{"title":"The rheology and interfacial properties of biomolecular condensates.","authors":"Huan Wang, Zheng Shi","doi":"10.1007/s12551-025-01326-6","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Biomolecular condensates are increasingly recognized as central regulators of numerous cellular processes. The bulk rheology of condensates (e.g., viscoelasticity) balances molecular mobility with structural stability, while the interfacial properties of condensates (e.g., interfacial tension) regulate condensate growth and their interactions with other cellular structures. Here, we review the functional roles of condensate rheology and interfacial properties, as well as diseases associated with their dysregulation. By summarizing emerging methodologies and quantitative measurements of condensate viscoelasticity and interfacial tension in the literature, we highlight key regulators of condensate material properties and discuss their implications in biology.</p>","PeriodicalId":9094,"journal":{"name":"Biophysical reviews","volume":"17 3","pages":"867-891"},"PeriodicalIF":3.7000,"publicationDate":"2025-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12289542/pdf/","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Biophysical reviews","FirstCategoryId":"1085","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s12551-025-01326-6","RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":null,"ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"2025/6/1 0:00:00","PubModel":"eCollection","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"BIOPHYSICS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Biomolecular condensates are increasingly recognized as central regulators of numerous cellular processes. The bulk rheology of condensates (e.g., viscoelasticity) balances molecular mobility with structural stability, while the interfacial properties of condensates (e.g., interfacial tension) regulate condensate growth and their interactions with other cellular structures. Here, we review the functional roles of condensate rheology and interfacial properties, as well as diseases associated with their dysregulation. By summarizing emerging methodologies and quantitative measurements of condensate viscoelasticity and interfacial tension in the literature, we highlight key regulators of condensate material properties and discuss their implications in biology.
期刊介绍:
Biophysical Reviews aims to publish critical and timely reviews from key figures in the field of biophysics. The bulk of the reviews that are currently published are from invited authors, but the journal is also open for non-solicited reviews. Interested authors are encouraged to discuss the possibility of contributing a review with the Editor-in-Chief prior to submission. Through publishing reviews on biophysics, the editors of the journal hope to illustrate the great power and potential of physical techniques in the biological sciences, they aim to stimulate the discussion and promote further research and would like to educate and enthuse basic researcher scientists and students of biophysics. Biophysical Reviews covers the entire field of biophysics, generally defined as the science of describing and defining biological phenomenon using the concepts and the techniques of physics. This includes but is not limited by such areas as: - Bioinformatics - Biophysical methods and instrumentation - Medical biophysics - Biosystems - Cell biophysics and organization - Macromolecules: dynamics, structures and interactions - Single molecule biophysics - Membrane biophysics, channels and transportation