Single-molecule trajectories in chemically active condensates
Cells need to organize their internal structure in different compartments to function properly. Biomolecular condensates provide distinct chemical environments without the need for an enclosing membrane, which can control various cellular processes. Their formation and dynamics can be modelled by the physics of phase separation. Single-molecule experiments, allowing us to follow the motion of individual molecules in these condensates and across their phase boundaries, are becoming more common.
I will discuss the stochastic trajectories of single molecules in a phase-separated liquid, showing how the physics of phase coexistence affects the statistics of molecular trajectories. I will present how these statistics can be used to infer key physical properties of the condensates. I will then address the single-molecule description of chemically active condensates. In closing, I will investigate the thermodynamics of these individual trajectories and discuss how they can reveal the non-equilibrium nature of condensates.