A significant part of cellular behavior is influenced by the activities of biomolecular condensates: molecular components that cluster and disperse as necessary. These condensates continually alter their phase, sometimes transforming into solid forms, at other times resembling droplets of oil in vinegar, and various other phases in between. The recent investigation into the electrochemical characteristics of these adaptable molecules has become a concentration for researchers at Washington University in St. Louis.

In a study published in Nature Chemistry, Yifan Dai, an assistant professor of biomedical engineering at the McKelvey School of Engineering, elucidates the principles governing the intracellular electrochemical characteristics that influence movement and chemical processes within the cell and how such properties may impact cellular functions as a condensate matures. This research could aid in the innovation of therapies for conditions like ALS or cancer.

Extracellular movement, or the transfer of ions through cell membrane channels, is thoroughly examined; however, much remains unknown about the same electrochemical dynamics occurring within the cell.

“Throughout the last century, great strides have been made in understanding the electrochemical impacts caused by disturbances in extracellular environments. Nevertheless, in the intracellular domain, our knowledge remains limited,” stated Dai.

This endeavor represents one of the initial steps towards formulating those principles, where Dai and associates from Stanford University, including Guosong Hong and Richard N. Zare, illustrate that the process of condensation and the non-equilibrium dynamics post-condensation effectively regulate the electrochemical behavior of the environments.

Explore the complete story on the McKelvey Engineering website.

The article Uncovering the electrochemistry of condensates was first published on The Source.