Nanoscale Interfacial Organization Governs Maturation and Collapse in Passive versus Active Condensates
Lilian Zeinalvand1, Dipankar Barpuzary1, Tae Hyun Ueon2
1Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, Irvine, California 92697, United States.
Journal of the American Chemical Society
|April 24, 2026
Summary
Peptide coacervates, models for early cell structures, show how nanoscale changes drive their behavior. Interface stability determines if these protocell models mature or collapse.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Origin of Life Research
- Soft Matter Physics
Background:
- Peptide-based coacervates serve as model systems for membraneless organelles and protocells.
- Understanding intracellular organization and the origins of life necessitates knowledge of coacervate nanoscale structure and dynamics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of nanoscale reorganization in the distinct behaviors of passive and active peptide condensates.
- To elucidate the mechanisms governing condensate maturation and collapse.
Main Methods:
- In situ liquid and cryogenic electron microscopy
- Optical imaging
- Computational modeling
Main Results:
- Passive droplets form metastable multiphase intermediates with membrane-like interfaces that stabilize and promote ordering.
- Active driving forces destabilize these interfaces, triggering spontaneous bursting.
- Simulations reveal bursting occurs when interior chemical conversion outpaces membrane deactivation.
Conclusions:
- Nanoscale interfacial structure and stability are key determinants of peptide condensate maturation and collapse.
- These findings offer a framework for designing programmable protocells.
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