Open compartments, termed biomolecular condensates, are involved in cellular reactions. This Comment highlights their ability to enhance robustness and control of reactions in space and time, going beyond mere acceleration or inhibition. They enable reaction engineering at the mesoscale, not just by altering concentrations but also by modifying the local environment.
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Enhancement of enzymatic activity by biomolecular condensates through pH buffering
Nature Communications Open Access 10 July 2025
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We acknowledge the European Research Council through the Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement no. 101002094) for financial support.
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P.A. led the manuscript and secured funding. M.P., F.S., M.G.-G. and L.F. contributed to discussions and to writing the manuscript.
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Nature Chemical Engineering thanks Yongdae Shin and the other, anonymous, reviewer(s) for their contribution to the peer review of this work.
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Papp, M., Stoffel, F., Gil-Garcia, M. et al. Biomolecular condensates as regulators of enzymatic reactions. Nat Chem Eng 2, 394–397 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44286-025-00242-6
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s44286-025-00242-6
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Enhancement of enzymatic activity by biomolecular condensates through pH buffering
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