Propelling catalytic structures using active biomolecular condensates

Abstract

Living systems routinely consume energy to achieve motility, often using intricate biomolecular machinery. In this work, we demonstrate that active biomolecular condensates enable the self-propulsion of micron-sized objects in otherwise homogeneous, isotropic, and autonomous environments. Our proposed minimal mechanism consists of phase-separating proteins, the enzymes that passivate them, and complementary enzymes isotropically anchored to a spherical-colloid surface which reactivate the proteins. This passivation-activation cycle gives rise to a symmetry breaking wherein a single biocondensate is stabilized near the colloid surface, which in turn exerts a repulsive force on the colloid. We numerically demonstrate that this mechanism can propel micron-sized colloids at speeds of up to a hundred microns per second. This propulsion mode is strongly resistant to Brownian fluctuations and external forces. Propulsion mechanisms based on biomolecular condensates may thus offer a complementary, motor-free route to biological transport.

22 pages, 8 figures