Phase transitions or condensation of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) generate a solvent density gradient across the solution system. This gradient encodes an electric potential for system under electrochemical equilibrium. How does such feature reflect in living cells? In this talk, I will illustrate the principles of electrochemical potential equilibrium of two-phase aqueous system established by the phase separation of IDPs. I will demonstrate how this process can alter intracellular electrochemical environment, thereby affecting the cellular electrochemical equilibrium. I will illustrate the functioning mechanism of such passive environmental responses. Lastly, I will present how cellular physiology can be affected by the change of global electrochemical equilibria caused by condensation. This work illustrates a new conceptual framework to understand intracellular electrochemsitry.
References
1. Dai Y*, Wang Z-G, Zare RN. Unlocking the electrochemical functions of biomolecular condensates. Nature Chemical Biology. doi.org/10.1038/s41589-024-01717-y
2. Dai Y, Zhou Z, Yu W, Ma Y, Kim K, Rivera N, Mohammed J, Lantelme E, Hsu-Kim H, Chilkoti A, You L. Biomolecular condensates regulate cellular electrochemical equilibria. Cell. 10.1016/j.cell.2024.08.018
