POS4-0485
Structural Dynamics of Adaptive Condensates during Bidirectional Phase Transitions
Topic
S4. Colloids, Interfaces, and Molecular Assemblies for Functional Soft Materials
When and Where
Sep 30, 2026
08:30 - 09:30
Room 301 (Grand Ballroom)
Session Chairs
Heesuk KIM
Jinhye BAE
Presenter(s)
Gaeun Park (GIST InnoCORE AI-Nano Convergence Institute for Early Detection of Neurodegenerative Diseases, GIST, Gwangju, Republic of Korea)
Co-Author(s)
Abstract
Biomolecular condensates are membraneless assemblies formed by liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) that organize biochemical reactions in space and time. Their functions depend not only on formation but on subsequent phase transitions; notably, aging from liquid-like to solid-like states is implicated in cellular regulation and pathological protein aggregation, yet the structural mechanisms remain poorly understood. A central challenge is to determine how molecular interactions and nanoscale structural rearrangements collectively drive changes in condensate material properties. Here, we develop adaptive condensates that undergo bidirectional transitions in response to physiological stimuli such as pH and redox state. Time-resolved optical and confocal microscopy track morphology, fusion, and remodeling, while complementary structural analyses and molecular simulations probe how intermolecular interactions reorganize the condensate interior. By correlating mesoscale dynamics with nanoscale structure, we link molecular organization, structural evolution, and emergent material properties across the condensate lifecycle.
