华盛顿大学研究团队报道了生物分子凝聚物随年龄变化的电化学电位调控其物理化学活性。相关论文于2025年3月12日发表在《自然-化学》杂志上。

本研究表明，生物分子凝聚体的电化学环境和物理化学活性受老化相关的分子间相互作用和界面效应的调控，这取决于凝聚体的电化学电位。他们的研究结果表明，在凝析成熟过程中，致密相相互作用的增强不断调节两相之间的离子分布。

此外，调节凝析油界面区域可以影响凝析油内的表观pH值。为了直接探测凝析油的界面电位和界面电位，该研究组设计并实现了电化学电位法和基于二次谐波产生的方法。他们的研究结果表明，生物分子凝聚物的非平衡性质可能在调节生命系统的电化学活动中起着至关重要的作用。

据介绍，大分子缩聚的一个被动后果是在稀相和密相之间建立离子浓度梯度，这反过来又决定了缩聚物的不同电化学性质。然而，调节凝析油电化学平衡的机制及其对紧急物理化学功能的影响尚不清楚。

附：英文原文

Title: Aging-dependent evolving electrochemical potentials of biomolecular condensates regulate their physicochemical activities

Author: Yu, Wen, Guo, Xiao, Xia, Yu, Ma, Yuefeng, Tong, Zhongli, Yang, Leshan, Song, Xiaowei, Zare, Richard N., Hong, Guosong, Dai, Yifan

Issue&Volume: 2025-03-12

Abstract: A passive consequence of macromolecular condensation is the establishment of an ion concentration gradient between the dilute and dense phases, which in turn governs distinct electrochemical properties of condensates. However, the mechanisms that regulate the electrochemical equilibrium of condensates and their impacts on emergent physicochemical functions remain unknown. Here we demonstrate that the electrochemical environments and the physical and chemical activities of biomolecular condensates, dependent on the electrochemical potential of condensates, are regulated by aging-associated intermolecular interactions and interfacial effects. Our findings reveal that enhanced dense-phase interactions during condensate maturation continuously modulate the ion distribution between the two phases. Moreover, modulating the interfacial regions of condensates can affect the apparent pH within the condensates. To directly probe the interphase and interfacial electric potentials of condensates, we have designed and implemented electrochemical potentiometry and second harmonic generation-based approaches. Our results suggest that the non-equilibrium nature of biomolecular condensates might play a crucial role in modulating the electrochemical activities of living systems.

DOI: 10.1038/s41557-025-01762-7

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41557-025-01762-7