Rheology and Viscoelasticity of Proteins and Nucleic Acids Condensates

TL;DR

This paper reviews the current understanding of the material and rheological properties of protein and nucleic acid condensates, emphasizing their viscoelastic behaviors and biological significance.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of techniques to measure viscoelasticity and discusses future interdisciplinary research directions in the field.

Findings

Condensates exhibit both viscous and elastic properties.

Viscoelasticity of condensates has biological implications.

Various techniques can quantify condensate rheology.

Abstract

Phase separation is as familiar as watching vinegar separating from oil in vinegrette. The observation that phase separation of proteins and nucleic acids is widespread in living cells has opened an entire field of research into the biological significance and the biophysical mechanisms of phase separation and protein condensation in biology. Recent evidence indicate that certain proteins and nucleic acids condensates are not simple liquids and instead display both viscous and elastic behaviours, which in turn may have biological significance. The aim of this perspective is to review the state-of-the-art of this quickly emerging field focusing on the material and rheological properties of protein condensates. Finally, we discuss the different techniques that can be employed to quantify the viscoelasticity of condensates and highlight potential future directions and opportunities for interdisciplinary cross-talk between chemists, physicists and biologists.