Interactions between membranes and biomolecular condensates can give rise to complex phenomena such as wetting transitions, mutual remodeling, and endocytosis. In this study, light-triggered manipulation of condensate engulfment is demonstrated using giant vesicles containing photoswitchable lipids. UV irradiation increases the membrane area, which can be stored in nanotubes. When in contact with a condensate droplet, the UV light triggers rapid condensate endocytosis, which can be reverted by blue light. The affinity of the protein-rich condensates to the membrane and the reversibility of the engulfment processes is quantified from confocal microscopy images. The degree of photo-induced engulfment, whether partial or complete, depends on the vesicle excess area and the relative sizes of vesicles and condensates. Theoretical estimates suggest that utilizing the light-induced excess area to increase the vesicle-condensate adhesion interface is energetically more favorable than the energy gain from folding the membrane into invaginations and tubes. The overall findings demonstrate that membrane-condensate interactions can be easily and quickly modulated via light, providing a versatile system for building platforms to control cellular events and design intelligent drug delivery systems for cell repair.
Keywords: endocytosis; giant vesicles; membrane morphology; photoswitchable lipids; protein‐rich condensates; wetting.
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