Fig. 1: Assembly of surface-stabilized protein condensates with interfacial protein cages.

a Schematic diagram of surface-stabilized (coalescence-inhibited) protein condensates with interfacial protein cages featuring optimized cage size and affinity to condensates. b FRAP recovery profile (n = 10 condensates) and confocal images of bleached PSH (magenta) condensates. c Schematic structures of designed GFP (green)-fused interfacial protein cages. The approximate size of each cage is indicated below. d Sequential introduction (schematically expressed left) of HF oligo, mi3, HF, POK, and monomeric GFP with (+) or without (−) 6His to pre-formed PSH condensates. Confocal images of PSH condensates (magenta) without (scaffold only) or with added protein cages (green) after 10- and 60-min incubations are presented with average diameters shown below images. e Confocal images of PSH condensates (magenta) phase separated in the presence of protein cages (one-pot assembly) with average diameters. Surface-stabilized (coalescence-inhibited) protein condensate images are indicated with a yellow box. f Schematics of the assembly principles of surface-stabilized protein condensates with interfacial protein cages, depending on cage-condensate binding strengths. g Binding strength variation between HF oligo and PSH by removing 6His (weaker) or adding SH3 (stronger) for HF oligo. Confocal images of PSH condensates with HF oligo variants are presented. h Confocal images of mi3-treated PSH condensates at different salt concentrations. Optimally stabilized condensates are indicated with a yellow box. All scale bars, 5 μm. Data are presented as mean values ± 0.5 s.d. Source data are provided as a Source Data file.