Fig. 4.

Intracellular polymerization dynamics of peptide monomers and aggregation process of ELPs. a Schematic illustration of thermoprecipitation of FITC-P4 from cells. b Time-dependent intracellular growth of P4. The FITC-labeled P4 was obtained at different time point by thermoprecipitation method. The molecular weights (MWs) of these FITC-P4 were measured by GPC. Data were presented as mean ± s.d. (n = 5). c The thermodynamic self-assembly process of DBD-P4 in HeLa cells during the cooling procedure. The cells were incubated with DBD-peptide 4 (600 μM) at 37 °C for 12 h before cooling down to 4 °C. DBD-P4, green; nucleus, blue. Scale bar, 55 μm. Real-time observation of d, linear growth and e, gel-like ELP formation and in situ aggregation. DBD-P7 and DBD-P9, green; nucleus, blue. Scale bar, 50 μm