Mechanical Frustration of Phase Separation in the Cell Nucleus by Chromatin.

Publication Year
2021

Type

Journal Article
Abstract

Liquid-liquid phase separation is a fundamental mechanism underlying subcellular organization. Motivated by the striking observation that optogenetically generated droplets in the nucleus display suppressed coarsening dynamics, we study the impact of chromatin mechanics on droplet phase separation. We combine theory and simulation to show that cross-linked chromatin can mechanically suppress droplets' coalescence and ripening, as well as quantitatively control their number, size, and placement. Our results highlight the role of the subcellular mechanical environment on condensate regulation.

Journal
Phys Rev Lett
Volume
126
Issue
25
Pages
258102
Date Published
2021 Jun 25
ISSN Number
1079-7114
Alternate Journal
Phys Rev Lett
PMCID
PMC8604804
PMID
34241518