role of the subcellular mechanical environment on condensate regulation.
- Received 24 December 2020
- Accepted 18 May 2021
DOI:https://doi-org.ezproxy.bgu.ac.il/10.1103/PhysRevLett.126.258102
© 2021 American Physical Society
Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)
synopsis
Chromatin May Control How Droplets Form and Grow in Cells
Published 24 June 2021
In cell nuclei, molecular structures called chromatin may play a role in the formation of droplets that are crucial for many cellular functions.
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