Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Induced Electric Dipoles01:28

Induced Electric Dipoles

4.2K
A permanent electric dipole orients itself along an external electric field. This rotation can be quantified by defining the potential energy because the external torque does work in rotating it. Then, the potential energy is minimum at the parallel configuration and maximum at the antiparallel configuration. While the former is a stable equilibrium, the latter is an unstable equilibrium.
Since the absolute value of potential energy holds no physical meaning, its zero value can be chosen as per...
4.2K
Electrostatic Boundary Conditions01:16

Electrostatic Boundary Conditions

460
Consider an external electric field propagating through a homogeneous medium. When the electric field crosses the surface boundary of the medium, it undergoes a discontinuity. The electric field can be resolved into normal and tangential components. The amount by which the field changes at any boundary is given by the difference between the field components above and below the surface boundary.
The surface integral of an electric field is given by Gauss's law in integral form and is related to...
460
Potential Due to a Polarized Object01:29

Potential Due to a Polarized Object

389
A neutral atom consists of a positively charged nucleus surrounded by a negatively charged electron cloud. When placed in an external electric field, the external electric force pulls the electrons and nucleus apart, opposite to the intrinsic attraction between the nucleus and the electrons. The opposing forces balance each other with a slight shift between the center of masses of the nucleus and the electron cloud, resulting in a polarized atom. On the other hand, a few molecules, like water,...
389
Calculations of Electric Potential II01:27

Calculations of Electric Potential II

1.7K
An electric dipole is a system of two equal but opposite charges, separated by a fixed distance. This system is used to model many real-world systems, including atomic and molecular interactions. One of these systems is the water molecule, but only under certain circumstances. These circumstances are met inside a microwave oven, where electric fields with alternating directions make the water molecules change orientation. This vibration is equivalent to heat at the molecular level.
Consider a...
1.7K
Electric Dipoles and Dipole Moment01:30

Electric Dipoles and Dipole Moment

5.1K
Consider two charges of equal magnitude but opposite signs. If they cannot be separated by an external electric field, the system is called a permanent dipole. For example, the water molecule is a dipole, making it a good solvent.
Theoretically, studying electric dipoles leads to understanding why the resultant electric forces around us are weak. Since electric forces are strong, remnant net charges are rare. Hence, the interaction between dipoles helps us understand electrical interactions in...
5.1K
Intermolecular Forces03:13

Intermolecular Forces

58.1K
Atoms and molecules interact through bonds (or forces): intramolecular and intermolecular. The forces are electrostatic as they arise from interactions (attractive or repulsive) between charged species (permanent, partial, or temporary charges) and exist with varying strengths between ions, polar, nonpolar, and neutral molecules. The different types of intermolecular forces are ion–dipole, dipole–dipole, hydrogen bonds, and dispersion; among these, dipole–dipole, hydrogen...
58.1K

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Synthetic Biomolecular Condensates: Design Principles and Applications.

Methods in molecular biology (Clifton, N.J.)·2026
Same author

Immune biomarker landscape and fusion partner-phenotype associations in thoracic and head-and-neck NUT carcinoma.

Frontiers in immunology·2026
Same author

Oppositely Charged Single Enzyme Nanogels Form Versatile Coacervates for Efficient Enzyme Cascade Catalysis.

Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)·2026
Same author

The safety and tolerability of oral TDF/FTC as pre-exposure prophylaxis among men who have sex with men in China: a prospective cohort study.

BMC infectious diseases·2026
Same author

Distinguishing near- versus off-critical phase behaviors of intrinsically disordered proteins.

Reports on progress in physics. Physical Society (Great Britain)·2026
Same author

Molecular origins of opalescence and phase separation in mAb formulations and their relation to aggregation.

Communications chemistry·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 21, 2025

Author Spotlight: Evaluation of Protein-Condensate Dynamics in Live Human Cells
06:48

Author Spotlight: Evaluation of Protein-Condensate Dynamics in Live Human Cells

Published on: January 5, 2024

3.5K

Biomolecular condensates are characterized by interphase electric potentials.

Ammon E Posey, Anne Bremer, Nadia A Erkamp

    Biorxiv : the Preprint Server for Biology
    |July 15, 2024
    PubMed
    Summary

    Biomolecular condensates exhibit asymmetric ion partitioning, creating electric potentials across phases. These potentials suggest condensates function as charged mesoscale capacitors, influencing their electrochemical activity.

    More Related Videos

    Spatial Separation of Molecular Conformers and Clusters
    10:37

    Spatial Separation of Molecular Conformers and Clusters

    Published on: January 9, 2014

    8.9K
    Author Spotlight: Developing Synthetic Cells from Programmable Amphiphilic DNA Nanostructures
    08:02

    Author Spotlight: Developing Synthetic Cells from Programmable Amphiphilic DNA Nanostructures

    Published on: May 31, 2024

    743

    Related Experiment Videos

    Last Updated: Jun 21, 2025

    Author Spotlight: Evaluation of Protein-Condensate Dynamics in Live Human Cells
    06:48

    Author Spotlight: Evaluation of Protein-Condensate Dynamics in Live Human Cells

    Published on: January 5, 2024

    3.5K
    Spatial Separation of Molecular Conformers and Clusters
    10:37

    Spatial Separation of Molecular Conformers and Clusters

    Published on: January 9, 2014

    8.9K
    Author Spotlight: Developing Synthetic Cells from Programmable Amphiphilic DNA Nanostructures
    08:02

    Author Spotlight: Developing Synthetic Cells from Programmable Amphiphilic DNA Nanostructures

    Published on: May 31, 2024

    743

    Area of Science:

    • Biochemistry
    • Biophysics
    • Cell Biology

    Background:

    • Biomolecular condensates are essential cellular structures formed by phase separation.
    • These condensates can exist as multi-phase systems with distinct dense and dilute regions.
    • Understanding the physicochemical properties of these phases is crucial for comprehending condensate function.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To investigate the partitioning of solution ions across coexisting phases within protein and RNA condensates.
    • To measure the resulting interphase electric potentials and their relationship to condensate properties.
    • To explore the implications of these potentials for condensate function as charged entities.

    Main Methods:

    • Direct measurement of cation and anion activities within coexisting phases of protein and RNA condensates.
    • Analysis of ion partitioning asymmetry based on protein sequence, condensate type, salt concentration, and ion identity.
    • Calculation of Donnan and Nernst potentials to quantify interphase electric potentials.

    Main Results:

    • Solution ions partition asymmetrically between dense and dilute phases of protein and RNA condensates.
    • Interphase potentials are generated, comparable in magnitude to membrane potentials of organelles.
    • Ion partitioning asymmetry is influenced by condensate composition and solution conditions.

    Conclusions:

    • Biomolecular condensates establish Donnan equilibria, leading to significant interphase electric potentials.
    • These potentials indicate that condensates act as mesoscale capacitors, storing charge.
    • The findings provide a framework for understanding the electrochemical activity observed at condensate interfaces.