Skip to content
DraconiticResearch
Search Sources API
197,785 studies31 sourcesUpdated 22 min ago
Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC-ND 4.0Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)

HS‐AFM Reveals Hierarchical RNA Folding Driving Condensate Assembly and Material States

  • S. M. Neaz Mahmud1
  • Kenichi Umeda2
  • Tamoghna Das2
  • Nadia Shoukat1
  • Noriyuki Kodera2
  • Hanae Sato2
  1. 1Division of Nano Life Science Graduate School of Frontier Science Initiative Kanazawa University Kanazawa Ishikawa Japan
  2. 2WPI Nano Life Science Institute (NanoLSI) Kanazawa University Kanazawa Ishikawa Japan
Read full textDOICite

Abstract

Biomolecular condensation is a fundamental mechanism for organizing intracellular components without membranes. While RNA self‐assembly has been implicated in condensate formation, it remains unclear how RNA condensation translates into distinct physical behaviors at the nanoscale. Utilizing high‐speed atomic force microscopy (HS‐AFM), this study characterizes RNA condensation dynamics with nanoscale resolution. Imaging captured the transition from individual RNA folding to intermolecular clustering, ultimately leading to progressive condensate assembly. Beyond morphological description, condensate behavior was further examined through fusion dynamics and mechanical response. Post‐fusion shape evolution quantified how merged condensates recover circular morphology over time, providing a dynamic readout of material behavior. Nanomechanical properties were independently assessed through force‐curve measurements. Together, these analyses consistently distinguish the liquid‐like poly A condensates from solid‐like condensates of total RNA. Taking together, these findings directly link RNA folding dynamics, condensate assembly, and emergent physical properties, establishing a quantitative framework for defining condensate material states at the nanoscale.

Related

  1. The interaction between NC(p7)1-55 and p6 may regulate interactions with nucleic acids during assembly through modulation of Gag folding.
    V. LARUE, S. Nonin-Lecomte
    bioRxivPreprintAll rights reservedFull textBiophysicsStructural biologybioRxivHAL
  2. Amyloid stability and condensate material properties independently govern the hnRNPA2 condensate to fibril transition
    D. J. Kieffer, J. H. Hwang, M. K. Rosen +1
    bioRxivPreprintCC BY-NC-NDFull textBiophysicsbioRxiv
  3. Grb2 phosphorylation antagonizes EGFR-driven ras activation by interfering with condensate assembly
    Henry T Phan, Chun-Wei Lin, Brittany L Stinger +4
    PLOS OnePeer-reviewedCC BYFull textEnzymology & metabolismCell biologyPLOSEurope PMC
  4. Dna2-intrinsic condensation regulates DNA end resection and reveals evolutionary redistribution of condensate grammar
    C. A. Jordan, J. Lehar, B. J. Payliss +9
    bioRxivPreprintCC BY-NC-NDFull textMolecular biology & gene regulationbioRxiv
  5. Mapping interactions between disordered regions reveals promiscuity in biomolecular condensate formation
    Atar Gilat, Alexander I. Alexandrov, Benjamin Dubreuil +1
    Nature CommunicationsPeer-reviewedCC BY-NC-ND10 citedMolecular biology & gene regulationOpenAlex

Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{mahmud2026hsafm,
  title = {{HS‐AFM Reveals Hierarchical RNA Folding Driving Condensate Assembly and Material States}},
  author = {S. M. Neaz Mahmud and Kenichi Umeda and Tamoghna Das and Nadia Shoukat and Noriyuki Kodera and Hanae Sato},
  journal = {Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)},
  year = {2026},
  month = aug,
  doi = {10.1002/smll.75409},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.75409},
  note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - HS‐AFM Reveals Hierarchical RNA Folding Driving Condensate Assembly and Material States
AU  - S. M. Neaz Mahmud
AU  - Kenichi Umeda
AU  - Tamoghna Das
AU  - Nadia Shoukat
AU  - Noriyuki Kodera
AU  - Hanae Sato
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/08/23
JO  - Small (Weinheim an Der Bergstrasse, Germany)
DO  - 10.1002/smll.75409
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.75409
AB  - Biomolecular condensation is a fundamental mechanism for organizing intracellular components without membranes. While RNA self‐assembly has been implicated in condensate formation, it remains unclear how RNA condensation translates into distinct physical behaviors at the nanoscale. Utilizing high‐speed atomic force microscopy (HS‐AFM), this study characterizes RNA condensation dynamics with nanoscale resolution. Imaging captured the transition from individual RNA folding to intermolecular clustering, ultimately leading to progressive condensate assembly. Beyond morphological description, condensate behavior was further examined through fusion dynamics and mechanical response. Post‐fusion shape evolution quantified how merged condensates recover circular morphology over time, providing a dynamic readout of material behavior. Nanomechanical properties were independently assessed through force‐curve measurements. Together, these analyses consistently distinguish the liquid‐like poly A condensates from solid‐like condensates of total RNA. Taking together, these findings directly link RNA folding dynamics, condensate assembly, and emergent physical properties, establishing a quantitative framework for defining condensate material states at the nanoscale.
SN  - 1613-6810
SN  - 1613-6829
ER  -