Regulation of Fused in Sarcoma Condensate Formation and Dissolution Using Butterfly-Shaped Gold Nanoparticles
Abstract
A Biomolecular condensates, formed through liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS), play a crucial role in organizing various cellular functions. Materials that can regulate condensate dynamics without genetic modification could provide new tools for controlling biomolecular organization. In this study, we explored butterfly-shaped gold nanoparticles (GNBs) as regulators of the phase behavior of maltose-binding protein-tagged fused in sarcoma (MBP–FUS), a model protein containing both folded and intrinsically disordered regions. We established a phase diagram to identify the conditions near the boundary between homogeneous and phase-separated states. Under these conditions, GNBs were found to promote the formation of spherical MBP–FUS condensates, while spherical gold nanoparticles and gold nanorods did not have a similar effect. Additionally, irradiation at 660 nm reduced both the size and abundance of the GNB-associated condensates, consistent with a photothermal response. These findings show that GNBs can influence MBP–FUS condensation near a phase boundary and suggest that nanoparticle geometry plays a significant role in this behavior. This study lays the groundwork for developing externally controlled, gene-modification-free methods for regulating biomolecular condensates.
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BibTeX
@misc{nobeyama2026regulation,
title = {{Regulation of Fused in Sarcoma Condensate Formation and Dissolution Using Butterfly-Shaped Gold Nanoparticles}},
author = {Tomohiro Nobeyama and Keiji Kitamura and Ryo Kitahara and Ganesh N Pandian},
howpublished = {ChemRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.26434/chemrxiv.15009684/v1},
url = {https://chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.26434/chemrxiv.15009684/v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Regulation of Fused in Sarcoma Condensate Formation and Dissolution Using Butterfly-Shaped Gold Nanoparticles
AU - Tomohiro Nobeyama
AU - Keiji Kitamura
AU - Ryo Kitahara
AU - Ganesh N Pandian
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/30
PB - ChemRxiv
DO - 10.26434/chemrxiv.15009684/v1
UR - https://chemrxiv.org/doi/full/10.26434/chemrxiv.15009684/v1
AB - A Biomolecular condensates, formed through liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS), play a crucial role in organizing various cellular functions. Materials that can regulate condensate dynamics without genetic modification could provide new tools for controlling biomolecular organization. In this study, we explored butterfly-shaped gold nanoparticles (GNBs) as regulators of the phase behavior of maltose-binding protein-tagged fused in sarcoma (MBP–FUS), a model protein containing both folded and intrinsically disordered regions. We established a phase diagram to identify the conditions near the boundary between homogeneous and phase-separated states. Under these conditions, GNBs were found to promote the formation of spherical MBP–FUS condensates, while spherical gold nanoparticles and gold nanorods did not have a similar effect. Additionally, irradiation at 660 nm reduced both the size and abundance of the GNB-associated condensates, consistent with a photothermal response. These findings show that GNBs can influence MBP–FUS condensation near a phase boundary and suggest that nanoparticle geometry plays a significant role in this behavior. This study lays the groundwork for developing externally controlled, gene-modification-free methods for regulating biomolecular condensates.
ER -