Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41888106›Full record

ArticleNature communications2026

Optically driven control of mechanochemistry and fusion dynamics of biomolecular condensates via thymine dimerization.

Vahid Sheikhhassani, Faith H K Wong, Daniel Bonn, Jeremy D Schmit, Alireza Mashaghi

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Nature communications, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 4 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
4citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

4 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Protamine Drives Liquid and Solid Condensation of DNA and Glycosaminoglycans.Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids · 2025
    Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Vahid SheikhhassaniMedical Systems Biophysics and Bioengineering, Division of Systems Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Faith H K WongMedical Systems Biophysics and Bioengineering, Division of Systems Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands.ORCID http://orcid.org/0009-0007-8760-5510
Daniel BonnVan der Waals-Zeeman Institute, Institute of Physics, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8925-1997
Jeremy D SchmitDepartment of Physics, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, USA.
Alireza MashaghiMedical Systems Biophysics and Bioengineering, Division of Systems Pharmacology and Pharmacy, Leiden Academic Centre for Drug Research, Leiden University, Leiden, The Netherlands. a.mashaghi.tabari@lacdr.leidenuniv.nl.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-2157-1211

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Phase-separated biomolecular condensates are functional elements in cells, contribute to protocell formation in prebiotic systems, and represent a distinct class of soft matter. Controlling condensate mechanochemistry is critical for function and material properties. Although photochemical processes are widespread in nature and can be harnessed in engineering, it remains unclear how condensate formation affects photochemistry, and conversely how photochemistry alters condensate dynamics. Using scanning probe microscopy combined with UV-controlled photochemistry and optical imaging, we develop assays to probe mechanical transitions and fusion dynamics in condensate droplets, revealing that UV-induced thymine dimerization alters condensate nucleation and coalescence. Depending on the frequency and topological arrangement of thymine dimers, particularly the balance between inter- and intrachain crosslinks, UV can drive transitions from liquid-like to solid-like states or induce aggregates. UV also promotes arrested fusion and stable compartmentalization of droplets, resilient to environmental changes and with implications for prebiotic chemistry and bio-inspired engineering.

Indexed as

Biomolecular CondensatesThymineDimerizationPhase SeparationPhotochemistryUltraviolet RaysThymine

Identifiers

PMID41888106
PMCPMC13183982

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.