Biomolecular condensates near the critical point

Most in-vitro experiments study condensates with relatively large contrast in composition inside and outside the condensate, ie, they have high partition coefficients. However, recent experiments show that condensates in the cell can have much lower partition coefficients. We push in-vitro models of condensates to lower partition coefficients. In this limit, we find striking changes to their structure, dynamics, and properties revealed though a combination of microscopy and scattering. These results show many features of classical critical phenomena.