Liquid spherical shells are a non-equilibrium steady state of active droplets
Abstract Liquid-liquid phase separation yields spherical droplets that eventually coarsen to one large, stable droplet governed by the principle of minimal free energy. In chemically fueled phase separation, the formation of phase-separating molecules is coupled to a fuel-driven, non-equilibrium rea...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Nature Portfolio
2023-10-01
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| Series: | Nature Communications |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-42344-w |
| _version_ | 1797557974145695744 |
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| author | Alexander M. Bergmann Jonathan Bauermann Giacomo Bartolucci Carsten Donau Michele Stasi Anna-Lena Holtmannspötter Frank Jülicher Christoph A. Weber Job Boekhoven |
| author_facet | Alexander M. Bergmann Jonathan Bauermann Giacomo Bartolucci Carsten Donau Michele Stasi Anna-Lena Holtmannspötter Frank Jülicher Christoph A. Weber Job Boekhoven |
| author_sort | Alexander M. Bergmann |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Liquid-liquid phase separation yields spherical droplets that eventually coarsen to one large, stable droplet governed by the principle of minimal free energy. In chemically fueled phase separation, the formation of phase-separating molecules is coupled to a fuel-driven, non-equilibrium reaction cycle. It thus yields dissipative structures sustained by a continuous fuel conversion. Such dissipative structures are ubiquitous in biology but are poorly understood as they are governed by non-equilibrium thermodynamics. Here, we bridge the gap between passive, close-to-equilibrium, and active, dissipative structures with chemically fueled phase separation. We observe that spherical, active droplets can undergo a morphological transition into a liquid, spherical shell. We demonstrate that the mechanism is related to gradients of short-lived droplet material. We characterize how far out of equilibrium the spherical shell state is and the chemical power necessary to sustain it. Our work suggests alternative avenues for assembling complex stable morphologies, which might already be exploited to form membraneless organelles by cells. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:24:48Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-dafaece742364346811d5aa54af5f4a6 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2041-1723 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T17:24:48Z |
| publishDate | 2023-10-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Nature Communications |
| spelling | doaj.art-dafaece742364346811d5aa54af5f4a62023-11-20T10:14:41ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232023-10-0114111210.1038/s41467-023-42344-wLiquid spherical shells are a non-equilibrium steady state of active dropletsAlexander M. Bergmann0Jonathan Bauermann1Giacomo Bartolucci2Carsten Donau3Michele Stasi4Anna-Lena Holtmannspötter5Frank Jülicher6Christoph A. Weber7Job Boekhoven8School of Natural Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of MunichMax Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex SystemsMax Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex SystemsSchool of Natural Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of MunichSchool of Natural Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of MunichSchool of Natural Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of MunichMax Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex SystemsFaculty of Mathematics, Natural Sciences, and Materials Engineering: Institute of Physics, University of AugsburgSchool of Natural Sciences, Department of Chemistry, Technical University of MunichAbstract Liquid-liquid phase separation yields spherical droplets that eventually coarsen to one large, stable droplet governed by the principle of minimal free energy. In chemically fueled phase separation, the formation of phase-separating molecules is coupled to a fuel-driven, non-equilibrium reaction cycle. It thus yields dissipative structures sustained by a continuous fuel conversion. Such dissipative structures are ubiquitous in biology but are poorly understood as they are governed by non-equilibrium thermodynamics. Here, we bridge the gap between passive, close-to-equilibrium, and active, dissipative structures with chemically fueled phase separation. We observe that spherical, active droplets can undergo a morphological transition into a liquid, spherical shell. We demonstrate that the mechanism is related to gradients of short-lived droplet material. We characterize how far out of equilibrium the spherical shell state is and the chemical power necessary to sustain it. Our work suggests alternative avenues for assembling complex stable morphologies, which might already be exploited to form membraneless organelles by cells.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-42344-w |
| spellingShingle | Alexander M. Bergmann Jonathan Bauermann Giacomo Bartolucci Carsten Donau Michele Stasi Anna-Lena Holtmannspötter Frank Jülicher Christoph A. Weber Job Boekhoven Liquid spherical shells are a non-equilibrium steady state of active droplets Nature Communications |
| title | Liquid spherical shells are a non-equilibrium steady state of active droplets |
| title_full | Liquid spherical shells are a non-equilibrium steady state of active droplets |
| title_fullStr | Liquid spherical shells are a non-equilibrium steady state of active droplets |
| title_full_unstemmed | Liquid spherical shells are a non-equilibrium steady state of active droplets |
| title_short | Liquid spherical shells are a non-equilibrium steady state of active droplets |
| title_sort | liquid spherical shells are a non equilibrium steady state of active droplets |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-42344-w |
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