The physics of protein condensates

Physics World reports on research from Washington University investigating how intrinsically disordered proteins—flexible molecules essential to cellular processes—undergo phase separation to form compartments called condensates. Using computer simulations, researchers discovered three distinct regimes in this process: isolated proteins, then clusters, and finally system-spanning networks near a critical transition point. The work revealed that condensates behave as interconnected protein networks and exposed flaws in commonly used methods for measuring solvent quality. Understanding how these condensates regulate gene expression and stress responses could help illuminate how their malfunction contributes to disease.

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