Initial and final configuration of simulated wild-type Nsp1-FGs in a solvent bath (simulation random_bath).
(a) Initial configuration. Shown is the periodic (see simulation conditions as described in Methods) system of wild-type Nsp1-FGs, freely floating in a solvent bath (water and ions). The initial random conformations match a polymer melt modeled from worm-like chains. Colors distinguish 120 freely floating Nsp1-FG chains. Neighboring boxes in - and - directions are shown with the Nsp1-FGs colored in grey. (b) Snapshot of the () end of simulation random_bath. The Nsp1-FG chains, shown in surface representations, are seen to form a porous mesh of cross-linked Nsp1-FG bundles. (c) Close-up view of the structure in (b). Shown is a region as marked. The view reveals a system of short bundles that are frequently cross-linked; arrows point to the cross-links between bundles. Video S5 shows how during simulation random_bath, the initially completely random Nsp1-FGs assume the final structure seen here. Video S6 provides a 360-degree view of the conformation reached in simulation random_bath after , namely of the conformation depicted in (b).