Electric Field-Driven Spatial Information Capture of Dissipative Biocondensate States

The theory behind origin of life to Darwinian evolution considers emergence of dissipative structures driven by the flow of energy across all length scales. To this end, developing and deeper understanding of non-equilibrium self-assembly processes under continuous supply of energy is a demanding matter, both in fundamental and application (for e.g. developing dynamic materials) viewpoint. Herein, we demonstrate transient self-assembly of a DNA-histone condensate where trypsin (already present in the system) hydrolyse histone resulting disassembly. As the process is short-lived, the information of intermediate states between complete assembly and disassembly remains uncaptured in absence of any external energy. We show that performing the process under electric field of varying strength results fractionation of myriad of short-lived states which appears as band in different zone. Deconvolution and capturing of many hidden self-assembling species of similar components but of different compositions which otherwise never be formed in absence of electric energy, will be of immense importance in applied non-equilibrium thermodynamics.