Berlin 2024 – scientific programme
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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik
BP 21: Poster IIIb
BP 21.9: Poster
Wednesday, March 20, 2024, 11:00–14:30, Poster C
Flexible patchy particles for modelling biomolecular condensates — •Alena Taskina1,2, Simon Dannenberg1, and Stefan Klumpp1,2 — 1Georg August Universität, Göttingen, Germany — 2Max Planck School Matter to Life
Biomolecular condensates play a pivotal role in the spatial organization within cells. They form by liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), based on multivalent, non-specific interactions among proteins. The patchy particle model, comprising cores with isotropic repulsive potential and patches with attractive potential, captures the process of LLPS. In our study, we modify the current model by allowing patches to move laterally around the core. This refinement mimics the flexibility of protein domains. We investigated the phase behavior, connectivity, dynamics, and structural characteristics of the condensates. Increasing flexibility leads to a lower critical temperature, in gas-liquid coexistence curves, and thus a decreased stability of the condensate. The reason behind this decreased stability appears to be the dynamic nature of the bonds between patches, which results in fewer bonds being formed at certain temperatures. Furthermore, we observed that these more dynamic bonds contribute to an increased diffusivity of the condensates. Despite their reduced stability, condensates with more flexible patches were found to have a higher density that can be attributed to a less pronounced local ordering within the system, allowing for a more efficient packing of particles.