Polymer Stiffness Regulates Multivalent Binding and Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation

Reentrant condensation, liquid–liquid phase separation and crystallization in protein solutions induced by multivalent metal ions1

We briefly summarize the recent progress in tuning protein interactions as well as phase behavior in protein solutions using multivalent metal ions. We focus on the influence of control parameters and the mechanism of reentrant condensation, the metastable liquid–liquid phase separation and classical vs. nonclassical pathways of protein crystallization.

Crystal templating through liquid-liquid phase separation.

Controlled induction of crystal nucleation is a highly desirable but elusive goal. Attempts to speed up crystallization, such as high super saturation or working near a liquid-liquid critical point, always led to irregular and uncontrollable crystal growth. Here, we show that under highly nonequilibrium conditions of spinodal decomposition, water crystals grow as thin wires in a template-less f...

Liquid-liquid phase separation in biology.

Cells organize many of their biochemical reactions in non-membrane compartments. Recent evidence has shown that many of these compartments are liquids that form by phase separation from the cytoplasm. Here we discuss the basic physical concepts necessary to understand the consequences of liquid-like states for biological functions.

Polymerization-induced phase separation in a liquid-crystal-polymer mixture.

Phase separation dynamics of a polymer dispersed liquid crystal

Phase separation in a polymer dispersed liquid crystal (PDLC), consisting of a main chain liquid crystal (E7) and polymethyl methacryhte (PMMA), was studied by means of light scattering and optical microscopy. The PMMAm mixture exhibits an upper critical solution temperature (UCST), overlapping with a nematic-isotropic transition of the E7 liquid crystal. Several temperature quenches were under...