articleNature CommunicationsAug 19, 2025GOLD OA

Current practices in the study of biomolecular condensates: a community comment

SASimon AlbertiPAPaolo ArosioRBRobert B. BestSBSteven BoeynaemsDCDanfeng Cai

Technische Universität Dresden · ETH Zurich · +44 more institutions

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Abstract

The realization that the cell is abundantly compartmentalized into biomolecular condensates has opened new opportunities for understanding the physics and chemistry underlying many cellular processes1, fundamentally changing the study of biology2. The term biomolecular condensate refers to non-stoichiometric assemblies that are composed of multiple types of macromolecules in cells, occur through phase transitions, and can be investigated by using concepts from soft matter physics3. As such, they are intimately related to aqueous two-phase systems4 and water-in-water emulsions5. Condensates possess tunable emergent properties such as interfaces, interfacial tension, viscoelasticity, network structure,…

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55
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34

Topics & keywords

Topics
Keywords
  • Interphase
  • Chemical physics
  • Organelle
  • Phase (matter)
  • Nucleation
  • Nanotechnology
  • Membrane
  • Biophysics
UN Sustainable Development Goals
  • Clean water and sanitation
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