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Peer-reviewedCC BYPRX Life

Critical Capillary Waves of Biomolecular Condensates

  • Shunsuke F. Shimobayashi1
  • Paul J. Ackerman2
  • Tomo Kurimura1
  • Takashi Taniguchi3
  • Clifford P. Brangwynne4
4 affiliations
  1. 1Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
  2. 2Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
  3. 3Department of Chemical Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto 615-8510, Japan
  4. 4Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA and Omenn-Darling Bioengineering Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
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Abstract

Biomolecular condensates formed by phase separation are key players in cellular organization, yet their interfacial mechanics remain poorly understood. Here, we show that both synthetic and endogenous nuclear condensates exhibit critical-like interfacial behaviors near the phase boundary, including enhanced capillary fluctuations, critical slowing down, and reduced surface tension. By combining optogenetic control with sub-micron-resolution fluctuation spectroscopy, we quantitatively estimate surface tension, bending rigidity, and effective viscosity. Surface tension diminishes as the system approaches the critical composition, consistent with classical theories of phase separation. Notably, bending elasticity emerges as an unexpected feature of these nuclear liquid-like structures, suggesting the formation of structured interfacial layers that progressively weaken near criticality. Among these condensates, the nucleolus displayed exceptionally high viscosity, which may arise in part from viscoelastic coupling to the surrounding perinucleolar heterochromatin, effectively increasing the apparent viscosity in the long-time fluctuation regime. This non-invasive approach enables probing condensate mechanics in living cells and may provide a basis for diagnosing or modulating condensates in biomedical contexts.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{shimobayashi2026critical,
  title = {{Critical Capillary Waves of Biomolecular Condensates}},
  author = {Shunsuke F. Shimobayashi and Paul J. Ackerman and Tomo Kurimura and Takashi Taniguchi and Clifford P. Brangwynne},
  journal = {PRX Life},
  year = {2026},
  month = may,
  doi = {10.1103/8rgq-wymv},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1103/8rgq-wymv},
  note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Critical Capillary Waves of Biomolecular Condensates
AU  - Shunsuke F. Shimobayashi
AU  - Paul J. Ackerman
AU  - Tomo Kurimura
AU  - Takashi Taniguchi
AU  - Clifford P. Brangwynne
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/05/21
JO  - PRX Life
DO  - 10.1103/8rgq-wymv
UR  - https://doi.org/10.1103/8rgq-wymv
AB  - Biomolecular condensates formed by phase separation are key players in cellular organization, yet their interfacial mechanics remain poorly understood. Here, we show that both synthetic and endogenous nuclear condensates exhibit critical-like interfacial behaviors near the phase boundary, including enhanced capillary fluctuations, critical slowing down, and reduced surface tension. By combining optogenetic control with sub-micron-resolution fluctuation spectroscopy, we quantitatively estimate surface tension, bending rigidity, and effective viscosity. Surface tension diminishes as the system approaches the critical composition, consistent with classical theories of phase separation. Notably, bending elasticity emerges as an unexpected feature of these nuclear liquid-like structures, suggesting the formation of structured interfacial layers that progressively weaken near criticality. Among these condensates, the nucleolus displayed exceptionally high viscosity, which may arise in part from viscoelastic coupling to the surrounding perinucleolar heterochromatin, effectively increasing the apparent viscosity in the long-time fluctuation regime. This non-invasive approach enables probing condensate mechanics in living cells and may provide a basis for diagnosing or modulating condensates in biomedical contexts.
SN  - 2835-8279
ER  -