Biomolecular condensates interacting with membranes: Wetting, remodeling, and damage stabilization

Membrane wetting by biomolecular condensates recently emerged as an important phenomenon in cell biology, playing a key role in diverse processes across different organisms. By performing a systematic analysis of the interaction of protein and polymer condensates with giant unilamellar vesicles as model membranes, we have previously demonstrated that these interactions can lead to remodeling processes, governed by the interplay of adhesion, membrane elasticity, and interfacial tension. Here, we show that condensate wetting can promote the stabilization of damaged membranes, uncovering a new mechanism for biomolecular condensates in cell physiology.