Language
English
Publication Date
2-27-2025
Journal
bioRxiv
DOI
10.1101/2025.02.26.640428
PMID
40060647
PMCID
PMC11888449
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Pre-Print
Abstract
Biomolecules associate, forming condensates that house essential biochemical processes, including ribosome biogenesis. Unraveling how condensates shape macromolecular assembly and transport requires cellular measurements of nanoscale structure. Here, we determine the organization around and between specific proteins at nanometer resolution within condensates, deploying thermodynamic principles to interpret partitioning measurements of designed protein probes. When applied to the nucleolus as a proof of principle, the data reveals considerable inhomogeneity, deviating from that expected within a liquid-like phase. The inhomogeneity can be attributed to ribosome biogenesis, with the local meshwork weakening as biogenesis progresses, facilitating transport. Beyond introducing an innovative modality for biophysical interrogation, our results suggest condensates are far from uniform, simple liquids, a property we conjecture enables regulation and proofreading.
Published Open-Access
yes
Recommended Citation
Dollinger, Christina; Potolitsyna, Evdokiia; Martin, Abigail G; et al., "Nanometer Condensate Organization in Live Cells Derived From Partitioning Measurements" (2025). Faculty, Staff and Students Publications. 8249.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/baylor_docs/8249