Mechanical Frustration of Phase Separation in the Cell Nucleus by Chromatin
Yaojun Zhang, Daniel S.W. Lee, Yigal Meir, Clifford P. Brangwynne, Ned S. Wingreen
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.
Topics & Concepts
Coalescence (physics)ChromatinNucleusFrustrationPhysicsPhase (matter)Cell nucleusBiophysicsChemical physicsBiologyQuantum mechanicsCell biologyCondensed matter physicsDNAAstrobiologyGeneticsRNA Research and SplicingGenomics and Chromatin DynamicsRNA and protein synthesis mechanisms