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Related Concept Videos

Molecular Comparison of Gases, Liquids, and Solids02:26

Molecular Comparison of Gases, Liquids, and Solids

Particles in a solid are tightly packed together (fixed shape) and often arranged in a regular pattern; in a liquid, they are close together with no regular arrangement (no fixed shape); in a gas, they are far apart with no regular arrangement (no fixed shape). Particles in a solid vibrate about fixed positions (cannot flow) and do not generally move in relation to one another; in a liquid, they move past each other (can flow) but remain in essentially constant contact; in a gas, they move...
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A pressure-composition phase diagram explicitly describes the behavior of an ideal solution of two volatile liquids under varying pressures and compositions. A pressure-composition diagram has two main curves. The bubble point curve represents the plot of pressure versus liquid mole fraction. It indicates the pressure at which the first bubble of vapor forms from the liquid phase as the system pressure decreases.The dew point curve is the pressure versus vapor mole fraction. It indicates the...
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Liquid–Solid Solutions

The process of a solid dissolving in a liquid to form a solution is governed by the solubility limit, which is the maximum amount of the solid substance, or solute, that can be dissolved in a specific volume of the liquid or solvent. As the solute dissolves, it reaches a point where no more solute can be dissolved at a given temperature - this is known as the saturation point. However, if further solute is added and it manages to dissolve, the solution becomes supersaturated. Supersaturated...
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Solid–Solid Solutions

The temperature-composition phase diagram of two solids, A and B, which are immiscible in the solid phase but form miscible liquids, shows that when the temperature is low, these two exist as separate, pure solids (A and B). As the temperature increases, they transition into a single-phase liquid solution where A and B coexist. Moving from point a1 to a2 in the phase diagram, the composition changes such that solid B begins to separate from the solution, enriching the remaining liquid with A.
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The formation of a colloidal system is exemplified by an aqueous solution containing Cl− ions is introduced to another containing Ag+ ions, resulting in the precipitation of solid AgCl as extremely tiny crystals. Instead of settling out as a filterable precipitate, these crystals remain suspended in the liquid, showcasing a colloidal system.A colloidal system involves colloidal particles within the approximate range of 1 to 1000 nm in at least one dimension, dispersed in a medium called the...

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Updated: Jun 9, 2026

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Computer Simulations Show That Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation Enhances Self-Assembly.

Layne B Frechette1, Naren Sundararajan1, Fernando Caballero1

  • 1Martin Fisher School of Physics, Brandeis University, Waltham, Massachusetts 02453, United States.

ACS Nano
|August 9, 2025
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Biomolecular condensates enhance virus capsid self-assembly by improving rates and yields. Simulations reveal condensates control assembly numbers and identify factors that can suppress yields.

Keywords:
biomolecular condensatescomputer simulationsliquid−liquid phase separationmolecular dynamicsself-assemblyvirus capsids

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Area of Science:

  • Biophysics
  • Molecular Biology
  • Computational Biology

Background:

  • Biomolecular condensates, formed via liquid-liquid phase separation, are crucial for cellular functions and pathogen replication.
  • Viruses utilize condensates for compartmentalizing capsid assembly and genome packaging within host cells.
  • The physical principles governing condensate-mediated self-assembly are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of biomolecular condensates on the self-assembly of icosahedral capsids.
  • To explore the physical principles controlling condensate-mediated assembly using computational models.
  • To determine how condensates influence assembly efficiency and robustness.

Main Methods:

  • Coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations were employed.
  • Capsid subunits were modeled using shape-based representations.
  • Condensates were modeled implicitly to isolate phase separation effects.

Main Results:

  • Condensates significantly enhance self-assembly rates, yields, and robustness.
  • Excluded volume effects within condensates allow control over the number of assembled capsids.
  • Aberrant, long-lived assembly intermediates were identified as a factor that can suppress yields.

Conclusions:

  • Biomolecular condensates can effectively promote and regulate biological self-assembly processes.
  • Computational modeling provides insights into controlling self-assembly via phase separation.
  • Findings may inform the engineering of self-assembly systems using condensates.