Sequence Effects on Internal Structure of Droplets of Associative Polymers

Abstract

We used Langevin dynamics simulations of short associative polymers with two stickers placed symmetrically along their contour to study the effect of the primary sequence of these polymers on their organization inside condensed droplets. We observed that the shape, size and number of sticker clusters inside the condensed droplet change from a single cylindrical fiber to many compact clusters, as one varies the location of stickers along the chain contour. Aging due to conversion of intramoleclular to intermolecular associations was observed in droplets of telechelic polymers, but not for other sequences of associating polymers. The relevance of our results to condensates of intrinsically disordered proteins is discussed.