Fig. 4: Base-pairing tunes the fusion dynamics of patchyDNA condensates.
From: Sequence-encoded intermolecular base pairing modulates fluidity in DNA and RNA condensates
a Representative fluorescence micrographs showing fusion between complex coacervates of patchyDNA with the indicated ε and spermine at 22 °C. Fusion rates are slower for DNA with higher ε. Scale bar, 10 µm. b The characteristic fusion time (τfusion) can be obtained from fitting single exponential (dotted line) to the aspect ratio of the fusing droplets of roughly similar size. The plot in (b) corresponds to ε = 15.7 in (a). c τfusion linearly increased with the droplet size (l). Representative data from patchyDNA condensates with patch sequence GGATCC, ε = 15.7. Each data point (mean ± 95% CI) denotes independent fusion events. d τfusion for various patchyDNA coacervates increases linearly (solid lines) with l. Each data point (mean ± 95% CI) denotes independent fusion events. e Plot showing that the logarithm of inverse capillary velocity (η/γ) scales linearly with ε (dotted line, slope (mean ± SE) = 0.28 ± 0.02, R2 = 0.92). Each data point denotes mean ± 95% CI. The color bars in d and e show the range of ε. Error bars in e are smaller than the symbols, and thus not visible in the plot.
