Selective membrane wetting of phase-separated giant unilamellar vesicles by coacervate droplets

28 April 2025, Version 1
This content is a preprint and has not undergone peer review at the time of posting.

Abstract

Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) has emerged as a key biological paradigm, playing a critical role in cellular compartmentalization and potentially contributing to the origins of life. Lipid membranes are equally important in these processes, serving as selective barriers that define and protect cellular environments. Recent studies have revealed a dynamic interaction between LLPS and lipid membranes, both in cellulo and in biomimetic systems. In vitro studies typically use simplified model membranes, while biological membranes are far more complex, often exhibiting phase-separated domains. Despite growing interest, the relationship between lipid phase separation within membranes and LLPS remains largely unexplored. Here, we explore how coacervates interact with membranes composed of liquid-ordered or liquid-disordered lipid phases using giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs). We show that coacervate-membrane interactions are modulated by coacervate composition and lipid domain properties. Notably, we report the selective wetting of fluid lipid domains. Different coacervates exhibit distinct wetting behaviors, with variations in their composition influencing whether they preferentially wet liquid-disordered or liquid-ordered lipid domains, highlighting the coacervate-specific nature of these interactions. These findings highlight how lipid phase separation can mediate selective membrane wetting, offering insights into condensate-membrane interactions in cells and the emergence of life.

Keywords

coacervates
Giant Unilamellar Vesicles
membrane wetting
membraneless organelles

Supplementary materials

Title
Description
Actions
Title
Supplementary information
Description
Materials and methods, Supplementary Figures and Tables.
Actions

Comments

Comments are not moderated before they are posted, but they can be removed by the site moderators if they are found to be in contravention of our Commenting Policy [opens in a new tab] - please read this policy before you post. Comments should be used for scholarly discussion of the content in question. You can find more information about how to use the commenting feature here [opens in a new tab] .
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy [opens in a new tab] and Terms of Service [opens in a new tab] apply.