Biophysical chemistry articles from across Nature Portfolio

Affinity chromatography allows for the separation of biomolecules such as proteins, based on a change in the chemical solvent composition and the resulting impacts on ligand binding. Here, authors introduce a physical principle by exploiting the light-dependent interaction between the Azo-tag and an α- CD chromatography matrix.

Allosteric communication between the eIF4F subunits drives mRNA cap-recognition and subsequent activation of the message.

A particular liquid–liquid phase separation at a solid–liquid interface led to the unexpected partitioning of highly similar polymeric molecules into concentric circles.

Ticks adhere firmly to their host by secreting a protein-rich saliva that eventually forms a solid bioadhesive, but the mechanism underlying this phase transition is not understood. Now it has been shown that a disordered glycine-rich protein present in tick saliva undergoes liquid–liquid phase separation, followed by a liquid-to-gel transition, and exhibits adhesive properties.

The mechanism underlying the formation of crystals in cells is not completely understood. An article now reports on the biochemical control of the crystal genesis in iridophores.

In this issue we feature several articles that explore advances in the study of phase separation. They highlight some recently reported mechanistic features and progress in the methodology used to study it within cells, and they delve into the implications that phase separation has for select cellular functions.

Macromolecules can undergo liquid–liquid phase separation to form condensates that have critical roles in biological functions and dysfunctions. A new study demonstrates that differences in micropolarity between components is a prime determinant of the multiphasic architecture of biomolecular condensates.

Liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) within cells is a captivating phenomenon known to aid the organization of cellular components; however, its complex kinetics have remained a puzzle. Now, a new study elucidates the crosstalk between the phase state of an encapsulating membrane and LLPS dynamics.

Enzymatic pathways control a host of cellular processes, but the complexity of such pathways has made them difficult to predict. Elektrum combines neural architecture search, kinetic models and transfer learning to effectively discover CRISPR–Cas9 cleavage kinetics.