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Morphology and Dynamics of Coexisting Phases in Coacervate Solely Controlled by Crowded Environment
Qingwen Bai1, Xu Chen1, Jiaxin Chen1
1Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Department of Polymer Science and Engineering and the Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of the Ministry of Education, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China.
Abstract:
The membraneless organelles (MLOs) play a key role in the cell, yet it is unclear what controls the morphology and dynamics of MLOs in crowded cell medium. Using a biphasic coacervate droplet as a model of MLO, we online monitored the liquid-liquid phase separation process in crowded medium provided by poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) or dextran. In PEO solution, which has an affinity with the inner phase, the spherical droplets evolve into clusters, networks, and completely phase inverted spheres in sequence with increasing PEO concentration, while in dextran solution, which has an affinity with the outer phase, the coacervates maintain the morphology but vary in phase ratio. Flower-like and even Janus structures are formed in the mixed PEO/dextran medium. Our work demonstrates that MLOs could be controlled solely by the crowded cell medium.
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