Homotypic RNA clustering accompanies a liquid-to-solid transition inside the core of multi-component biomolecular condensates

RNA-driven condensation plays a central role in organizing and regulating ribonucleoprotein granules within cells. Disruptions to this process, such as the aberrant aggregation of repeat-expanded RNA, are associated with numerous neurological disorders. Here, we report that irreversible RNA aggregation is facilitated within multicomponent protein–nucleic acid condensates. Using time-lapse confocal fluorescence microscopy, we tracked the growth of RNA clusters as a function of condensate age and found that RNA aggregation is driven by RNA percolation, proceeding via a transition from intramolecular to intermolecular RNA–RNA interactions. For GC-rich repeat RNAs, the size of RNA clusters increases, and the timescale of cluster formation decreases with the number of repeat units. Utilizing nanorheology, optical tweezer-based droplet fusion assays, and high-resolution confocal fluorescence imaging, we uncovered that RNA clustering drives a liquid-to-solid phase transition in the condensate ..., , # Homotypic RNA clustering accompanies a liquid-to-solid transition inside the core of multi-component biomolecular condensates

This readme file was generated on 2025-07-15 by Tharun Selvam Mahendran

## DESCRIPTION:

The dataset provided here contains imaging data (figures/videos) corresponding to the main text, extended data, and supplementary information concerning the referenced publication. Methodological details and additional acquisition parameters can be found in the relevant methods section of the publication.

The images are organized into folders, broadly categorized into main text figures (Dryad_source_data_for_main_text.zip), extended data figures (Dryad_source_data_for_extended_data.zip), and supplementary information figures/videos (Dryad_source_data_for_supplementary_information.zip). The main folders include subfolders specified for individual image panels if the concerned figure includes multiple panels of data. These subfolders are named following the corresponding p...,