Dresden 2026 – scientific programme

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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik

BP 29: Focus Session: Theoretical Modeling and Simulation of Biomolecular Condensates I (joint session CPP/BP)

BP 29.2: Talk

Thursday, March 12, 2026, 10:00–10:15, ZEU/0260

Elastic regulation of biomolecular condensates — •Oliver Paulin and David Zwicker — Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization, Am Faßberg 17, 37077 Göttingen, Germany

In recent years, biomolecular condensates have emerged as a vital component of sub-cellular organisation. Here, we discuss the role that elastic interactions can play in regulating condensate size, count, and mechanical properties. First, we focus on the impact of `external' elasticity that arises from a confining mesh such as the cytoskeleton. We find that the additional energetic cost of network deformations induced by condensate growth limits condensate size, and can even suppress condensate formation entirely. Additionally, when condensate size is comparable to characteristic heterogeneities of the network, non-local interactions may arrest thermodynamic coarsening and drive the formation of stable patterned states with an energetically selected length scale. Second, we study how `internal' elasticity, resulting from the intrinsic viscoelasticity of condensate material, can inhibit condensate growth, but also impart condensates with mechanical strength. For the case in which condensate growth is driven by active incorporation of new material, we demonstrate how a delicate balance of material properties provides condensates with solid-like mechanical strength, without compromising their liquid-like ability to form and grow rapidly. For both examples, we construct dynamic continuum models that couple phase separation with elastic deformation, analysing the key parameters that control condensate form, and identifying how cells can use elasticity to fine-tune condensate behaviour to fulfil a specific function.

Keywords: biomolecular condensates; phase separation; elasticity