Size control and oscillations of active droplets in synthetic cells

Size control and oscillations of active droplets in synthetic cells | 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 Article Size control and oscillations of active droplets in synthetic cells Job Boekhoven, Judti Sastre, Advait Thatte, Alexander Bergmann, and 3 more This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4882101/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 26 Feb, 2025 Read the published version in Nature Communications → Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Oscillations in the formation and dissolution of molecular assemblies inside living cells are pivotal in orchestrating various cellular functions and processes. However, designing such rhythmic patterns in synthetic cells remains a challenge. Here, we demonstrate the spontaneous emergence of spatio-temporal oscillations in the number of droplets, size, and position within a synthetic cell. The coacervate-based droplets in these synthetic cells sediment and fuse at the cell’s bottom. Through a newly discovered size control mechanism, the sedimented, large droplets shrink by expelling droplet material. The expelled molecules nucleate new droplets at the top of the synthetic cell, which grow and sediment again. These oscillations are sustained by converting chemical fuel into waste and can continue for hundreds of periods without evidence of fatigue. Strikingly, the period of the oscillation is in the minute's regime and tunable. These findings bring us closer to creating more life-like materials and de novo life. Physical sciences/Physics/Biological physics Physical sciences/Chemistry/Supramolecular chemistry Full Text Additional Declarations There is NO Competing Interest. Supplementary Files SupplementaryMovie1.avi Supplementary Movie 1 SupplementaryMovie2.avi Supplementary Movie 2 SupplementaryMovie3.avi Supplementary Movie 3 SupplementaryMovie4.avi Supplementary Movie 4 SupplementaryMovie5.avi Supplementary Movie 5 SIsizecontrol.pdf Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 26 Feb, 2025 Read the published version in Nature Communications → 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. 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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-4882101","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":342705426,"identity":"6d03b6d2-cd14-451c-b43c-1d502da8f1e1","order_by":0,"name":"Job 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