Through a Phase

Being in the right place at the right time often creates opportunities – even inside our cells. A meeting of molecules might cause a reaction, or movement, or total destruction. Made in a laboratory, these blobs mimic the natural crowds of molecules that come together spontaneously in many cells. A fluorescence microscope pictures a sticky protein called poly-L-lysine (artificially coloured yellow), and a cellular fuel source called adenosine triphosphate (ATP) trap strands of DNA (dark spots). Unlike our cells’ organelles, which have a membrane to keep their contents organised, these membrane-less droplets form and disband using phase separation, a bit like how droplets of oil separate in water. Differences in the DNA strands make these droplets more or less likely to form around them – which might help to understand how to manipulate phase separation, or reverse the cases where it goes awry in diseases like amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Written by John Ankers

John Ankers

Writer

A former researcher in systems biology, John is now an online biology tutor and professional coach supporting the wellbeing of scientists and NHS professionals. He's writing, too, of course.

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• Image from the Institute for Basic Science, Republic of Korea
• Institute for Basic Science, Center for Soft and Living Matter, Ulsan, Republic of Korea
• Image copyright held by the original authors
• Research published in Biophysical Journal, November 2018