WNKs in Phase Separation (VIDEO)
Caption
University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon University scientists solved a decades-old mystery regarding how cells control their volume. In this video, WNK kinases (a type of enzyme) are fluorescent and diffuse throughout the cell. When exposed to a salt solution, they coalesce into larger droplets, looking like the bright green goo in a lava lamp. This process, called “phase separation,” is how the cell knows it needs to bring both water and ions back in, returning to its original state within seconds.
Credit
Boyd-Shiwarski, et al., Cell (2022).
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Only for use in reporting on the study this video goes with.
License
Original content