1
|
Xiang J, Chen J, Liu Y, Ye H, Han Y, Li P, Gao M, Huang Y. Tannic acid as a biphasic modulator of tau protein liquid-liquid phase separation. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 275:133578. [PMID: 38960272 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2024.133578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 06/29/2024] [Indexed: 07/05/2024]
Abstract
Tannic acid (TA) is a natural polyphenol that shows great potential in the field of biomedicine due to its anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, anti-tumor, anti-virus, and neuroprotective activities. Recent studies have revealed that liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) is closely associated with protein aggregation. Therefore, modulating LLPS offers new insights into the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. In this study, we investigated the influence of TA on the LLPS of the Alzheimer's-related protein tau and the underlying mechanism. Our findings indicate that TA affects the LLPS of tau in a biphasic manner, with initial promotion and subsequent suppression as the TA to tau molar ratio increases. TA modulates tau phase separation through a combination of hydrophobic interactions and hydrogen bonds. The balance between TA-tau and tau-tau interactions is found to be relevant to the material properties of TA-induced tau condensates. We further illustrate that the modulatory activity of TA in phase separation is highly dependent on the target proteins. These findings enhance our understanding of the forces driving tau LLPS under different conditions, and may facilitate the identification and optimization of compounds that can rationally modulate protein phase transition in the future.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiani Xiang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation, Ministry of Education, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China
| | - Jingxin Chen
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation, Ministry of Education, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China
| | - Yanqing Liu
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation, Ministry of Education, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China
| | - Haiqiong Ye
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation, Ministry of Education, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China
| | - Yue Han
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation, Ministry of Education, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China
| | - Ping Li
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation, Ministry of Education, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China
| | - Meng Gao
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation, Ministry of Education, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China.
| | - Yongqi Huang
- Key Laboratory of Industrial Fermentation, Ministry of Education, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Industrial Microbiology, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan 430068, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ibrahim KA, Naidu AS, Miljkovic H, Radenovic A, Yang W. Label-Free Techniques for Probing Biomolecular Condensates. ACS NANO 2024; 18:10738-10757. [PMID: 38609349 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c01534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
Biomolecular condensates play important roles in a wide array of fundamental biological processes, such as cellular compartmentalization, cellular regulation, and other biochemical reactions. Since their discovery and first observations, an extensive and expansive library of tools has been developed to investigate various aspects and properties, encompassing structural and compositional information, material properties, and their evolution throughout the life cycle from formation to eventual dissolution. This Review presents an overview of the expanded set of tools and methods that researchers use to probe the properties of biomolecular condensates across diverse scales of length, concentration, stiffness, and time. In particular, we review recent years' exciting development of label-free techniques and methodologies. We broadly organize the set of tools into 3 categories: (1) imaging-based techniques, such as transmitted-light microscopy (TLM) and Brillouin microscopy (BM), (2) force spectroscopy techniques, such as atomic force microscopy (AFM) and the optical tweezer (OT), and (3) microfluidic platforms and emerging technologies. We point out the tools' key opportunities, challenges, and future perspectives and analyze their correlative potential as well as compatibility with other techniques. Additionally, we review emerging techniques, namely, differential dynamic microscopy (DDM) and interferometric scattering microscopy (iSCAT), that have huge potential for future applications in studying biomolecular condensates. Finally, we highlight how some of these techniques can be translated for diagnostics and therapy purposes. We hope this Review serves as a useful guide for new researchers in this field and aids in advancing the development of new biophysical tools to study biomolecular condensates.
Collapse
|
3
|
Sicoli G, Sieme D, Overkamp K, Khalil M, Backer R, Griesinger C, Willbold D, Rezaei-Ghaleh N. Large dynamics of a phase separating arginine-glycine-rich domain revealed via nuclear and electron spins. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1610. [PMID: 38383529 PMCID: PMC10881997 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45788-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Liquid-liquid phase separation is the key process underlying formation of membrane-less compartments in cells. A highly dynamic cellular body with rapid component exchange is Cajal body (CB), which supports the extensive compositional dynamics of the RNA splicing machinery, spliceosome. Here, we select an arginine-glycine (RG)-rich segment of coilin, the major component of CB, establish its RNA-induced phase separation, and through combined use of nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) probes, interrogate its dynamics within the crowded interior of formed droplets. Taking advantage of glycine-based singlet-states, we show that glycines retain a large level of sub-nanoseconds dynamics inside the coilin droplets. Furthermore, the continuous-wave (CW) and electron-electron dipolar (PELDOR) and electron-nucleus hyperfine coupling EPR data (HYSCORE) support the RNA-induced formation of dynamic coilin droplets with high coilin peptide concentrations. The combined NMR and EPR data reveal the high dynamics of the RG-rich coilin within droplets and suggest its potential role in the large dynamics of CBs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Giuseppe Sicoli
- CNRS UMR 8516, University of Lille, LASIRE, C4 Building, Avenue Paul Langevin, F-59655, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France
| | - Daniel Sieme
- Department of NMR-based Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Am Faßberg 11, D-37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Kerstin Overkamp
- Department of NMR-based Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Am Faßberg 11, D-37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Mahdi Khalil
- CNRS UMR 8516, University of Lille, LASIRE, C4 Building, Avenue Paul Langevin, F-59655, Villeneuve d'Ascq, France
| | - Robin Backer
- Heinrich Heine University (HHU) Düsseldorf, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institute of Physical Biology, Universitätsstrasse 1, D-40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Christian Griesinger
- Department of NMR-based Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Am Faßberg 11, D-37077, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Dieter Willbold
- Heinrich Heine University (HHU) Düsseldorf, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institute of Physical Biology, Universitätsstrasse 1, D-40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Institute of Biological Information Processing, IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Wilhelm-Johnen-Straße, D-52428, Jülich, Germany
| | - Nasrollah Rezaei-Ghaleh
- Heinrich Heine University (HHU) Düsseldorf, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Institute of Physical Biology, Universitätsstrasse 1, D-40225, Düsseldorf, Germany.
- Institute of Biological Information Processing, IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry, Forschungszentrum Jülich, Wilhelm-Johnen-Straße, D-52428, Jülich, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Launay H, Avilan L, Gérard C, Parsiegla G, Receveur-Brechot V, Gontero B, Carriere F. Location of the photosynthetic carbon metabolism in microcompartments and separated phases in microalgal cells. FEBS Lett 2023; 597:2853-2878. [PMID: 37827572 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/22/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023]
Abstract
Carbon acquisition, assimilation and storage in eukaryotic microalgae and cyanobacteria occur in multiple compartments that have been characterised by the location of the enzymes involved in these functions. These compartments can be delimited by bilayer membranes, such as the chloroplast, the lumen, the peroxisome, the mitochondria or monolayer membranes, such as lipid droplets or plastoglobules. They can also originate from liquid-liquid phase separation such as the pyrenoid. Multiple exchanges exist between the intracellular microcompartments, and these are reviewed for the CO2 concentration mechanism, the Calvin-Benson-Bassham cycle, the lipid metabolism and the cellular energetic balance. Progress in microscopy and spectroscopic methods opens new perspectives to characterise the molecular consequences of the location of the proteins involved, including intrinsically disordered proteins.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hélène Launay
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, BIP, UMR7281, Marseille, France
| | - Luisana Avilan
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, BIP, UMR7281, Marseille, France
| | - Cassy Gérard
- Aix Marseille Univ, CNRS, BIP, UMR7281, Marseille, France
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Chakraborty P, Zweckstetter M. Role of aberrant phase separation in pathological protein aggregation. Curr Opin Struct Biol 2023; 82:102678. [PMID: 37604044 DOI: 10.1016/j.sbi.2023.102678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2023] [Revised: 07/13/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases are associated with the pathological deposition of many different intrinsically disordered proteins or proteins with intrinsically disordered regions. Recent evidence suggests that these proteins can undergo liquid-liquid phase separation and also form membrane-less organelles in cells. Additionally, the biomolecular condensates formed by these proteins may undergo liquid-to-solid phase transition thereby maturating to amyloid fibrils, oligomeric species, or amorphous aggregates and contributing to the pathology of several neurodegenerative diseases. Here we discuss the role of phase separation of the neuronal proteins tau, α-synuclein, fused in sarcoma (FUS), and the transactive response DNA-binding protein of 43 kDa (TDP-43) that are associated with neurodegeneration in the context of pathological protein aggregation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pijush Chakraborty
- Department for NMR-based Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Am Faßberg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Markus Zweckstetter
- Department for NMR-based Structural Biology, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Am Faßberg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany; German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Von-Siebold-Str. 3a, 37075 Göttingen, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|