Dresden 2026 – scientific programme
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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik
BP 15: Computational Biophysics III
BP 15.1: Talk
Wednesday, March 11, 2026, 09:30–09:45, BAR/SCHÖ
Local chain stiffening regulates non-equilibrium maturation and clustering in biomolecular condensates — •Subhadip Biswas1 and Davit A Potoyan2 — 1Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA — 2Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
Biomolecular condensates formed through liquid-liquid phase separation display complex structural and dynamical features that are essential for cellular organization, signaling, and aging. Using coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations based on a polymer model with tunable local semiflexibility and sticker stickiness, we systematically examine how angular rigidity modulates aging and clustering within condensates. We investigate four regimes involving coupled variations of sticker/spacer stiffness and interaction strength. By quantifying structural heterogeneity, orientational ordering, and rheological responses, including oscillatory shear, Green-Kubo viscosity, and uniaxial deformation, we uncover distinct non-equilibrium behaviors and maturation pathways that emerge from local chain stiffening. These results highlight angular rigidity as a key regulator of condensate stability and internal organization, with implications for understanding condensate aging in cells and for designing programmable biomaterials.
Keywords: Biomolecular condensate; Aging; Fibrillar growth; Polymer Physics; Nonequilibrium