Cell-sized confinement effect on phase transition of biopolymer mixture

Abstract

In cytoplasmic media, various phase transitions of biopolymers such as liquid-liquid phase separation, sol-gel phase transition, and liquid crystal phase transition are observed. To understand such intracellular phase transitions from a physical point of view, we have analyzed molecular behaviors inside cell-sized droplets covered with a lipid layer as a cell model that that bridges the difference between living cells and conventional bulk systems. In this talk, we will introduce unique phase transition phenomenon of polymer mixtures caused by the cell-sized membrane confinement.