Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 31, 2026
08:12
Depolymerizable Olefinic Polymers Based on Fused-Ring Cyclooctene Monomers
Published on: December 16, 2022
3.9K
Transient pH changes drive vacuole formation in enzyme-polymer condensates
Nisha Modi1, Raghavendra Nimiwal1, Jane Liao1
1Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY USA.
Nature Chemical Engineering
|January 30, 2026
Summary
Cellular vacuoles form within biomolecular condensates when pH rapidly decreases. This pH-induced vacuole formation is a non-equilibrium process, offering insights into cellular organization.
Area of Science:
- Cell Biology
- Biophysics
- Biochemistry
Background:
- Membraneless organelles, or biomolecular condensates, are crucial for cellular functions.
- Their complex morphologies change with biological stimuli, requiring in vitro models for study.
- Understanding condensate formation mechanisms is key to cellular regulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate vacuole formation within condensates induced by pH changes.
- To elucidate the physical mechanisms driving vacuole development in associative condensates.
- To develop a physics-based model for condensate responses to rapid environmental shifts.
Main Methods:
- Utilized an in vitro condensate model to observe vacuole formation.
- Manipulated pH change rates and droplet sizes to study their effects.
- Developed and validated a qualitative physics-based model for phase separation dynamics.
Main Results:
- Rapid pH decrease and larger droplet sizes promote vacuole formation.
- Vacuole formation is a non-equilibrium process driven by diffusion-limited component exchange.
- The physics-based model accurately predicted experimental observations of spinodal decomposition.
Conclusions:
- Rapid pH changes can trigger vacuole formation in associative condensates via phase boundary shifts.
- This study reveals a novel mechanism for vacuole formation in cellular condensates.
- Provides insights into the dynamic regulation of multiphase condensates in vivo.
Related Concept Videos
02:34Polymers
40.8K
The word polymer is derived from the Greek words “poly” which means “many” and “mer” which means “parts”. Polymers are long chains of molecules composed of repeating units of smaller molecules, known as monomers. They either occur naturally, such as DNA and proteins, or can be constructed synthetically, like plastics. They have varied structural characteristics, such as linear chains, branched chains, or complex networks, that contribute to the...
40.8K
02:34Polymers
23.3K
23.3K
01:10C–C Bond Formation: Aldol Condensation Overview
16.3K
Aldol condensation is an important route in synthetic organic chemistry used to generate a new carbon–carbon bond under basic or acidic conditions. The aldol condensation reaction presented in Figure 1 constitutes an aldol addition reaction followed by the dehydration process.
16.3K
02:34Enzymes
94.7K
Inside living organisms, enzymes act as catalysts for many biochemical reactions involved in cellular metabolism. The role of enzymes is to reduce the activation energies of biochemical reactions by forming complexes with its substrates. The lowering of activation energies favor an increase in the rates of biochemical reactions.
Enzyme deficiencies can often translate into life-threatening diseases. For example, a genetic abnormality resulting in the deficiency of the enzyme G6PD...
Enzyme deficiencies can often translate into life-threatening diseases. For example, a genetic abnormality resulting in the deficiency of the enzyme G6PD...
94.7K
01:33Aldol Condensation vs Claisen Condensation
7.9K
Aldol condensation is an acid or base-catalyzed condensation between aldehydes or ketones to give an α,ꞵ-unsaturated carbonyl compound. A base-promoted condensation between ester molecules to produce a ꞵ-ketoester is known as the Claisen condensation. In the presence of a base, both reactions involve deprotonation of the acidic α hydrogen to produce the corresponding enolates. The nucleophilic enolates attack their respective nonenolized carbonyl compound forming a tetrahedral...
7.9K
02:39Phase Transitions: Vaporization and Condensation
21.2K
The physical form of a substance changes on changing its temperature. For example, raising the temperature of a liquid causes the liquid to vaporize (convert into vapor). The process is called vaporization—a surface phenomenon. Vaporization occurs when the thermal motion of the molecules overcome the intermolecular forces, and the molecules (at the surface) escape into the gaseous state. When a liquid vaporizes in a closed container, gas molecules cannot escape. As these gas phase molecules...
21.2K