Biomolecular condensate phase diagrams with a combinatorial microdroplet platform

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-35265-7
• Publication Date: 2022-12-21T11:03:00Z
• Authors: William E. Arter; Runzhang Qi; Nadia A. Erkamp; Georg Krainer; Kieran Didi; Timothy J. Welsh; Julia Acker; Jonathan Nixon-Abell; Seema Qamar; Jordina Guillén-B...; Titus M. Franzmann; David Kuster; Anthony A. Hyman; Alexander Borodavka; Peter St George-H...; Simon Alberti; Tuomas P. J. Knowles
• Keywords: Biomolecule

The assembly of biomolecules into condensates is a fundamental process underlying the organisation intracellular space and regulation many cellular functions. Mapping characterising phase behaviour essential to understand mechanisms condensate assembly, develop therapeutic strategies targeting biomolecular systems. A central concept for phase-separating systems diagram. Phase diagrams are typically built from numerous individual measurements sampling different parts parameter space. However, even when performed in microwell plate format, this slow, low throughput requires significant sample consumption. To address challenge, we present here combinatorial droplet microfluidic platform, termed PhaseScan, rapid high-resolution acquisition multidimensional diagrams. Using characterise wide range under variety conditions demonstrate that approach allows quantitative characterisation effect small molecules on transitions.