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Mina Farag et al.
Summary: This article investigates the molecular and mesoscale structural descriptions of biomolecular condensates formed by intrinsically disordered prion-like low complexity domains (PLCDs). The study finds that the molecules within the condensates have inhomogeneous spatial organizations and possess specific structural features at the interface, which may be relevant to their biochemical activity.
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Summary: Phase separation is an important concept for spatial organization in biological cells, but little is known about the phases formed in systems with many interacting components. Researchers have developed a numerical method based on physical relaxation dynamics to study coexisting phases in such systems. By optimizing interactions between components, similar to how proteins' interactions might have evolved, they found that these evolved interactions robustly lead to a defined number of phases and provide versatile control of phase behavior.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
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Review
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Summary: This feature article provides an overview of utilizing coacervates as protocells to achieve growth, replication, and division, and discusses the challenges involved. Coacervates are promising candidates for protocells as they naturally concentrate the chemical building blocks required for life and allow for selective enhancement or suppression of chemical reactions. The goal is to design chemical networks within coacervates that can lead to sustained growth, selective replication, and controlled division, ultimately undergoing evolution through natural selection to adapt and acquire new functions.
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Summary: This study demonstrates that coacervate droplets promote higher concentrations of reactants and products compared to bulk solution, due to preferential partitioning and higher reaction equilibrium constant in the droplets. A reaction-diffusion model reveals how competing reaction and partitioning equilibria govern the spatial distribution of products inside coacervate droplets. These results offer insights into how biomolecular condensates stabilize labile reaction products and promote molecular complexity through multistep reaction pathways involving unstable intermediates.
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Summary: Liquid-liquid phase separation is crucial in creating cellular compartments and protocells, and the design of short peptide synthons for phase separation is significant. These synthons can concentrate biomolecules and catalyze anabolic reactions, showing potential for new coacervate-based protocells.
Review
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Summary: Biomolecular condensates, formed through liquid-liquid phase separation in a tightly regulated manner, have fundamental roles in cellular organization and physiology. Recent studies provide insights into how cellular stress, ageing-related loss of homeostasis, and a decline in protein quality control may contribute to the formation of aberrant, disease-causing condensates.
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