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Zhou HX, Kota D, Qin S, Prasad R. Fundamental Aspects of Phase-Separated Biomolecular Condensates. Chem Rev 2024; 124:8550-8595. [PMID: 38885177 PMCID: PMC11260227 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.4c00138] [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] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Biomolecular condensates, formed through phase separation, are upending our understanding in much of molecular, cell, and developmental biology. There is an urgent need to elucidate the physicochemical foundations of the behaviors and properties of biomolecular condensates. Here we aim to fill this need by writing a comprehensive, critical, and accessible review on the fundamental aspects of phase-separated biomolecular condensates. We introduce the relevant theoretical background, present the theoretical basis for the computation and experimental measurement of condensate properties, and give mechanistic interpretations of condensate behaviors and properties in terms of interactions at the molecular and residue levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan-Xiang Zhou
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, USA
- Department of Physics, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, USA
| | - Divya Kota
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, USA
| | - Sanbo Qin
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, USA
| | - Ramesh Prasad
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, USA
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Rizuan A, Shenoy J, Mohanty P, dos Passos PMS, Mercado Ortiz JF, Bai L, Viswanathan R, Wang SH, Johnson V, Mamede LD, Ayala YM, Ghirlando R, Mittal J, Fawzi NL. Structural details of helix-mediated TDP-43 C-terminal domain multimerization. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.07.05.602258. [PMID: 39005345 PMCID: PMC11245101 DOI: 10.1101/2024.07.05.602258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/16/2024]
Abstract
The primarily disordered C-terminal domain (CTD) of TAR DNA binding protein-43 (TDP-43), a key nuclear protein in RNA metabolism, forms neuronal inclusions in several neurodegenerative diseases. A conserved region (CR, spanning residues 319-341) in CTD forms transient helix-helix contacts important for its higher-order oligomerization and function that are disrupted by ALS-associated mutations. However, the structural details of CR assembly and the explanation for several ALS-associated variants' impact on phase separation and function remain unclear due to challenges in analyzing the dynamic association of TDP-43 CTD using traditional structural biology approaches. By employing an integrative approach, combining biophysical experiments, biochemical assays, AlphaFold2-Multimer (AF2-Multimer), and atomistic simulations, we generated structural models of helical oligomerization of TDP-43 CR. Using NMR, we first established that the native state of TDP-43 CR under physiological conditions is α-helical. Next, alanine scanning mutagenesis revealed that while hydrophobic residues in the CR are important for CR assembly, phase separation and TDP-43 nuclear retention function, polar residues down regulate these processes. Finally, pairing AF2-Multimer modeling with AAMD simulations indicated that dynamic, oligomeric assemblies of TDP-43 that are stabilized by a methionine-rich core with specific contributions from a tryptophan/leucine pair. In conclusion, our results advance the structural understanding of the mechanisms driving TDP-43 function and provide a window into the initial stages of its conversion into pathogenic aggregates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Azamat Rizuan
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843
| | - Jayakrishna Shenoy
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912
| | - Priyesh Mohanty
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843
| | - Patricia M. S. dos Passos
- Edward Doisy Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - José F. Mercado Ortiz
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912
| | - Leanna Bai
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912
| | - Renjith Viswanathan
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912
| | - Szu-Huan Wang
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912
| | - Victoria Johnson
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912
| | - Lohany D. Mamede
- Edward Doisy Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Yuna M. Ayala
- Edward Doisy Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - Rodolfo Ghirlando
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892
| | - Jeetain Mittal
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Genetics and Genomics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843
| | - Nicolas L. Fawzi
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912
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Yan X, Kuster D, Mohanty P, Nijssen J, Pombo-García K, Rizuan A, Franzmann TM, Sergeeva A, Passos PM, George L, Wang SH, Shenoy J, Danielson HL, Honigmann A, Ayala YM, Fawzi NL, Mittal J, Alberti S, Hyman AA. Intra-condensate demixing of TDP-43 inside stress granules generates pathological aggregates. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.23.576837. [PMID: 38328053 PMCID: PMC10849624 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.23.576837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
Cytosolic aggregation of the nuclear protein TDP-43 is associated with many neurodegenerative diseases, but the triggers for TDP-43 aggregation are still debated. Here, we demonstrate that TDP-43 aggregation requires a double event. One is up-concentration in stress granules beyond a threshold, and the other is oxidative stress. These two events collectively induce intra-condensate demixing, giving rise to a dynamic TDP-43 enriched phase within stress granules, which subsequently transitions into pathological aggregates. Mechanistically, intra-condensate demixing is triggered by local unfolding of the RRM1 domain for intermolecular disulfide bond formation and by increased hydrophobic patch interactions in the C-terminal domain. By engineering TDP-43 variants resistant to intra-condensate demixing, we successfully eliminate pathological TDP-43 aggregates in cells. We conclude that up-concentration inside condensates and simultaneous exposure to environmental stress could be a general pathway for protein aggregation, with intra-condensate demixing constituting a key intermediate step.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao Yan
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG); Dresden, Saxony, 01307; Germany
| | - David Kuster
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG); Dresden, Saxony, 01307; Germany
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Priyesh Mohanty
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University; College Station, TX 77843; USA
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Jik Nijssen
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG); Dresden, Saxony, 01307; Germany
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Karina Pombo-García
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG); Dresden, Saxony, 01307; Germany
- These authors contributed equally
| | - Azamat Rizuan
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University; College Station, TX 77843; USA
| | - Titus M. Franzmann
- Biotechnology Center (BIOTEC), Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden; Dresden, Saxony, 01307; Germany
| | - Aleksandra Sergeeva
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG); Dresden, Saxony, 01307; Germany
- Biotechnology Center (BIOTEC), Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden; Dresden, Saxony, 01307; Germany
| | - Patricia M. Passos
- Edward Doisy Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saint Louis University; St. Louis, MO 63104; USA
| | - Leah George
- Edward Doisy Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saint Louis University; St. Louis, MO 63104; USA
| | - Szu-Huan Wang
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Brown University; Providence, RI 02912; USA
| | - Jayakrishna Shenoy
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Brown University; Providence, RI 02912; USA
| | - Helen L. Danielson
- Center for Biomedical Engineering, Brown University; Providence, RI 02912; USA
| | - Alf Honigmann
- Biotechnology Center (BIOTEC), Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden; Dresden, Saxony, 01307; Germany
| | - Yuna M. Ayala
- Edward Doisy Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Saint Louis University; St. Louis, MO 63104; USA
| | - Nicolas L. Fawzi
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Brown University; Providence, RI 02912; USA
| | - Jeetain Mittal
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University; College Station, TX 77843; USA
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University; College Station, TX 77843; USA
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Genetics and Genomics, Texas A&M University; College Station, TX 77843; USA
| | - Simon Alberti
- Biotechnology Center (BIOTEC), Center for Molecular and Cellular Bioengineering, Technische Universität Dresden; Dresden, Saxony, 01307; Germany
| | - Anthony A. Hyman
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (MPI-CBG); Dresden, Saxony, 01307; Germany
- Lead contact
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Mohanty P, Phan TM, Mittal J. Transient interdomain interactions modulate the monomeric structural ensemble and oligomerization landscape of Huntingtin Exon 1. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.03.592468. [PMID: 38766024 PMCID: PMC11100600 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.03.592468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Polyglutamine expansion (≥ 36 residues) within the N-terminal exon-1 of Huntingtin (Httex1) leads to Huntington's disease, a neurogenerative condition marked by the presence of intranuclear Htt inclusions. Notably, the polyglutamine tract in Httex1 is flanked by an N-terminal coiled-coil domain - N17 (17 amino acids), which undergoes self-association to promote the formation of soluble Httex1 oligomers and brings the aggregation-prone polyQ tracts in close spatial proximity. However, the mechanisms underlying the subsequent conversion of soluble oligomers into insoluble β-rich aggregates with increasing polyQ length, remain unclear. Current knowledge suggests that expansion of the polyQ tract increases its helicity, and this favors its oligomerization and aggregation. In addition, studies utilizing conformation-specific antibodies and a stable coiled-coil heterotetrametric system fused to polyQ indicate that domain "cross-talk" (i.e., interdomain interactions) may be necessary to efficiently promote the emergence of toxic conformations (in monomers and oligomers) and fibrillar aggregation. Here, we performed extensive atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations (aggregate time ∼ 0.7 ms) of N17-polyQ fragments to uncover the interplay between structural transformation and domain "cross-talk" on the monomeric structural ensemble and oligomerization landscape of Httex1. Our simulation ensembles of N17-polyQ monomers validated against 13 C NMR chemical shifts indicated that in addition to elevated α-helicity, polyQ expansion also favors transient, interdomain (N17-polyQ) interactions which result in the emergence of β-conformations. Further, interdomain interactions decreased the overall stability of N17-mediated dimers by counteracting the stabilizing effect of increased α-helicity and promoted a heterogenous oligomerization landscape on the sub-microsecond timescale. Overall, our study uncovers the significance of domain "cross-talk" in modulating the monomeric conformational ensemble and oligomerization landscape of Httex1 to favor the formation of amyloid aggregates.
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Wake N, Weng SL, Zheng T, Wang SH, Kirilenko V, Mittal J, Fawzi NL. Expanding the molecular grammar of polar residues and arginine in FUS prion-like domain phase separation and aggregation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.15.580391. [PMID: 38405719 PMCID: PMC10888811 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.15.580391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
A molecular grammar governing low-complexity prion-like domains phase separation (PS) has been proposed based on mutagenesis experiments that identified tyrosine and arginine as primary drivers of phase separation via aromatic-aromatic and aromatic-arginine interactions. Here we show that additional residues make direct favorable contacts that contribute to phase separation, highlighting the need to account for these contributions in PS theories and models. We find that tyrosine and arginine make important contacts beyond only tyrosine-tyrosine and tyrosine-arginine, including arginine-arginine contacts. Among polar residues, glutamine in particular contributes to phase separation with sequence/position-specificity, making contacts with both tyrosine and arginine as well as other residues, both before phase separation and in condensed phases. For glycine, its flexibility, not its small solvation volume, favors phase separation by allowing favorable contacts between other residues and inhibits the liquid-to-solid (LST) transition. Polar residue types also make sequence-specific contributions to aggregation that go beyond simple rules, which for serine positions is linked to formation of an amyloid-core structure by the FUS low-complexity domain. Hence, here we propose a revised molecular grammar expanding the role of arginine and polar residues in prion-like domain protein phase separation and aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noah Wake
- Therapeutic Sciences Graduate Program, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912
| | - Shuo-Lin Weng
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843
| | - Tongyin Zheng
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912
| | - Szu-Huan Wang
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912
| | - Valentin Kirilenko
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912
| | - Jeetain Mittal
- Department of Chemistry, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843
- Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843
- Interdisciplinary Graduate Program in Genetics and Genomics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843
| | - Nicolas L Fawzi
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI 02912
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