Volume buffering in multi-component phase separation

Volume buffering in multi-component phase separation | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Biological Sciences - Article Volume buffering in multi-component phase separation Thomas Michaels, Logan de Monchaux-Irons, Nina Han, Benjamin Frühbauer, and 4 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-5433278/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The concentrations of biomolecules in cells are subject to substantial fluctuations, but how cells deal with such variability is still poorly understood. Recently the formation of biomolecular condensates through liquid-liquid phase separation has been proposed as a powerful buffering mechanism to enable local protein concentration to be robust to expression fluctuations. Here, using theory, simulations, in vitro and in vivo experiments we show an orthogonal noise buffering mechanism mediated by phase separation, whereby the total volume of condensates is buffered when the global protein concentration changes. Spatial control mechanisms are needed to robustly localize cellular activities and volume buffering by phase separation offers such a mechanism. Our work thus provides new insights into the potential role of condensates in regulating spatial activities in cells. Physical sciences/Physics/Biological physics Biological sciences/Biophysics Full Text Additional Declarations There is NO Competing Interest. Supplementary Files supplementarymaterials.pdf Supplementary Information Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-5433278","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Biological Sciences - Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":380968700,"identity":"6c7e8e94-207c-499b-9a65-1e6ac6e49d62","order_by":0,"name":"Thomas 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