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Decoding biomolecular condensate dynamics: an energy landscape approach

Fig 2

Schematic description and simulation snapshots of the sequence-specific spatial arrangement of residues.

The variations of i) periodically distributed sticker-spacer motifs , , and , and ii) randomly distributed sticker-spacer motifs along the chain backbone , , and are shown in (A). Conformations of the FELaS chain in very dilute solutions are depicted in (B). The interaction strengths between distinct stickers are illustrated in the pairwise interaction matrix in (C), it depicts the red motif exhibiting an interaction energy of ε = 1, representing the highest sticker strengths. In contrast, a blue motif denotes spacers with the lowest interaction energy. (D) As the periodicity of the sticky region along the chain increases, intermediate sticker strengths are introduced, conserving total energy along the chain. Simulation snapshots of the bulk system of chains with periodic and randomly distributed stickers while fixing all other parameters. A membrane-shaped layer forms for , a cluster domain for , and a larger sticky cluster for . The structural architecture transitions into a homogeneous condensed phase for randomly distributed , , and .

doi: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pcbi.1012826.g002