Enzyme-Enriched Condensates Show Self-Propulsion, Positioning, and Coexistence

Phys Rev Lett. 2023 Mar 24;130(12):128401. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.130.128401.

Abstract

Enzyme-enriched condensates can organize the spatial distribution of their substrates by catalyzing nonequilibrium reactions. Conversely, an inhomogeneous substrate distribution induces enzyme fluxes through substrate-enzyme interactions. We find that condensates move toward the center of a confining domain when this feedback is weak. Above a feedback threshold, they exhibit self-propulsion, leading to oscillatory dynamics. Moreover, catalysis-driven enzyme fluxes can lead to interrupted coarsening, resulting in equidistant condensate positioning, and to condensate division.