Controlling liquid–liquid phase separation of G-quadruplex-forming RNAs in a sequence-specific manner

Abstract

We constructed a minimum liquid–liquid phase separation model system to form liquid droplets using only G-quadruplex-forming oligonucleotides and R- and G-rich oligopeptides. We found that the G-quadruplex structure is an essential component for RNA to form droplets with the peptide. Based on this model system and our findings, droplet redissolution via structure transition from a G-quadruplex to a duplex was achieved in a sequence-specific manner.