J. R. Espinosa

Decoding Phase Separation of Prion-Like Domains through Data-Driven Scaling Laws

The paper uses a coarse-grained model to analyze how amino acid mutations affect the stability of prion-like domains across multiple proteins, revealing scaling laws that predict condensate behavior.

Location and concentration of aromatic-rich segments dictates the percolating inter-molecular network and viscoelastic properties of ageing condensates

This study shows that the location and number of LARKS in proteins affect the viscoelastic properties and aging of biomolecular condensates, with multiple LARKS leading to gel-like behavior.

Time-dependent material properties of ageing biomolecular condensates from different viscoelasticity measurements in molecular dynamics simulations

This study compares computational methods to measure viscoelasticity of biomolecular condensates in simulations, finding that SSRMI and OS techniques outperform BT in efficiency and accuracy.

Surfactants or scaffolds? RNAs of different lengths exhibit heterogeneous distributions and play diverse roles in RNA-protein condensates

This study uses simulations to show how RNA length and concentration affect RNA-protein condensate stability through distinct mechanisms involving surfactant-like and core-saturation roles of different RNA lengths.

Solid/liquid coexistence during aging of FUS condensates

The paper shows that FUS condensates during aging exhibit solid/liquid coexistence, with the transition initiated at the interface between dense and dilute phases.

Protein structural transitions critically transform the network connectivity and viscoelasticity of RNA-binding protein condensates but RNA can prevent it

The paper shows that inter-protein β-sheets increase RNA-binding protein condensate viscosity and alter network connectivity, leading to gelation, but RNA can slow this process.

The chromatin regulator HMGA1a undergoes phase separation in the nucleus

This study shows HMGA1a undergoes phase separation in the nucleus, driven by protein-DNA interactions and its disordered C-terminal tail.

Kinetic interplay between droplet maturation and coalescence modulates shape of aged protein condensates

This study develops a coarse-grained model to investigate how changes in protein interaction strength during condensate maturation affect their shape and solid-like properties over time.

RNA length has a non-trivial effect in the stability of biomolecular condensates formed by RNA-binding proteins

This study investigates how RNA length affects the stability of RNA-binding protein condensates through computational simulations of homotypic and heterotypic interactions.

Size conservation emerges spontaneously in biomolecular condensates formed by scaffolds and surfactant clients

The paper shows that size-conserved biomolecular condensates can form spontaneously through phase separation of scaffolds and surfactant clients, depending on their concentration ratios.

Dual RNA modulation of protein mobility and stability within phase-separated condensates

This study uses a coarse-grained model to show RNA modulates phase-separated condensate stability and transport properties through dual mechanisms depending on RNA concentration and length.

Reentrant liquid condensate phase of proteins is stabilized by hydrophobic and non-ionic interactions

The paper shows that proteins forming liquid condensates can reenter a phase-separated state at high salt concentrations due to hydrophobic and non-ionic interactions, distinct from low-salt electrostatic-driven phase separation.

Surface electrostatics govern the emulsion stability of biomolecular condensates

The paper investigates how surface electrostatics influence the stability of biomolecular condensates by comparing their fusion propensity using zeta potential measurements and molecular modeling.

Oligonucleotides can act as superscaffolds that enhance liquid-liquid phase separation of intracellular mixtures

This study shows oligonucleotides enhance liquid-liquid phase separation by acting as superscaffolds, increasing molecular connectivity and reducing barriers for phase separation in protein-oligonucleotide mixtures.