Theory of Wetting Dynamics with Surface Binding

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Zhao, Xueping, Liese, Susanne, Honigmann, Alf, Jülicher, Frank, Weber, Christoph A.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2024
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_version_ 1866909301853913088
author Zhao, Xueping
Liese, Susanne
Honigmann, Alf
Jülicher, Frank
Weber, Christoph A.
author_facet Zhao, Xueping
Liese, Susanne
Honigmann, Alf
Jülicher, Frank
Weber, Christoph A.
contents Biomolecules, such as proteins and RNAs, can phase separate in the cytoplasm of cells to form biomolecular condensates. Such condensates are liquid-like droplets that can wet biological surfaces such as membranes. Many molecules that participate in phase separation can also reversibly bind to membrane surfaces. When a droplet wets a surface, molecules can diffuse inside and outside of the droplet or in the bound state on the surface. How the interplay between surface binding, diffusion in surface and bulk affects the wetting kinetics is not well understood. Here, we derive the governing equations using non-equilibrium thermodynamics by relating the thermodynamic fluxes and forces at the surface coupled to the bulk. We study the spreading dynamics in the presence of surface binding and find that binding speeds up wetting by nucleating a droplet inside the surface. Our results suggest that the wetting dynamics of droplets can be regulated by two-dimensional surface droplets in the surface-bound layer through changing the binding affinity to the surfaces. These findings are relevant both to engineering life-like systems with condensates and vesicles, and biomolecular condensates in living cells.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2402_10405
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Theory of Wetting Dynamics with Surface Binding
Zhao, Xueping
Liese, Susanne
Honigmann, Alf
Jülicher, Frank
Weber, Christoph A.
Soft Condensed Matter
Biological Physics
Biomolecules, such as proteins and RNAs, can phase separate in the cytoplasm of cells to form biomolecular condensates. Such condensates are liquid-like droplets that can wet biological surfaces such as membranes. Many molecules that participate in phase separation can also reversibly bind to membrane surfaces. When a droplet wets a surface, molecules can diffuse inside and outside of the droplet or in the bound state on the surface. How the interplay between surface binding, diffusion in surface and bulk affects the wetting kinetics is not well understood. Here, we derive the governing equations using non-equilibrium thermodynamics by relating the thermodynamic fluxes and forces at the surface coupled to the bulk. We study the spreading dynamics in the presence of surface binding and find that binding speeds up wetting by nucleating a droplet inside the surface. Our results suggest that the wetting dynamics of droplets can be regulated by two-dimensional surface droplets in the surface-bound layer through changing the binding affinity to the surfaces. These findings are relevant both to engineering life-like systems with condensates and vesicles, and biomolecular condensates in living cells.
title Theory of Wetting Dynamics with Surface Binding
topic Soft Condensed Matter
Biological Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2402.10405