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Updated: Aug 5, 2026

Using Solution NMR to Characterize Biomolecular Condensates Under Biphasic Conditions
Published on: April 17, 2026
Solid-state NMR methods to investigate biomolecular condensates, protein phase transition, phase separation and
Seamoon Deb1, Erick J Dufourc1, Birgit Habenstein1
1Univ. Bordeaux, CNRS, Bordeaux INP, CBMN, UMR 5248, IECB, F-33600 Pessac, France.
None:
The formation of biomolecular condensates has been linked to a broad range of essential cellular processes, including immune signaling cascades, mRNA transport, and autophagy. Conversely, phase-separated condensates have also been associated with aberrant protein misfolding and subsequent aggregation in neurodegenerative disease-related processes. Protein phase separation and phase transitions involve the formation of heterogeneous and dynamic assemblies that can evolve into gel-like or semi-crystalline states, which are challenging to characterize using high-resolution structural biology techniques. Solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy now offers a broad arsenal of methods to probe the structural and dynamic features of viscous condensates, elastic solids, coacervates and rigid protein assemblies. This review provides an overview of solid-state NMR approaches that are readily applicable and discusses potential methodological developments to investigate protein condensates and coacervates as well as to study protein phase separation and phase transitions.
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