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Gao S, Li R, Tai W, Song P, Hu Q, Yu L. Microsyringe-assisted visual volume detection based on phase separation: the case of chymosin milk-clotting activity study. ANALYTICAL METHODS : ADVANCING METHODS AND APPLICATIONS 2024. [PMID: 38993036 DOI: 10.1039/d4ay00670d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
The constantly diverse demand scenarios for rapid on-site analysis have put forward high requirements for developing low-cost and user-friendly visual detection methods. Therefore, developing a visual detection method with simple operation and intuitive results has important practical value in the field of analysis and detection, but it is also challenging. In this work, we propose a microsyringe-assisted visual volume detection method based on phase separation, and apply it to analyze the milk-clotting activity of chymosin. Chymosin can cause phase separation of milk with whey in the mobile phase and curd in the gel state. The network structures of casein in curd can trap water molecules, resulting in separation of whey from curd gradually. Therefore, the analysis of chymosin milk-clotting activity can be realized according to the volume of whey measured using a portable microsyringe. This method shows a good linear correlation when the concentration of chymosin ranges from 1.02 U L-1 to 1020 U L-1 and the limit of detection of this method for chymosin is calculated to be 0.03 U mL-1. This work successfully realizes the visual analysis of chymosin milk-clotting activity based on the enzyme-triggered phase separation. It also shows great promise to be applied in other phase separation-based detection systems with the advantages of high accuracy, great portability and user-friendliness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Gao
- Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface Chemistry, Shandong University, Ministry of Education, Jinan, 250100, China.
| | - Ruotong Li
- Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface Chemistry, Shandong University, Ministry of Education, Jinan, 250100, China.
| | - Wenjun Tai
- Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface Chemistry, Shandong University, Ministry of Education, Jinan, 250100, China.
| | - Ping Song
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Qiongzheng Hu
- Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Shandong Analysis and Test Center, Jinan, 250014, China.
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Qilu University of Technology (Shandong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, 250014, China
| | - Li Yu
- Key Laboratory of Colloid and Interface Chemistry, Shandong University, Ministry of Education, Jinan, 250100, China.
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2
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Saar KL, Scrutton RM, Bloznelyte K, Morgunov AS, Good LL, Lee AA, Teichmann SA, Knowles TPJ. Protein Condensate Atlas from predictive models of heteromolecular condensate composition. Nat Commun 2024; 15:5418. [PMID: 38987300 PMCID: PMC11237133 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-48496-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Biomolecular condensates help cells organise their content in space and time. Cells harbour a variety of condensate types with diverse composition and many are likely yet to be discovered. Here, we develop a methodology to predict the composition of biomolecular condensates. We first analyse available proteomics data of cellular condensates and find that the biophysical features that determine protein localisation into condensates differ from known drivers of homotypic phase separation processes, with charge mediated protein-RNA and hydrophobicity mediated protein-protein interactions playing a key role in the former process. We then develop a machine learning model that links protein sequence to its propensity to localise into heteromolecular condensates. We apply the model across the proteome and find many of the top-ranked targets outside the original training data to localise into condensates as confirmed by orthogonal immunohistochemical staining imaging. Finally, we segment the condensation-prone proteome into condensate types based on an overlap with biomolecular interaction profiles to generate a Protein Condensate Atlas. Several condensate clusters within the Atlas closely match the composition of experimentally characterised condensates or regions within them, suggesting that the Atlas can be valuable for identifying additional components within known condensate systems and discovering previously uncharacterised condensates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kadi L Saar
- Transition Bio Ltd, Cambridge, UK.
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK.
| | - Rob M Scrutton
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
- Department of Chemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3TA, UK
| | | | - Alexey S Morgunov
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
| | - Lydia L Good
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK
- Laboratory of Chemical Physics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Alpha A Lee
- Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK
| | - Sarah A Teichmann
- Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Tuomas P J Knowles
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EW, UK.
- Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0HE, UK.
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3
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Ding M, Xu W, Pei G, Li P. Long way up: rethink diseases in light of phase separation and phase transition. Protein Cell 2024; 15:475-492. [PMID: 38069453 PMCID: PMC11214837 DOI: 10.1093/procel/pwad057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Biomolecular condensation, driven by multivalency, serves as a fundamental mechanism within cells, facilitating the formation of distinct compartments, including membraneless organelles that play essential roles in various cellular processes. Perturbations in the delicate equilibrium of condensation, whether resulting in gain or loss of phase separation, have robustly been associated with cellular dysfunction and physiological disorders. As ongoing research endeavors wholeheartedly embrace this newly acknowledged principle, a transformative shift is occurring in our comprehension of disease. Consequently, significant strides have been made in unraveling the profound relevance and potential causal connections between abnormal phase separation and various diseases. This comprehensive review presents compelling recent evidence that highlight the intricate associations between aberrant phase separation and neurodegenerative diseases, cancers, and infectious diseases. Additionally, we provide a succinct summary of current efforts and propose innovative solutions for the development of potential therapeutics to combat the pathological consequences attributed to aberrant phase separation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingrui Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology & Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
- NuPhase Therapeutics, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Weifan Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology & Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
- NuPhase Therapeutics, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Gaofeng Pei
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology & Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Pilong Li
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology & Frontier Research Center for Biological Structure, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
- Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, Beijing 100084, China
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4
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Workman RJ, Huang CJ, Lynch GC, Pettitt BM. Peptide diffusion in biomolecular condensates. Biophys J 2024; 123:1668-1675. [PMID: 38751116 PMCID: PMC11213990 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2024.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 04/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/30/2024] Open
Abstract
Diffusion determines the turnover of biomolecules in liquid-liquid phase-separated condensates. We considered the mean square displacement and thus the diffusion constant for simple model systems of peptides GGGGG, GGQGG, and GGVGG in aqueous solutions after phase separation by simulating atomic-level models. These solutions readily separate into aqueous and peptide-rich droplet phases. We noted the effect of the peptides being in a solvated, surface, or droplet state on the peptide's diffusion coefficients. Both sequence and peptide conformational distribution were found to influence diffusion and condensate turnover in these systems, with sequence dominating the magnitude of the differences. We found that the most compact structures for each sequence diffused the fastest in the peptide-rich condensate phase. This model result may have implications for turnover dynamics in signaling systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riley J Workman
- University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, Texas
| | - Caleb J Huang
- University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, Texas
| | - Gillian C Lynch
- University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, Texas
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5
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Yu X, Li H, Xu C, Xu Z, Chen S, Liu W, Zhang T, Sun H, Ge Y, Qi Z, Liu J. Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation-Mediated Photocatalytic Subcellular Hybrid System for Highly Efficient Hydrogen Production. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2400097. [PMID: 38572522 PMCID: PMC11165473 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202400097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Plant chloroplasts have a highly compartmentalized interior, essential for executing photocatalytic functions. However, the construction of a photocatalytic reaction compartment similar to chloroplasts in inorganic-biological hybrid systems (IBS) has not been reported. Drawing inspiration from the compartmentalized chloroplast and the phenomenon of liquid-liquid phase separation, herein, a new strategy is first developed for constructing a photocatalytic subcellular hybrid system through liquid-liquid phase separation technology in living cells. Photosensitizers and in vivo expressed hydrogenases are designed to coassemble within the cell to create subcellular compartments for synergetic photocatalysis. This compartmentalization facilitates efficient electron transfer and light energy utilization, resulting in highly effective H2 production. The subcellular compartments hybrid system (HM/IBSCS) exhibits a nearly 87-fold increase in H2 production compared to the bare bacteria/hybrid system. Furthermore, the intracellular compartments of the photocatalytic reactor enhance the system's stability obviously, with the bacteria maintaining approximately 81% of their H2 production activity even after undergoing five cycles of photocatalytic hydrogen production. The research brings forward visionary prospects for the field of semi-artificial photosynthesis, offering new possibilities for advancements in areas such as renewable energy, biomanufacturing, and genetic engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxuan Yu
- Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material TechnologyMinistry of EducationCollege of MaterialChemistry and Chemical EngineeringHangzhou Normal UniversityHangzhou311121China
- Sino‐German Joint Research Lab for Space Biomaterials and Translational TechnologySchool of Life SciencesNorthwestern Polytechnical UniversityXi'an710072China
| | - Hui Li
- Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material TechnologyMinistry of EducationCollege of MaterialChemistry and Chemical EngineeringHangzhou Normal UniversityHangzhou311121China
- Sino‐German Joint Research Lab for Space Biomaterials and Translational TechnologySchool of Life SciencesNorthwestern Polytechnical UniversityXi'an710072China
| | - Chengchen Xu
- Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material TechnologyMinistry of EducationCollege of MaterialChemistry and Chemical EngineeringHangzhou Normal UniversityHangzhou311121China
| | - Zhengwei Xu
- Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material TechnologyMinistry of EducationCollege of MaterialChemistry and Chemical EngineeringHangzhou Normal UniversityHangzhou311121China
| | - Shuheng Chen
- Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material TechnologyMinistry of EducationCollege of MaterialChemistry and Chemical EngineeringHangzhou Normal UniversityHangzhou311121China
| | - Wang Liu
- Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material TechnologyMinistry of EducationCollege of MaterialChemistry and Chemical EngineeringHangzhou Normal UniversityHangzhou311121China
| | - Tianlong Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material TechnologyMinistry of EducationCollege of MaterialChemistry and Chemical EngineeringHangzhou Normal UniversityHangzhou311121China
| | - Hongcheng Sun
- Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material TechnologyMinistry of EducationCollege of MaterialChemistry and Chemical EngineeringHangzhou Normal UniversityHangzhou311121China
| | - Yan Ge
- Sino‐German Joint Research Lab for Space Biomaterials and Translational TechnologySchool of Life SciencesNorthwestern Polytechnical UniversityXi'an710072China
| | - Zhenhui Qi
- Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material TechnologyMinistry of EducationCollege of MaterialChemistry and Chemical EngineeringHangzhou Normal UniversityHangzhou311121China
- Sino‐German Joint Research Lab for Space Biomaterials and Translational TechnologySchool of Life SciencesNorthwestern Polytechnical UniversityXi'an710072China
| | - Junqiu Liu
- Key Laboratory of Organosilicon Chemistry and Material TechnologyMinistry of EducationCollege of MaterialChemistry and Chemical EngineeringHangzhou Normal UniversityHangzhou311121China
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6
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Shelkovnikova TA, Hautbergue GM. RNP granules in ALS and neurodegeneration: From multifunctional membraneless organelles to therapeutic opportunities. INTERNATIONAL REVIEW OF NEUROBIOLOGY 2024; 176:455-479. [PMID: 38802180 DOI: 10.1016/bs.irn.2024.04.009] [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: 05/29/2024]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and related neurodegenerative diseases are characterised by dysfunction of a host of RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) and a severely disrupted RNA metabolism. Recently, RBP-harbouring phase-separated complexes, ribonucleoprotein (RNP) granules, have come into the limelight as "crucibles" of neuronal pathology in ALS. RNP granules are indispensable for the multitude of regulatory processes underlying cellular RNA metabolism and serve as critical organisers of cellular biochemistry. Neurons, highly specialised cells, heavily rely on RNP granules for efficient trafficking, signalling and stress responses. Multiple RNP granule components, primarily RBPs such as TDP-43 and FUS, are affected by ALS mutations. However, even in the absence of mutations, RBP proteinopathies represent pathophysiological hallmarks of ALS. Given the high local concentrations of RBPs and RNAs, their weakened or enhanced interactions within RNP granules disrupt their homeostasis. Thus, the physiological process of phase separation and RNP granule formation, vital for maintaining the high-functioning state of neuronal cells, becomes their Achilles heel. Here, we will review the recent literature on the causes and consequences of abnormal RNP granule functioning in ALS and related disorders. In particular, we will summarise the evidence for the network-level dysfunction of RNP granules in these conditions and discuss considerations for therapeutic interventions to target RBPs, RNP granules and their network as a whole.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tatyana A Shelkovnikova
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom; Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
| | - Guillaume M Hautbergue
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom; Neuroscience Institute, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield, United Kingdom; Healthy Lifespan Institute (HELSI), University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
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7
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Zhang M, Zhang Z, Niu X, Ti H, Zhou Y, Gao B, Li Y, Liu J, Chen X, Li H. Interplay Between Intracellular Transport Dynamics and Liquid‒Liquid Phase Separation. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2308338. [PMID: 38447188 PMCID: PMC11109639 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202308338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024]
Abstract
Liquid‒liquid phase separation (LLPS) is a ubiquitous process in which proteins, RNA, and biomolecules assemble into membrane-less compartments, playing important roles in many biological functions and diseases. The current knowledge on the biophysical and biochemical principles of LLPS is largely from in vitro studies; however, the physiological environment in living cells is complex and not at equilibrium. The characteristics of intracellular dynamics and their roles in physiological LLPS remain to be resolved. Here, by using single-particle tracking of quantum dots and dynamic monitoring of the formation of stress granules (SGs) in single cells, the spatiotemporal dynamics of intracellular transport in cells undergoing LLPS are quantified. It is shown that intracellular diffusion and active transport are both reduced. Furthermore, the formation of SG droplets contributes to increased spatial heterogeneity within the cell. More importantly, the study demonstrated that the LLPS of SGs can be regulated by intracellular dynamics in two stages: the reduced intracellular diffusion promotes SG assembly and the microtubule-associated transport facilitates SG coalescences. The work on intracellular dynamics not only improves the understanding of the mechanism of physiology phase separations occurring in nonequilibrium environments but also reveals an interplay between intracellular dynamics and LLPS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming‐Li Zhang
- School of Systems Science and Institute of Nonequilibrium SystemsBeijing Normal UniversityBeijing100875China
| | - Ziheng Zhang
- School of Life Science and TechnologyShanghaiTech UniversityShanghai201210China
| | - Xue‐Zhi Niu
- School of Systems Science and Institute of Nonequilibrium SystemsBeijing Normal UniversityBeijing100875China
| | - Hui‐Ying Ti
- School of Systems Science and Institute of Nonequilibrium SystemsBeijing Normal UniversityBeijing100875China
| | - Yu‐Xuan Zhou
- School of Systems Science and Institute of Nonequilibrium SystemsBeijing Normal UniversityBeijing100875China
| | - Bo Gao
- School of Systems Science and Institute of Nonequilibrium SystemsBeijing Normal UniversityBeijing100875China
| | - Yiwei Li
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics – Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key LaboratoryDepartment of Biomedical EngineeringCollege of Life Science and TechnologyHuazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan430074China
| | - Ji‐Long Liu
- School of Life Science and TechnologyShanghaiTech UniversityShanghai201210China
| | - Xiaosong Chen
- School of Systems Science and Institute of Nonequilibrium SystemsBeijing Normal UniversityBeijing100875China
| | - Hui Li
- School of Systems Science and Institute of Nonequilibrium SystemsBeijing Normal UniversityBeijing100875China
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8
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Nomura S, Miyasaka A, Maruyama A, Shimada N. Spontaneous Liquid Droplet-to-Gel Transition of Citrulline Polypeptide Complexed with Nucleic Acids. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2024; 10:1473-1480. [PMID: 38404112 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.3c01716] [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] [Indexed: 02/27/2024]
Abstract
Inside cells, proteins complex with nucleic acids to form liquid droplets resulting from liquid-liquid phase separation. The presence of mutated proteins can change the state of these liquid droplets to solids or gels, triggering neurodegenerative diseases. The mechanism of the liquid to solid or gel transition is still unclear. Solutions of poly(l-ornithine-co-l-citrulline) (PLOC) copolymers, which exhibit upper critical solution temperature-type behavior, change state upon cooling. In this study, we evaluated the effect of nucleic acids complexed with PLOC on phase changes. In the presence of nucleic acids, such as polyC and polyU, PLOC formed liquid droplets at low temperatures. The droplets dissolved at temperatures above the phase separation temperature. The phase separation temperature depended on the chemical structure of the nucleobase, implying that electrostatic and hydrogen bonding interactions between the nucleic acid and PLOC influenced phase separation. Furthermore, the liquid droplets spontaneously changed to gel-like precipitates due to spontaneous release of nucleic acids from the complex. The rate of the liquid droplet-to-gel transition depended on the magnitude of electrostatic and hydrogen bonding interactions between PLOC and nucleic acid. PLOC complexed with mRNA also underwent a liquid droplet-to-gel transition upon the release of mRNA. This work provides insights into the mechanism of pathogenic transitions of the cellular droplets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shouhei Nomura
- Department of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 226-8501, Japan
| | - Ayano Miyasaka
- Department of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 226-8501, Japan
| | - Atsushi Maruyama
- Department of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 226-8501, Japan
| | - Naohiko Shimada
- Department of Life Science and Technology, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 226-8501, Japan
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9
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Bryan NW, Ali A, Niedzialkowska E, Mayne L, Stukenberg PT, Black BE. Structural basis for the phase separation of the chromosome passenger complex. eLife 2024; 13:e92709. [PMID: 38456462 PMCID: PMC10977965 DOI: 10.7554/elife.92709] [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: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
The physical basis of phase separation is thought to consist of the same types of bonds that specify conventional macromolecular interactions yet is unsatisfyingly often referred to as 'fuzzy'. Gaining clarity on the biogenesis of membraneless cellular compartments is one of the most demanding challenges in biology. Here, we focus on the chromosome passenger complex (CPC), that forms a chromatin body that regulates chromosome segregation in mitosis. Within the three regulatory subunits of the CPC implicated in phase separation - a heterotrimer of INCENP, Survivin, and Borealin - we identify the contact regions formed upon droplet formation using hydrogen/deuterium exchange mass spectrometry (HXMS). These contact regions correspond to some of the interfaces seen between individual heterotrimers within the crystal lattice they form. A major contribution comes from specific electrostatic interactions that can be broken and reversed through initial and compensatory mutagenesis, respectively. Our findings reveal structural insight for interactions driving liquid-liquid demixing of the CPC. Moreover, we establish HXMS as an approach to define the structural basis for phase separation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikaela W Bryan
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
- Graduate Program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - Aamir Ali
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of VirginiaCharlottesvilleUnited States
| | - Ewa Niedzialkowska
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of VirginiaCharlottesvilleUnited States
| | - Leland Mayne
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
| | - P Todd Stukenberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of VirginiaCharlottesvilleUnited States
| | - Ben E Black
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
- Graduate Program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
- Penn Center for Genome Integrity, Perelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
- Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaUnited States
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10
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Alshareedah I, Singh A, Yang S, Ramachandran V, Quinn A, Potoyan DA, Banerjee PR. Determinants of viscoelasticity and flow activation energy in biomolecular condensates. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2024; 10:eadi6539. [PMID: 38363841 PMCID: PMC10871536 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adi6539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/17/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
The form and function of biomolecular condensates are intimately linked to their material properties. Here, we integrate microrheology with molecular simulations to dissect the physical determinants of condensate fluid phase dynamics. By quantifying the timescales and energetics of network relaxation in a series of heterotypic viscoelastic condensates, we uncover distinctive roles of sticker motifs, binding energy, and chain length in dictating condensate dynamical properties. We find that the mechanical relaxation times of condensate-spanning networks are determined by both intermolecular interactions and chain length. We demonstrate, however, that the energy barrier for network reconfiguration, termed flow activation energy, is independent of chain length and only varies with the strengths of intermolecular interactions. Biomolecular diffusion in the dense phase depends on a complex interplay between viscoelasticity and flow activation energy. Our results illuminate distinctive roles of chain length and sequence-specific multivalent interactions underlying the complex material and transport properties of biomolecular condensates.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Anurag Singh
- Department of Physics, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
| | - Sean Yang
- Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | | | - Alexander Quinn
- Department of Physics, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
| | - Davit A. Potoyan
- Department of Chemistry, Iowa State University, Ames, IA 50011, USA
| | - Priya R. Banerjee
- Department of Physics, University at Buffalo, Buffalo, NY 14260, USA
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11
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Lorenz-Ochoa KA, Baiz CR. Ultrafast Spectroscopy Reveals Slow Water Dynamics in Biocondensates. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:27800-27809. [PMID: 38061016 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.3c10862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2023]
Abstract
Cells achieve high spatiotemporal control over biochemical processes through compartmentalization to membrane-bound as well as membraneless organelles that assemble by liquid-liquid phase separation. Characterizing the balance of forces within these environments is essential to understanding their stability and function, and water is an integral part of the condensate, playing an important role in mediating electrostatic and hydrogen-bonding interactions. Here, we investigate the ultrafast, picosecond hydrogen-bond dynamics of a model biocondensate consisting of a peptide poly-l-arginine (Poly-R) and the nucleic acid adenosine monophosphate (AMP) using coherent two-dimensional infrared (2D IR) spectroscopy. We investigated three vibrational modes: the arginine side-chain C═N stretches, an AMP ring mode, and the amide backbone carbonyl stretching modes. Dynamics slow considerably between the dilute phase and the condensate phase for each vibrational probe. For example, the arginine side-chain C═N modes slow from 0.38 to 2.26 ps due to strong electrostatic interactions. All-atom molecular dynamics simulations provide an atomistic interpretation of the H-bond network disruption resulting from electrostatic contributions as well as collapse within the condensate. Simulations predict that a fraction of water molecules are highly constrained within the condensate, explaining the observed slowdown in the H-bond dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keegan A Lorenz-Ochoa
- Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
| | - Carlos R Baiz
- Department of Chemistry, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, Texas 78712, United States
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12
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Ramírez de Mingo D, López-García P, Vaquero ME, Hervás R, Laurents DV, Carrión-Vázquez M. Phase separation modulates the functional amyloid assembly of human CPEB3. Prog Neurobiol 2023; 231:102540. [PMID: 37898314 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2023.102540] [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: 05/09/2023] [Revised: 09/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023]
Abstract
How functional amyloids are regulated to restrict their activity is poorly understood. The cytoplasmic polyadenylation element-binding protein 3 (CPEB3) is an RNA-binding protein that adopts an amyloid state key for memory persistence. Its monomer represses the translation of synaptic target mRNAs while phase separated, whereas its aggregated state acts as a translational activator. Here, we have explored the sequence-driven molecular determinants behind the functional aggregation of human CPEB3 (hCPEB3). We found that the intrinsically disordered region (IDR) of hCPEB3 encodes both an amyloidogenic and a phase separation domain, separated by a poly-A-rich region. The hCPEB3 amyloid core is composed by a hydrophobic region instead of the Q-rich stretch found in the Drosophila orthologue. The hCPEB3 phase separation domain relies on hydrophobic interactions with ionic strength dependence, and its droplet ageing process leads to a liquid-to-solid transition with the formation of a non-fibril-based hydrogel surrounded by starburst droplets. Furthermore, we demonstrate the differential behavior of the protein depending on its environment. Under physiological-like conditions, hCPEB3 can establish additional electrostatic interactions with ions, increasing the stability of its liquid droplets and driving a condensation-based amyloid pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Paula López-García
- Instituto Cajal, CSIC, Avenida Doctor Arce 37, Madrid 28002, Spain; PhD Program in Neuroscience, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid-Cajal Institute, Madrid 28029, Spain
| | | | - Rubén Hervás
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of China
| | - Douglas V Laurents
- Instituto de Química Física "Blas Cabrera", CSIC, C/ Serrano 119, Madrid 28006, Spain
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13
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Ganser C, Staples MI, Dowell M, Frazer C, Dainis J, Sircaik S, Bennett RJ. Filamentation and biofilm formation are regulated by the phase-separation capacity of network transcription factors in Candida albicans. PLoS Pathog 2023; 19:e1011833. [PMID: 38091321 PMCID: PMC10718430 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1011833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/17/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The ability of the fungus Candida albicans to filament and form biofilms contributes to its burden as a leading cause of hospital-acquired infections. Biofilm development involves an interconnected transcriptional regulatory network (TRN) consisting of nine transcription factors (TFs) that bind both to their own regulatory regions and to those of the other network TFs. Here, we show that seven of the nine TFs in the C. albicans biofilm network contain prion-like domains (PrLDs) that have been linked to the ability to form phase-separated condensates. Construction of PrLD mutants in four biofilm TFs reveals that these domains are essential for filamentation and biofilm formation in C. albicans. Moreover, biofilm PrLDs promote the formation of phase-separated condensates in the nuclei of live cells, and PrLD mutations that abolish phase separation (such as the removal of aromatic residues) also prevent biofilm formation. Biofilm TF condensates can selectively recruit other TFs through PrLD-PrLD interactions and can co-recruit RNA polymerase II, implicating condensate formation in the assembly of active transcriptional complexes. Finally, we show that PrLD mutations that block the phase separation of biofilm TFs also prevent filamentation in an in vivo model of gastrointestinal colonization. Together, these studies associate transcriptional condensates with the regulation of filamentation and biofilm formation in C. albicans, and highlight how targeting of PrLD-PrLD interactions could prevent pathogenesis by this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Collin Ganser
- Molecular Microbiology and Immunology Department, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Mae I. Staples
- Molecular Microbiology and Immunology Department, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Maureen Dowell
- Molecular Microbiology and Immunology Department, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Corey Frazer
- Molecular Microbiology and Immunology Department, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Joseph Dainis
- Molecular Microbiology and Immunology Department, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Shabnam Sircaik
- Molecular Microbiology and Immunology Department, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
| | - Richard J. Bennett
- Molecular Microbiology and Immunology Department, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, United States of America
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14
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Etibor TA, O’Riain A, Alenquer M, Diwo C, Vale-Costa S, Amorim MJ. Challenges in Imaging Analyses of Biomolecular Condensates in Cells Infected with Influenza A Virus. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15253. [PMID: 37894933 PMCID: PMC10607852 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242015253] [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: 08/04/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Biomolecular condensates are crucial compartments within cells, relying on their material properties for function. They form and persist through weak, transient interactions, often undetectable by classical biochemical approaches. Hence, microscopy-based techniques have been the most reliable methods to detail the molecular mechanisms controlling their formation, material properties, and alterations, including dissolution or phase transitions due to cellular manipulation and disease, and to search for novel therapeutic strategies targeting biomolecular condensates. However, technical challenges in microscopy-based analysis persist. This paper discusses imaging, data acquisition, and analytical methodologies' advantages, challenges, and limitations in determining biophysical parameters explaining biomolecular condensate formation, dissolution, and phase transitions. In addition, we mention how machine learning is increasingly important for efficient image analysis, teaching programs what a condensate should resemble, aiding in the correlation and interpretation of information from diverse data sources. Influenza A virus forms liquid viral inclusions in the infected cell cytosol that serve as model biomolecular condensates for this study. Our previous work showcased the possibility of hardening these liquid inclusions, potentially leading to novel antiviral strategies. This was established using a framework involving live cell imaging to measure dynamics, internal rearrangement capacity, coalescence, and relaxation time. Additionally, we integrated thermodynamic characteristics by analysing fixed images through Z-projections. The aforementioned paper laid the foundation for this subsequent technical paper, which explores how different modalities in data acquisition and processing impact the robustness of results to detect bona fide phase transitions by measuring thermodynamic traits in fixed cells. Using solely this approach would greatly simplify screening pipelines. For this, we tested how single focal plane images, Z-projections, or volumetric analyses of images stained with antibodies or live tagged proteins altered the quantification of thermodynamic measurements. Customizing methodologies for different biomolecular condensates through advanced bioimaging significantly contributes to biological research and potential therapeutic advancements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Temitope Akhigbe Etibor
- Cell Biology of Viral Infection Lab (CBV), Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (IGC), Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, R. Quinta Grande, 6, 2780-156 Oeiras, Portugal; (T.A.E.); (A.O.); (M.A.); (C.D.); (S.V.-C.)
| | - Aidan O’Riain
- Cell Biology of Viral Infection Lab (CBV), Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (IGC), Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, R. Quinta Grande, 6, 2780-156 Oeiras, Portugal; (T.A.E.); (A.O.); (M.A.); (C.D.); (S.V.-C.)
| | - Marta Alenquer
- Cell Biology of Viral Infection Lab (CBV), Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (IGC), Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, R. Quinta Grande, 6, 2780-156 Oeiras, Portugal; (T.A.E.); (A.O.); (M.A.); (C.D.); (S.V.-C.)
- Cell Biology of Viral Infection Lab (CBV), Católica Biomedical Research Centre (CBR), Católica Medical School, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Palma de Cima, 1649-023 Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Christian Diwo
- Cell Biology of Viral Infection Lab (CBV), Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (IGC), Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, R. Quinta Grande, 6, 2780-156 Oeiras, Portugal; (T.A.E.); (A.O.); (M.A.); (C.D.); (S.V.-C.)
| | - Sílvia Vale-Costa
- Cell Biology of Viral Infection Lab (CBV), Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (IGC), Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, R. Quinta Grande, 6, 2780-156 Oeiras, Portugal; (T.A.E.); (A.O.); (M.A.); (C.D.); (S.V.-C.)
| | - Maria João Amorim
- Cell Biology of Viral Infection Lab (CBV), Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência (IGC), Fundação Calouste Gulbenkian, R. Quinta Grande, 6, 2780-156 Oeiras, Portugal; (T.A.E.); (A.O.); (M.A.); (C.D.); (S.V.-C.)
- Cell Biology of Viral Infection Lab (CBV), Católica Biomedical Research Centre (CBR), Católica Medical School, Universidade Católica Portuguesa, Palma de Cima, 1649-023 Lisboa, Portugal
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15
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Wilson C, Lewis KA, Fitzkee NC, Hough LE, Whitten ST. ParSe 2.0: A web tool to identify drivers of protein phase separation at the proteome level. Protein Sci 2023; 32:e4756. [PMID: 37574757 PMCID: PMC10464302 DOI: 10.1002/pro.4756] [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: 06/23/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023]
Abstract
We have developed an algorithm, ParSe, which accurately identifies from the primary sequence those protein regions likely to exhibit physiological phase separation behavior. Originally, ParSe was designed to test the hypothesis that, for flexible proteins, phase separation potential is correlated to hydrodynamic size. While our results were consistent with that idea, we also found that many different descriptors could successfully differentiate between three classes of protein regions: folded, intrinsically disordered, and phase-separating intrinsically disordered. Consequently, numerous combinations of amino acid property scales can be used to make robust predictions of protein phase separation. Built from that finding, ParSe 2.0 uses an optimal set of property scales to predict domain-level organization and compute a sequence-based prediction of phase separation potential. The algorithm is fast enough to scan the whole of the human proteome in minutes on a single computer and is equally or more accurate than other published predictors in identifying proteins and regions within proteins that drive phase separation. Here, we describe a web application for ParSe 2.0 that may be accessed through a browser by visiting https://stevewhitten.github.io/Parse_v2_FASTA to quickly identify phase-separating proteins within large sequence sets, or by visiting https://stevewhitten.github.io/Parse_v2_web to evaluate individual protein sequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colorado Wilson
- Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryTexas State UniversitySan MarcosTexasUSA
- Present address:
Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Sealy Center for Structural Biology and Molecular BiophysicsUniversity of Texas Medical BranchGalvestonTexasUSA
| | - Karen A. Lewis
- Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryTexas State UniversitySan MarcosTexasUSA
| | - Nicholas C. Fitzkee
- Department of ChemistryMississippi State UniversityMississippi StateMississippiUSA
| | - Loren E. Hough
- Department of PhysicsUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
- BioFrontiers InstituteUniversity of Colorado BoulderBoulderColoradoUSA
| | - Steven T. Whitten
- Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryTexas State UniversitySan MarcosTexasUSA
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16
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Ray S, Mason TO, Boyens-Thiele L, Farzadfard A, Larsen JA, Norrild RK, Jahnke N, Buell AK. Mass photometric detection and quantification of nanoscale α-synuclein phase separation. Nat Chem 2023; 15:1306-1316. [PMID: 37337111 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-023-01244-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Protein liquid-liquid phase separation can lead to disease-related amyloid fibril formation. The mechanisms of conversion of monomeric protein into condensate droplets and of the latter into fibrils remain elusive. Here, using mass photometry, we demonstrate that the Parkinson's disease-related protein, α-synuclein, can form dynamic nanoscale clusters at physiologically relevant, sub-saturated concentrations. Nanoclusters nucleate in bulk solution and promote amyloid fibril formation of the dilute-phase monomers upon ageing. Their formation is instantaneous, even under conditions where macroscopic assemblies appear only after several days. The slow growth of the nanoclusters can be attributed to a kinetic barrier, probably due to an interfacial penalty from the charged C terminus of α-synuclein. Our findings reveal that α-synuclein phase separation occurs at much wider ranges of solution conditions than reported so far. Importantly, we establish mass photometry as a promising methodology to detect and quantify nanoscale precursors of phase separation. We also demonstrate its general applicability by probing the existence of nanoclusters of a non-amyloidogenic protein, Ddx4n1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soumik Ray
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Thomas O Mason
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Lars Boyens-Thiele
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Azad Farzadfard
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jacob Aunstrup Larsen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Rasmus K Norrild
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Nadin Jahnke
- Novo Nordisk A/S, Novo Nordisk Park, Måløv, Denmark
| | - Alexander K Buell
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark.
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17
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Piroska L, Fenyi A, Thomas S, Plamont MA, Redeker V, Melki R, Gueroui Z. α-Synuclein liquid condensates fuel fibrillar α-synuclein growth. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadg5663. [PMID: 37585526 PMCID: PMC10431715 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adg5663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/13/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023]
Abstract
α-Synuclein (α-Syn) aggregation into fibrils with prion-like features is intimately associated with Lewy pathology and various synucleinopathies. Emerging studies suggest that α-Syn could form liquid condensates through phase separation. The role of these condensates in aggregation and disease remains elusive and the interplay between α-Syn fibrils and α-Syn condensates remains unexplored, possibly due to difficulties in triggering the formation of α-Syn condensates in cells. To address this gap, we developed an assay allowing the controlled assembly/disassembly of α-Syn condensates in cells and studied them upon exposure to preformed α-Syn fibrillar polymorphs. Fibrils triggered the evolution of liquid α-Syn condensates into solid-like structures displaying growing needle-like extensions and exhibiting pathological amyloid hallmarks. No such changes were elicited on α-Syn that did not undergo phase separation. We, therefore, propose a model where α-Syn within condensates fuels exogenous fibrillar seeds growth, thus speeding up the prion-like propagation of pathogenic aggregates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonard Piroska
- PASTEUR, Department of Chemistry, École Normale Supérieure, PSL University, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Alexis Fenyi
- Institut Francois Jacob (MIRCen), CEA, CNRS, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Scott Thomas
- PASTEUR, Department of Chemistry, École Normale Supérieure, PSL University, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Marie-Aude Plamont
- PASTEUR, Department of Chemistry, École Normale Supérieure, PSL University, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Virginie Redeker
- Institut Francois Jacob (MIRCen), CEA, CNRS, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Ronald Melki
- Institut Francois Jacob (MIRCen), CEA, CNRS, Fontenay-aux-Roses, France
| | - Zoher Gueroui
- PASTEUR, Department of Chemistry, École Normale Supérieure, PSL University, Sorbonne Université, CNRS, 75005 Paris, France
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18
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Saar KL, Qian D, Good LL, Morgunov AS, Collepardo-Guevara R, Best RB, Knowles TPJ. Theoretical and Data-Driven Approaches for Biomolecular Condensates. Chem Rev 2023; 123:8988-9009. [PMID: 37171907 PMCID: PMC10375482 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00586] [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: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
Biomolecular condensation processes are increasingly recognized as a fundamental mechanism that living cells use to organize biomolecules in time and space. These processes can lead to the formation of membraneless organelles that enable cells to perform distinct biochemical processes in controlled local environments, thereby supplying them with an additional degree of spatial control relative to that achieved by membrane-bound organelles. This fundamental importance of biomolecular condensation has motivated a quest to discover and understand the molecular mechanisms and determinants that drive and control this process. Within this molecular viewpoint, computational methods can provide a unique angle to studying biomolecular condensation processes by contributing the resolution and scale that are challenging to reach with experimental techniques alone. In this Review, we focus on three types of dry-lab approaches: theoretical methods, physics-driven simulations and data-driven machine learning methods. We review recent progress in using these tools for probing biomolecular condensation across all three fields and outline the key advantages and limitations of each of the approaches. We further discuss some of the key outstanding challenges that we foresee the community addressing next in order to develop a more complete picture of the molecular driving forces behind biomolecular condensation processes and their biological roles in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kadi L. Saar
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
- Transition
Bio Ltd., Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Daoyuan Qian
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Lydia L. Good
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
- Laboratory
of Chemical Physics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive
and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes
of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Alexey S. Morgunov
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
| | - Rosana Collepardo-Guevara
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
- Department
of Genetics, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 3EH, United Kingdom
| | - Robert B. Best
- Laboratory
of Chemical Physics, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive
and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes
of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Tuomas P. J. Knowles
- Yusuf
Hamied Department of Chemistry, University
of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 1EW, United Kingdom
- Cavendish
Laboratory, Department of Physics, University
of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0HE, United Kingdom
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19
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Abstract
Biomolecular condensates are reversible compartments that form through a process called phase separation. Post-translational modifications like ADP-ribosylation can nucleate the formation of these condensates by accelerating the self-association of proteins. Poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR) chains are remarkably transient modifications with turnover rates on the order of minutes, yet they can be required for the formation of granules in response to oxidative stress, DNA damage, and other stimuli. Moreover, accumulation of PAR is linked with adverse phase transitions in neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. In this review, we provide a primer on how PAR is synthesized and regulated, the diverse structures and chemistries of ADP-ribosylation modifications, and protein-PAR interactions. We review substantial progress in recent efforts to determine the molecular mechanism of PAR-mediated phase separation, and we further delineate how inhibitors of PAR polymerases may be effective treatments for neurodegenerative pathologies. Finally, we highlight the need for rigorous biochemical interrogation of ADP-ribosylation in vivo and in vitro to clarify the exact pathway from PARylation to condensate formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Rhine
- Program in Cell, Molecular, Developmental Biology, and Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
| | - Hana M Odeh
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - James Shorter
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, United States
| | - Sua Myong
- Program in Cell, Molecular, Developmental Biology, and Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
- Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21218, United States
- Physics Frontier Center (Center for the Physics of Living Cells), University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, Illinois 61801, United States
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20
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Bryan NW, Ali A, Niedzialkowska E, Mayne L, Stukenberg PT, Black BE. Structural Basis for the Phase Separation of the Chromosome Passenger Complex. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.22.541822. [PMID: 37292983 PMCID: PMC10245869 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.22.541822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The physical basis of phase separation is thought to consist of the same types of bonds that specify conventional macromolecular interactions yet is unsatisfyingly often referred to as 'fuzzy'. Gaining clarity on the biogenesis of membraneless cellular compartments is one of the most demanding challenges in biology. Here, we focus on the chromosome passenger complex (CPC), that forms a chromatin body that regulates chromosome segregation in mitosis. Within the three regulatory subunits of the CPC implicated in phase separation - a heterotrimer of INCENP, Survivin, and Borealin - we identify the contact regions formed upon droplet formation using hydrogen/deuterium-exchange mass spectrometry (HXMS). These contact regions correspond to some of the interfaces seen between individual heterotrimers within the crystal lattice they form. A major contribution comes from specific electrostatic interactions that can be broken and reversed through initial and compensatory mutagenesis, respectively. Our findings reveal structural insight for interactions driving liquid-liquid demixing of the CPC. Moreover, we establish HXMS as an approach to define the structural basis for phase separation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikaela W. Bryan
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104
- Graduate Program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104
| | - Aamir Ali
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22904
| | - Ewa Niedzialkowska
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22904
| | - Leland Mayne
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104
| | - P. Todd Stukenberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22904
| | - Ben E. Black
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104
- Graduate Program in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104
- Penn Center for Genome Integrity, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104
- Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104
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21
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Li M, Chen G, Zhang Z. Modeling the effects of phosphorylation on phase separation of the FUS low-complexity domain. Biophys J 2023; 122:2636-2645. [PMID: 37211763 PMCID: PMC10397571 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2023.05.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Aggregation of the RNA-binding protein fused in sarcoma (FUS) is a hallmark of neurodegenerative diseases. Phosphorylation of Ser/Thr in the FUS low-complexity domain (FUS-LC) may regulate phase separation of FUS and prevent pathological aggregation in cells. However, many details of this process remain elusive to date. In this work, we systematically investigated the phosphorylation of FUS-LC and the underlying molecular mechanism by molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and free energy calculations. The results clearly show that phosphorylation can destroy the fibril core structure of FUS-LC by breaking interchain interactions, particularly contacts involving residues like Tyr, Ser, and Gln. Among the six phosphorylation sites, Ser61 and Ser84 may have more important effects on the stability of the fibril core. Our study reveals structural and dynamic details of FUS-LC phase separation modulated by phosphorylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingwei Li
- MOE Key Laboratory for Cellular Dynamics and Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, P.R. China
| | - Guanglin Chen
- Department of Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, P.R. China
| | - Zhiyong Zhang
- MOE Key Laboratory for Cellular Dynamics and Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, P.R. China; Department of Physics, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, P.R. China.
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22
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Hurtle BT, Xie L, Donnelly CJ. Disrupting pathologic phase transitions in neurodegeneration. J Clin Invest 2023; 133:e168549. [PMID: 37395272 DOI: 10.1172/jci168549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Solid-like protein deposits found in aged and diseased human brains have revealed a relationship between insoluble protein accumulations and the resulting deficits in neurologic function. Clinically diverse neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, frontotemporal lobar degeneration, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, exhibit unique and disease-specific biochemical protein signatures and abnormal protein depositions that often correlate with disease pathogenesis. Recent evidence indicates that many pathologic proteins assemble into liquid-like protein phases through the highly coordinated process of liquid-liquid phase separation. Over the last decade, biomolecular phase transitions have emerged as a fundamental mechanism of cellular organization. Liquid-like condensates organize functionally related biomolecules within the cell, and many neuropathology-associated proteins reside within these dynamic structures. Thus, examining biomolecular phase transitions enhances our understanding of the molecular mechanisms mediating toxicity across diverse neurodegenerative diseases. This Review explores the known mechanisms contributing to aberrant protein phase transitions in neurodegenerative diseases, focusing on tau and TDP-43 proteinopathies and outlining potential therapeutic strategies to regulate these pathologic events.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan T Hurtle
- Center for Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate Program
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Pittsburgh; and
- LiveLikeLou Center for ALS Research at the University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Longxin Xie
- LiveLikeLou Center for ALS Research at the University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Christopher J Donnelly
- Center for Neuroscience at the University of Pittsburgh Graduate Program
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Pittsburgh; and
- LiveLikeLou Center for ALS Research at the University of Pittsburgh Brain Institute; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Neurobiology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
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23
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Rangachari V. Biomolecular condensates - extant relics or evolving microcompartments? Commun Biol 2023; 6:656. [PMID: 37344557 PMCID: PMC10284869 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-04963-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Unprecedented discoveries during the past decade have unearthed the ubiquitous presence of biomolecular condensates (BCs) in diverse organisms and their involvement in a plethora of biological functions. A predominant number of BCs involve coacervation of RNA and proteins that demix from homogenous solutions by a process of phase separation well described by liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), which results in a phase with higher concentration and density from the bulk solution. BCs provide a simple and effective means to achieve reversible spatiotemporal control of cellular processes and adaptation to environmental stimuli in an energy-independent manner. The journey into the past of this phenomenon provides clues to the evolutionary origins of life itself. Here I assemble some current and historic discoveries on LLPS to contemplate whether BCs are extant biological hubs or evolving microcompartments. I conclude that BCs in biology could be extant as a phenomenon but are co-evolving as functionally and compositionally complex microcompartments in cells alongside the membrane-bound organelles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vijayaraghavan Rangachari
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences and Center for Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, MS, 39402, USA.
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24
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Li M, Zhang Y, Zhao J, Wang D. The global landscape and research trend of phase separation in cancer: a bibliometric analysis and visualization. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1170157. [PMID: 37333812 PMCID: PMC10272442 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1170157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Cancer as a deathly disease with high prevalence has impelled researchers to investigate its causative mechanisms in the search for effective therapeutics. Recently, the concept of phase separation has been introduced to biological science and extended to cancer research, which helps reveal various pathogenic processes that have not been identified before. As a process of soluble biomolecules condensed into solid-like and membraneless structures, phase separation is associated with multiple oncogenic processes. However, there are no bibliometric characteristics for these results. To provide future trends and identify new frontiers in this field, a bibliometric analysis was conducted in this study. Methods The Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) was used to search for literature on phase separation in cancer from 1/1/2009 to 31/12/2022. After screening the literature, statistical analysis and visualization were carried out by the VOSviewer software (version 1.6.18) and Citespace software (Version 6.1.R6). Results A total of 264 publications, covering 413 organizations and 32 countries, were published in 137 journals, with an increasing trend in publication and citation numbers per year. The USA and China were the two countries with the largest number of publications, and the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences was the most active institution based on the number of articles and cooperations. Molecular Cell was the most frequent publisher with high citations and H-index. The most productive authors were Fox AH, De Oliveira GAP, and Tompa P. Overlay, whilst few authors had a strong collaboration with each other. The combined analysis of concurrent and burst keywords revealed that the future research hotspots of phase separation in cancer were related to tumor microenvironments, immunotherapy, prognosis, p53, and cell death. Conclusion Phase separation-related cancer research remained in the hot streak period and exhibited a promising outlook. Although inter-agency collaboration existed, cooperation among research groups was rare, and no author dominated this field at the current stage. Investigating the interfaced effects between phase separation and tumor microenvironments on carcinoma behaviors, and constructing relevant prognoses and therapeutics such as immune infiltration-based prognosis and immunotherapy might be the next research trend in the study of phase separation and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengzhu Li
- Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Endocrinology and Lipid Metabolism, Jinan, China
- Shandong Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Jinan, China
- Key Laboratory of Endocrine Glucose & Lipids Metabolism and Brain Aging (Shandong First Medical University), Ministry of Education, Jinan, China
| | - Yizhan Zhang
- Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Endocrinology and Lipid Metabolism, Jinan, China
- Shandong Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Jinan, China
- Key Laboratory of Endocrine Glucose & Lipids Metabolism and Brain Aging (Shandong First Medical University), Ministry of Education, Jinan, China
| | - Jiajun Zhao
- Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Endocrinology and Lipid Metabolism, Jinan, China
- Shandong Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Jinan, China
- Key Laboratory of Endocrine Glucose & Lipids Metabolism and Brain Aging (Shandong First Medical University), Ministry of Education, Jinan, China
| | - Dawei Wang
- Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Endocrinology and Lipid Metabolism, Jinan, China
- Shandong Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Jinan, China
- Key Laboratory of Endocrine Glucose & Lipids Metabolism and Brain Aging (Shandong First Medical University), Ministry of Education, Jinan, China
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Choi HJ, Lee JY, Kim K. Glutathionylation on RNA-binding proteins: a regulator of liquid‒liquid phase separation in the pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Exp Mol Med 2023; 55:735-744. [PMID: 37009800 PMCID: PMC10167235 DOI: 10.1038/s12276-023-00978-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 04/04/2023] Open
Abstract
RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) containing low-sequence complexity domains mediate the formation of cellular condensates and membrane-less organelles with biological functions via liquid‒liquid phase separation (LLPS). However, the abnormal phase transition of these proteins induces the formation of insoluble aggregates. Aggregates are pathological hallmarks of neurodegenerative diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). The molecular mechanisms underlying aggregate formation by ALS-associated RPBs remain largely unknown. This review highlights emerging studies on various posttranslational modifications (PTMs) related to protein aggregation. We begin with the introduction of several ALS-associated RBPs that form aggregates induced by phase separation. In addition, we highlight our recent discovery of a new PTM involved in the phase transition during the pathogenesis of fused-in-sarcoma (FUS)-associated ALS. We suggest a molecular mechanism through which LLPS mediates glutathionylation in FUS-linked ALS. This review aims to provide a detailed overview of the key molecular mechanisms of LLPS-mediated aggregate formation by PTMs, which will help further the understanding of the pathogenesis and development of ALS therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyun-Jun Choi
- Soonchunhyang Institute of Medi-bio Science, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, 31151, Korea
- Department of Integrated Biomedical Sciences, Soonchunhyang University, Cheonan, 31151, Korea
| | - Ji Young Lee
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Soonchunhyang University, Asan, 31538, Korea
- Department of Medical Science, Soonchunhyang University, Asan, 31538, Korea
| | - Kiyoung Kim
- Department of Medical Science, Soonchunhyang University, Asan, 31538, Korea.
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Light, Water, and Melatonin: The Synergistic Regulation of Phase Separation in Dementia. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065835. [PMID: 36982909 PMCID: PMC10054283 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065835] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/22/2023] Open
Abstract
The swift rise in acceptance of molecular principles defining phase separation by a broad array of scientific disciplines is shadowed by increasing discoveries linking phase separation to pathological aggregations associated with numerous neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, that contribute to dementia. Phase separation is powered by multivalent macromolecular interactions. Importantly, the release of water molecules from protein hydration shells into bulk creates entropic gains that promote phase separation and the subsequent generation of insoluble cytotoxic aggregates that drive healthy brain cells into diseased states. Higher viscosity in interfacial waters and limited hydration in interiors of biomolecular condensates facilitate phase separation. Light, water, and melatonin constitute an ancient synergy that ensures adequate protein hydration to prevent aberrant phase separation. The 670 nm visible red wavelength found in sunlight and employed in photobiomodulation reduces interfacial and mitochondrial matrix viscosity to enhance ATP production via increasing ATP synthase motor efficiency. Melatonin is a potent antioxidant that lowers viscosity to increase ATP by scavenging excess reactive oxygen species and free radicals. Reduced viscosity by light and melatonin elevates the availability of free water molecules that allow melatonin to adopt favorable conformations that enhance intrinsic features, including binding interactions with adenosine that reinforces the adenosine moiety effect of ATP responsible for preventing water removal that causes hydrophobic collapse and aggregation in phase separation. Precise recalibration of interspecies melatonin dosages that account for differences in metabolic rates and bioavailability will ensure the efficacious reinstatement of the once-powerful ancient synergy between light, water, and melatonin in a modern world.
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Guo C, Zhang Y, Shuai S, Sigbessia A, Hao S, Xie P, Jiang X, Luo Z, Lin C. The super elongation complex (SEC) mediates phase transition of SPT5 during transcriptional pause release. EMBO Rep 2023; 24:e55699. [PMID: 36629390 PMCID: PMC9986819 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202255699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Release of promoter-proximally paused RNA Pol II into elongation is a tightly regulated and rate-limiting step in metazoan gene transcription. However, the biophysical mechanism underlying pause release remains unclear. Here, we demonstrate that the pausing and elongation regulator SPT5 undergoes phase transition during transcriptional pause release. SPT5 per se is prone to form clusters. The disordered domain in SPT5 is required for pause release and gene activation. During early elongation, the super elongation complex (SEC) induces SPT5 transition into elongation droplets. Depletion of SEC increases SPT5 pausing clusters. Furthermore, disease-associated SEC mutations impair phase properties of elongation droplets and transcription. Our study suggests that SEC-mediated SPT5 phase transition might be essential for pause release and early elongation and that aberrant phase properties could contribute to transcription abnormality in diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chenghao Guo
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and TechnologySoutheast UniversityNanjingChina
- Co‐innovation Center of NeuroregenerationNantong UniversityNantongChina
| | - Yadi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and TechnologySoutheast UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Shimin Shuai
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and TechnologySoutheast UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Abire Sigbessia
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and TechnologySoutheast UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Shaohua Hao
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and TechnologySoutheast UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Peng Xie
- Southeast University‐Allen Institute Joint Center, Institute for Brain and IntelligenceSoutheast UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Xu Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and TechnologySoutheast UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Zhuojuan Luo
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and TechnologySoutheast UniversityNanjingChina
- Co‐innovation Center of NeuroregenerationNantong UniversityNantongChina
- Shenzhen Research InstituteSoutheast UniversityShenzhenChina
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Critical Care Medicine, School of Life Science and TechnologySoutheast UniversityNanjingChina
| | - Chengqi Lin
- Key Laboratory of Developmental Genes and Human Disease, School of Life Science and TechnologySoutheast UniversityNanjingChina
- Co‐innovation Center of NeuroregenerationNantong UniversityNantongChina
- Shenzhen Research InstituteSoutheast UniversityShenzhenChina
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Laboratory of Critical Care Medicine, School of Life Science and TechnologySoutheast UniversityNanjingChina
- Key Laboratory of Technical Evaluation of Fertility Regulation of Non‐human primate, Fujian Provincial Maternity and Children's HospitalAffiliated Hospital of Fujian Medical UniversityFuzhouChina
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Li H, Yan Y, Chen J, Shi K, Song C, Ji Y, Jia L, Li J, Qiao Y, Lin Y. Artificial receptor-mediated phototransduction toward protocellular subcompartmentalization and signaling-encoded logic gates. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eade5853. [PMID: 36857444 PMCID: PMC9977178 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.ade5853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Engineering artificial cellular systems capable of perceiving and transmitting external signals across membranes to activate downstream targets and coordinate protocellular responses is key to build cell-cell communications and protolife. Here, we report a synthetic photoreceptor-mediated signaling pathway with the integration of light harvesting, photo-to-chemical energy conversion, signal transmission, and amplification in synthetic cells, which ultimately resulted in protocell subcompartmentalization. Key to our design is a ruthenium-bipyridine complex that acts as a membrane-anchored photoreceptor to convert visible light into chemical information and transduce signals across the lipid membrane via flip-flop motion. By coupling receptor-mediated phototransduction with biological recognition and enzymatic cascade reactions, we further develop protocell signaling-encoded Boolean logic gates. Our results illustrate a minimal cell model to mimic the photoreceptor cells that can transduce the energy of light into intracellular responses and pave the way to modular control over the flow of information for complex metabolic and signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- He Li
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Yue Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Jing Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Ke Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Chuwen Song
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
| | - Yanglimin Ji
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Liyan Jia
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jianming Li
- Research Center of New Energy, Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development (RIPED), PetroChina, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Yan Qiao
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yiyang Lin
- State Key Laboratory of Chemical Resource Engineering, Beijing Laboratory of Biomedical Materials, Beijing University of Chemical Technology, Beijing 100029, China
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Beckwith SL, Nomberg EJ, Newman AC, Taylor JV, Guerrero RC, Garfinkel DJ. An interchangeable prion-like domain is required for Ty1 retrotransposition. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.27.530227. [PMID: 36909481 PMCID: PMC10002725 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.27.530227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/03/2023]
Abstract
Retrotransposons and retroviruses shape genome evolution and can negatively impact genome function. Saccharomyces cerevisiae and its close relatives harbor several families of LTR-retrotransposons, the most abundant being Ty1 in several laboratory strains. The cytosolic foci that nucleate Ty1 virus-like particle (VLP) assembly are not well-understood. These foci, termed retrosomes or T-bodies, contain Ty1 Gag and likely Gag-Pol and the Ty1 mRNA destined for reverse transcription. Here, we report a novel intrinsically disordered N-terminal pr ion-like d omain (PrLD) within Gag that is required for transposition. This domain contains amino-acid composition similar to known yeast prions and is sufficient to nucleate prionogenesis in an established cell-based prion reporter system. Deleting the Ty1 PrLD results in dramatic VLP assembly and retrotransposition defects but does not affect Gag protein level. Ty1 Gag chimeras in which the PrLD is replaced with other sequences, including yeast and mammalian prionogenic domains, display a range of retrotransposition phenotypes from wildtype to null. We examine these chimeras throughout the Ty1 replication cycle and find that some support retrosome formation, VLP assembly, and retrotransposition, including the yeast Sup35 prion and the mouse PrP prion. Our interchangeable Ty1 system provides a useful, genetically tractable in vivo platform for studying PrLDs, complete with a suite of robust and sensitive assays, and host modulators developed to study Ty1 retromobility. Our work invites study into the prevalence of PrLDs in additional mobile elements. Significance Retrovirus-like retrotransposons help shape the genome evolution of their hosts and replicate within cytoplasmic particles. How their building blocks associate and assemble within the cell is poorly understood. Here, we report a novel pr ion-like d omain (PrLD) in the budding yeast retrotransposon Ty1 Gag protein that builds virus-like particles. The PrLD has similar sequence properties to prions and disordered protein domains that can drive the formation of assemblies that range from liquid to solid. We demonstrate that the Ty1 PrLD can function as a prion and that certain prion sequences can replace the PrLD and support Ty1 transposition. This interchangeable system is an effective platform to study additional disordered sequences in living cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean L. Beckwith
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Emily J. Nomberg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Abigail C. Newman
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
| | - Jeannette V. Taylor
- Robert P. Apkarian Integrated Electron Microscopy Core at Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - Ricardo C. Guerrero
- Robert P. Apkarian Integrated Electron Microscopy Core at Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
| | - David J. Garfinkel
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, 30602, USA
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30
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Li H, Ju Y, Liu WW, Ma YY, Ye H, Li N. Phase Separation of Purified Human LSM4 Protein. Mol Biol 2023. [DOI: 10.1134/s0026893323010065] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/03/2023]
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Wu X, Qiu H, Zhang M. Interactions between Membraneless Condensates and Membranous Organelles at the Presynapse: A Phase Separation View of Synaptic Vesicle Cycle. J Mol Biol 2023; 435:167629. [PMID: 35595170 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2022.167629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 05/03/2022] [Accepted: 05/04/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Action potential-induced neurotransmitter release in presynaptic boutons involves coordinated actions of a large list of proteins that are associated directly or indirectly with membrane structures including synaptic vesicles and plasma membranes. These proteins are often highly abundant in different synaptic bouton sub-compartments, and they rarely act alone. Instead, these proteins interact with each other forming intricate and distinct molecular complexes. Many of these complexes form condensed clusters on membrane surfaces. This review summarizes findings in recent years showing that many of presynaptic protein complex assemblies are formed via phase separation. These protein condensates extensively interact with lipid membranes via distinct modes, forming various mesoscale structures by different mode of organizations between membraneless condensates and membranous organelles. We discuss that such mesoscale interactions could have deep implications on mobilization, exocytosis, and retrieval of synaptic vesicles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiandeng Wu
- Division of Life Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hua Qiu
- Division of Life Science, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Mingjie Zhang
- Greater Bay Biomedical Innocenter, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518036, China; School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China.
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Vega IE, Umstead A. Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation to Study the Association of Proteins in Solution. Methods Mol Biol 2023; 2551:253-267. [PMID: 36310208 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2597-2_17] [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] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) is a reversible biological process that contributes to the formation of critical concentration of proteins, forming membraneless compartments that are physiologically and pathologically relevant. Several proteins have been shown to demix into liquid droplets under in vitro crowding conditions. These studies are mainly conducted in isolation using purified recombinant proteins. Recently, we used LLPS to study the association between two proteins that are co-aggregated in Alzheimer's disease brain, tau, and EFhd2. Here, we describe how we used LLPS to determine the molecular components that contribute to the transition of these two proteins from liquid droplets to solid-like structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irving E Vega
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA.
| | - Andrew Umstead
- Department of Translational Neuroscience, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
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Chen X, Chen EQ, Yang S. Multiphase Coacervation of Polyelectrolytes Driven by Asymmetry of Charged Sequence. Macromolecules 2022. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.macromol.2c01205] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xu Chen
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing100871, China
| | - Er-Qiang Chen
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing100871, China
| | - Shuang Yang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences, Key Laboratory of Polymer Chemistry and Physics of Ministry of Education, Center for Soft Matter Science and Engineering, College of Chemistry and Molecular Engineering, Peking University, Beijing100871, China
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Unravelling the microscopic characteristics of intrinsically disordered proteins upon liquid–liquid phase separation. Essays Biochem 2022; 66:891-900. [DOI: 10.1042/ebc20220148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Biomolecular condensate formation via liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) has emerged as a ubiquitous mechanism underlying the spatiotemporal organization of biomolecules in the cell. These membraneless condensates form and disperse dynamically in response to environmental stimuli. Growing evidence indicates that the liquid-like condensates not only play functional physiological roles but are also implicated in a wide range of human diseases. As a major component of biomolecular condensates, intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are intimately involved in the LLPS process. During the last decade, great efforts have been made on the macroscopic characterization of the physicochemical properties and biological functions of liquid condensates both in vitro and in the cellular context. However, characterization of the conformations and interactions at the molecular level within phase-separated condensates is still at an early stage. In the present review, we summarize recent biophysical studies investigating the intramolecular conformational changes of IDPs upon LLPS and the intermolecular clustering of proteins undergoing LLPS, with a particular focus on single-molecule fluorescence detection. We also discuss how these microscopic features are linked to the macroscopic phase transitions that are relevant to the physiological and pathological roles of the condensates.
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Workman RJ, Gorle S, Pettitt BM. Effects of Conformational Constraint on Peptide Solubility Limits. J Phys Chem B 2022; 126:10510-10518. [PMID: 36450134 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c06458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/05/2022]
Abstract
Liquid-liquid phase separation of proteins preferentially involves intrinsically disordered proteins or disordered regions. Understanding the solution chemistry of these phase separations is key to learning how to quantify and manipulate systems that involve such processes. Here, we investigate the effect of cyclization on the liquid-liquid phase separation of short polyglycine peptides. We simulated separate aqueous systems of supersaturated cyclic and linear GGGGG and observed spontaneous liquid-liquid phase separation in each of the solutions. The cyclic GGGGG phase separates less robustly than linear GGGGG and has a higher aqueous solubility, even though linear GGGGG has a more favorable single molecule solvation free energy. The versatile and abundant interpeptide contacts formed by the linear GGGGG stabilize the condensed droplet phase, driving the phase separation in this system. In particular, we find that van der Waals close contact interactions are enriched in the droplet phase as opposed to electrostatic interactions. An analysis of the change in backbone conformational entropy that accompanies the phase transition revealed that cyclic peptides lose significantly less entropy in this process as expected. However, we find that the enhanced interaction enthalpy of linear GGGGG in the droplet phase is enough to compensate for a larger decrease in conformational entropy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riley J Workman
- Sealy Center for Structural Biology and Molecular Biophysics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555-0304, United States
| | - Suresh Gorle
- Sealy Center for Structural Biology and Molecular Biophysics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555-0304, United States
| | - B Montgomery Pettitt
- Sealy Center for Structural Biology and Molecular Biophysics, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555-0304, United States
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Sun L, Liu XP, Yan X, Wu S, Tang X, Chen C, Li G, Hu H, Wang D, Li S. Identification of molecular subtypes based on liquid-liquid phase separation and cross-talk with immunological phenotype in bladder cancer. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1059568. [PMID: 36518754 PMCID: PMC9742536 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1059568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Mounting evidence has demonstrated that an imbalance in liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) can induce alteration in the spatiotemporal coordination of biomolecular condensates, which plays a role in carcinogenesis and cachexia. However, the role of LLPS in the occurrence and progression of bladder cancer (BLCA) remains to be elucidated. Identifying the role of LLPS in carcinogenesis may aid in cancer therapeutics. Methods A total of 1,351 BLCA samples from six cohorts were retrieved from publicly available databases like The Cancer Genome Atlas, Gene Expression Omnibus, and ArrayExpress. The samples were divided into three distinct clusters, and their multi-dimensional heterogeneities were explored. The LLPS patterns of all patients were determined based on the LLPS-related risk score (LLPSRS), and its multifaceted landscape was depicted and experimentally validated at the multi-omics level. Finally, a cytotoxicity-related and LLPSRS-based classifier was established to predict the patient's response to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) treatment. Results Three LLPS-related subtypes were identified and validated. The differences in prognosis, tumor microenvironment (TME) features, cancer hallmarks, and certain signatures of the three LLPS-related subtypes were validated. LLPSRS was calculated, which could be used as a prognostic biomarker. A close correlation was observed between clinicopathological features, genomic variations, biological mechanisms, immune infiltration in TME, chemosensitivity, and LLPSRS. Furthermore, our classifier could effectively predict immunotherapy response in patients with BLCA. Conclusions Our study identified a novel categorization of BLCA patients based on LLPS. The LLPSRS could predict the prognosis of patients and aid in designing personalized medicine. Further, our binary classifier could effectively predict patients' sensitivity to immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Le Sun
- Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiao-Ping Liu
- Department of Biological Repositories, Cancer Precision Diagnosis and Treatment and Translational Medicine Hubei Engineering Research Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xin Yan
- Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Shaojie Wu
- Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xiaoyu Tang
- Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Chen Chen
- Department of Biological Repositories, Cancer Precision Diagnosis and Treatment and Translational Medicine Hubei Engineering Research Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Gang Li
- Department of Biological Repositories, Cancer Precision Diagnosis and Treatment and Translational Medicine Hubei Engineering Research Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Hankun Hu
- Department of Pharmacy, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Du Wang
- The Institute of Technological Sciences, Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Sheng Li
- Department of Urology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China,Department of Biological Repositories, Cancer Precision Diagnosis and Treatment and Translational Medicine Hubei Engineering Research Center, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China,*Correspondence: Sheng Li,
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Ji Y, Li F, Qiao Y. Modulating liquid-liquid phase separation of FUS: mechanisms and strategies. J Mater Chem B 2022; 10:8616-8628. [PMID: 36268634 DOI: 10.1039/d2tb01688e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of biomolecules inspires the construction of protocells and drives the formation of cellular membraneless organelles. The resulting biomolecular condensates featuring dynamic assembly, disassembly, and phase transition play significant roles in a series of biological processes, including RNA metabolism, DNA damage response, signal transduction and neurodegenerative disease. Intensive investigations have been conducted for understanding and manipulating intracellular phase-separated disease-related proteins (e.g., FUS, tau and TDP-43). Herein, we review current studies on the regulation strategies of intracellular LLPS focusing on FUS, which are categorized into physical stimuli, biochemical modulators, and protein structural modifications, with summarized molecular mechanisms. This review is expected to provide a sketch of the modulation of FUS LLPS with its pros and cons, and an outlook for the potential clinical treatments of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanglimin Ji
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China. .,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Fen Li
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China. .,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Yan Qiao
- Beijing National Laboratory for Molecular Sciences (BNLMS), Laboratory of Polymer Physics and Chemistry, CAS Research/Education Center for Excellence in Molecular Sciences, Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China. .,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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van Tartwijk FW, Kaminski CF. Protein Condensation, Cellular Organization, and Spatiotemporal Regulation of Cytoplasmic Properties. Adv Biol (Weinh) 2022; 6:e2101328. [PMID: 35796197 DOI: 10.1002/adbi.202101328] [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: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 05/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
The cytoplasm is an aqueous, highly crowded solution of active macromolecules. Its properties influence the behavior of proteins, including their folding, motion, and interactions. In particular, proteins in the cytoplasm can interact to form phase-separated assemblies, so-called biomolecular condensates. The interplay between cytoplasmic properties and protein condensation is critical in a number of functional contexts and is the subject of this review. The authors first describe how cytoplasmic properties can affect protein behavior, in particular condensate formation, and then describe the functional implications of this interplay in three cellular contexts, which exemplify how protein self-organization can be adapted to support certain physiological phenotypes. The authors then describe the formation of RNA-protein condensates in highly polarized cells such as neurons, where condensates play a critical role in the regulation of local protein synthesis, and describe how different stressors trigger extensive reorganization of the cytoplasm, both through signaling pathways and through direct stress-induced changes in cytoplasmic properties. Finally, the authors describe changes in protein behavior and cytoplasmic properties that may occur in extremophiles, in particular organisms that have adapted to inhabit environments of extreme temperature, and discuss the implications and functional importance of these changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca W van Tartwijk
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Philippa Fawcett Drive, Cambridge, CB3 0AS, UK
| | - Clemens F Kaminski
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology, University of Cambridge, Philippa Fawcett Drive, Cambridge, CB3 0AS, UK
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39
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Alemasova EE, Lavrik OI. A sePARate phase? Poly(ADP-ribose) versus RNA in the organization of biomolecular condensates. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:10817-10838. [PMID: 36243979 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Condensates are biomolecular assemblies that concentrate biomolecules without the help of membranes. They are morphologically highly versatile and may emerge via distinct mechanisms. Nucleic acids-DNA, RNA and poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR) play special roles in the process of condensate organization. These polymeric scaffolds provide multiple specific and nonspecific interactions during nucleation and 'development' of macromolecular assemblages. In this review, we focus on condensates formed with PAR. We discuss to what extent the literature supports the phase separation origin of these structures. Special attention is paid to similarities and differences between PAR and RNA in the process of dynamic restructuring of condensates during their functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizaveta E Alemasova
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - Olga I Lavrik
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia.,Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
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40
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Role of the Spore Coat Proteins CotA and CotB, and the Spore Surface Protein CDIF630_02480, on the Surface Distribution of Exosporium Proteins in Clostridioides difficile 630 Spores. Microorganisms 2022; 10:microorganisms10101918. [DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms10101918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 09/17/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Clostridioides difficile is Gram-positive spore-former bacterium and the leading cause of nosocomial antibiotic-associated diarrhea. During disease, C. difficile forms metabolically dormant spores that persist in the host and contribute to recurrence of the disease. The outermost surface of C. difficile spores, termed the exosporium, plays an essential role in interactions with host surfaces and the immune system. The main exosporium proteins identified to date include three orthologues of the BclA family of collagen-like proteins, and three cysteine-rich proteins. However, how the underlying spore coat influences exosporium assembly remains unclear. In this work, we explore the contribution of spore coat proteins cotA and cotB, and the spore surface protein, CDIF630_02480, to the exosporium ultrastructure, formation of the polar appendage and the surface accessibility of exosporium proteins. Transmission electron micrographs of spores of insertional inactivation mutants demonstrate that while cotB contributes to the formation of thick-exosporium spores, cotA and CDIF630_02480 contribute to maintain proper thickness of the spore coat and exosporium layers, respectively. The effect of the absence of cotA, cotB and CDIF630_02480 on the surface accessibility of the exosporium proteins CdeA, CdeC, CdeM, BclA2 and BclA3 to antibodies was affected by the presence of the spore appendage, suggesting that different mechanisms of assembly of the exosporium layer might be implicated in each spore phenotype. Collectively, this work contributes to our understanding of the associations between spore coat and exosporium proteins, and how these associations affect the assembly of the spore outer layers. These results have implications for the development of anti-infecting agents targeting C. difficile spores.
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41
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A novel lncRNA MTAR1 promotes cancer development through IGF2BPs mediated post-transcriptional regulation of c-MYC. Oncogene 2022; 41:4736-4753. [DOI: 10.1038/s41388-022-02464-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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42
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Yang H, Chiang C, Luo Q, Chen C, Huang J, Zhu L, Zheng D. YT521-B homology domain family proteins as N6-methyladenosine readers in tumors. Front Genet 2022; 13:934223. [PMID: 36017491 PMCID: PMC9395638 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.934223] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
N6-methyladenosine (m6A) is the most abundant internal chemical modification of eukaryotic mRNA and plays diverse roles in gene regulation. The m6A modification plays a significant role in numerous cancer types, including kidney, stomach, lung, bladder tumors, and melanoma, through varied mechanisms. As direct m6A readers, the YT521-B homology domain family proteins (YTHDFs) play a key role in tumor transcription, translation, protein synthesis, tumor stemness, epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT), immune escape, and chemotherapy resistance. An in-depth understanding of the molecular mechanism of YTHDFs is expected to provide new strategies for tumor treatment. In this review, we provide a systematic description of YTHDF protein structure and its function in tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heng Yang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Genome Stability and Disease Prevention, Shenzhen University International Cancer Center, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People’s Hospital (Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine), Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Chengyao Chiang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Genome Stability and Disease Prevention, Shenzhen University International Cancer Center, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People’s Hospital (Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine), Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- Central Laboratory, Southern University of Science and Technology, Yantain Hospital, Shenzhen, China
| | - Qinhong Luo
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Genome Stability and Disease Prevention, Shenzhen University International Cancer Center, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People’s Hospital (Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine), Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Chunlan Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Genome Stability and Disease Prevention, Shenzhen University International Cancer Center, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People’s Hospital (Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine), Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Junrong Huang
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Genome Stability and Disease Prevention, Shenzhen University International Cancer Center, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People’s Hospital (Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine), Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Lizhi Zhu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Genome Stability and Disease Prevention, Shenzhen University International Cancer Center, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People’s Hospital (Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine), Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- *Correspondence: Lizhi Zhu, ; Duo Zheng,
| | - Duo Zheng
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Genome Stability and Disease Prevention, Shenzhen University International Cancer Center, Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Second People’s Hospital (Shenzhen Institute of Translational Medicine), Guangdong Key Laboratory for Biomedical Measurements and Ultrasound Imaging, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen, China
- *Correspondence: Lizhi Zhu, ; Duo Zheng,
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43
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Molecular mechanism for the synchronized electrostatic coacervation and co-aggregation of alpha-synuclein and tau. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4586. [PMID: 35933508 PMCID: PMC9357037 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-32350-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 07/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Amyloid aggregation of α-synuclein (αS) is the hallmark of Parkinson’s disease and other synucleinopathies. Recently, Tau protein, generally associated with Alzheimer’s disease, has been linked to αS pathology and observed to co-localize in αS-rich disease inclusions, although the molecular mechanisms for the co-aggregation of both proteins remain elusive. We report here that αS phase-separates into liquid condensates by electrostatic complex coacervation with positively charged polypeptides such as Tau. Condensates undergo either fast gelation or coalescence followed by slow amyloid aggregation depending on the affinity of αS for the poly-cation and the rate of valence exhaustion of the condensate network. By combining a set of advanced biophysical techniques, we have been able to characterize αS/Tau liquid-liquid phase separation and identified key factors that lead to the formation of hetero-aggregates containing both proteins in the interior of the liquid protein condensates. Here, the authors report that α-synuclein phase-separates into liquid condensates with positively charged polypeptides such as Tau. The condensates undergo different maturation processes, including the formation of α-synuclein/Tau amyloid hetero-aggregates inside the condensates.
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44
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Garg DK, Bhat R. Modulation of assembly of TDP-43 low-complexity domain by heparin: From droplets to amyloid fibrils. Biophys J 2022; 121:2568-2582. [PMID: 35644946 PMCID: PMC9300664 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2022.05.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 05/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) is an RNA-regulating protein that carries out many cellular functions through liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). The LLPS of TDP-43 is mediated by its C-terminal low-complexity domain (TDP43-LCD) corresponding to the region 267-414. In neurodegenerative disorders amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia, pathological inclusions of the TDP-43 are found that are rich in the C-terminal fragments of ∼25 and ∼35 kDa, of which TDP43-LCD is a part. Thus, understanding the assembly process of TDP43-LCD is essential, given its involvement in the formation of both functional liquid-like assemblies and solid- or gel-like pathological aggregates. Here, we show that the solution pH and salt modulate TDP43-LCD LLPS. A gradual reduction in the pH below its isoelectric point of 9.8 results in a monotonic decrease of TDP43-LCD LLPS due to charge-charge repulsion between monomers, while at pH 6 and below no LLPS was observed. The addition of heparin to TDP43-LCD solution at pH 6, at a 1:2 heparin-to-TDP43-LCD molar ratio, promotes TDP43-LCD LLPS, while at higher concentration, it disrupts LLPS through a reentrant phase transition. Upon incubation at pH 6, TDP43-LCD undergoes gelation without phase separation. However, in the reentrant regime in the presence of a high heparin concentration, it forms thick amyloid aggregates that are significantly more SDS resistant than the gel. The results indicate that the material nature of the TDP43-LCD assembly products can be modulated by heparin which is significant in the context of liquid-to-solid phase transition observed in TDP-43 proteinopathies. Our findings are also crucial in relation to similar transitions that could occur due to alteration in the molecular level interactions among various multivalent biomolecules involving other LCDs and RNAs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rajiv Bhat
- School of Biotechnology, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India.
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45
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Schwed-Gross A, Hamiel H, Faber GP, Angel M, Ben-Yishay R, Benichou JIC, Ishay-Ronen D, Shav-Tal Y. Glucocorticoids enhance chemotherapy-driven stress granule assembly and impair granule dynamics leading to cell death. J Cell Sci 2022; 135:276097. [PMID: 35713120 PMCID: PMC9450892 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.259629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Stress granules (SGs) can assemble in cancer cells upon chemotoxic stress. Glucocorticoids function during stress responses and are administered with chemotherapies. The roles of glucocorticoids in SG assembly and disassembly pathways are unknown. We examined whether combining glucocorticoids such as cortisone with chemotherapies from the vinca alkaloid family, which dismantle the microtubule network, affects SG assembly and disassembly pathways and influences cell viability in cancer cells and human-derived organoids. Cortisone augmented SG formation when combined with vinorelbine (VRB). Live-cell imaging showed that cortisone increased SG assembly rates but reduced SG clearance rates after stress, by increasing protein residence times within the SGs. Mechanistically, VRB and cortisone signaled through the integrated stress response mediated by eIF2α (also known as EIF2S1), yet induced different kinases, with cortisone activating the GCN2 kinase (also known as EIF2AK4). Cortisone increased VRB-induced cell death and reduced the population of cells trapped in mitotic catastrophe. These effects were mediated by the core SG proteins G3BP1 and G3BP2. In conclusion, glucocorticoids induce SG assembly and cell death when administered with chemotherapies, suggesting that combining glucocorticoids with chemotherapies can enhance cancer cell chemosensitivity. Summary: Combining cortisone with the chemotherapy vinorelbine enhances the assembly of stress granules that are less likely to be cleared from the cells, augmenting vinorelbine-induced cell death.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avital Schwed-Gross
- The Mina & Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences & Institute of Nanotechnology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel
| | - Hila Hamiel
- The Mina & Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences & Institute of Nanotechnology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel
| | - Gabriel P Faber
- The Mina & Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences & Institute of Nanotechnology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel
| | - Mor Angel
- The Mina & Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences & Institute of Nanotechnology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel
| | - Rakefet Ben-Yishay
- Oncology Institute, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Jennifer I C Benichou
- The Mina & Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences & Institute of Nanotechnology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel
| | - Dana Ishay-Ronen
- Oncology Institute, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Yaron Shav-Tal
- The Mina & Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences & Institute of Nanotechnology, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan 5290002, Israel
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Linsenmeier M, Hondele M, Grigolato F, Secchi E, Weis K, Arosio P. Dynamic arrest and aging of biomolecular condensates are modulated by low-complexity domains, RNA and biochemical activity. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3030. [PMID: 35641495 PMCID: PMC9156751 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30521-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Biomolecular condensates require suitable control of material properties for their function. Here we apply Differential Dynamic Microscopy (DDM) to probe the material properties of an in vitro model of processing bodies consisting of out-of-equilibrium condensates formed by the DEAD-box ATPase Dhh1 in the presence of ATP and RNA. By applying this single-droplet technique we show that condensates within the same population exhibit a distribution of material properties, which are regulated on several levels. Removal of the low-complexity domains (LCDs) of the protein decreases the fluidity of the condensates. Structured RNA leads to a larger fraction of dynamically arrested condensates with respect to unstructured polyuridylic acid (polyU). Promotion of the enzymatic ATPase activity of Dhh1 reduces aging of the condensates and the formation of arrested structures, indicating that biochemical activity and material turnover can maintain fluid-like properties over time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Linsenmeier
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Maria Hondele
- Department of Biology, Institute for Biochemistry, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
- Biozentrum, Center for Molecular Life Sciences, University of Basel, 4056, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Fulvio Grigolato
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Eleonora Secchi
- Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatic Engineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Karsten Weis
- Department of Biology, Institute for Biochemistry, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Paolo Arosio
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland.
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47
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Ectopic biomolecular phase transitions: fusion proteins in cancer pathologies. Trends Cell Biol 2022; 32:681-695. [PMID: 35484036 PMCID: PMC9288518 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2022.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 03/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Biomolecular condensates are membraneless organelles (MLOs) that are enriched in specific proteins and nucleic acids, compartmentalized to perform biochemical functions. Such condensates are formed by phase separation (PS) enabled by protein domains that allow multivalent interactions. Chromosomal translocation-derived in-frame gene fusions often generate proteins with non-native domain combinations that rewire protein-protein interaction networks. Several recent studies have shown that, for a subset of these fusion proteins, pathogenesis can be driven by the ability of the fusion protein to undergo phase transitions at non-physiological cellular locations to form ectopic condensates. We highlight how such ectopic phase transitions can alter biological processes and posit that dysfunction via protein PS at non-physiological locations represents a generic route to oncogenic transformation.
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48
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Petty HR. Enzyme Trafficking and Co-Clustering Precede and Accurately Predict Human Breast Cancer Recurrences: An Interdisciplinary Review. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2022; 322:C991-C1010. [PMID: 35385324 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00042.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Although great effort has been expended to understand cancer's origins, less attention has been given to the primary cause of cancer deaths - cancer recurrences and their sequelae. This interdisciplinary review addresses mechanistic features of aggressive cancer by studying metabolic enzyme patterns within ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast lesions. DCIS lesions from patients who did or did not experience a breast cancer recurrence were compared. Several proteins, including phospho-Ser226-glucose transporter type 1, phosphofructokinase type L and phosphofructokinase/fructose 2,6-bisphosphatase type 4 are found in nucleoli of ductal epithelial cells in samples from patients who will not subsequently recur, but traffic to the cell periphery in samples from patients who will experience a cancer recurrence. Large co-clusters of enzymes near plasmalemmata will enhance product formation because enzyme concentrations in clusters are very high while solvent molecules and solutes diffuse through small channels. These structural changes will accelerate aerobic glycolysis. Agglomerations of pentose phosphate pathway and glutathione synthesis enzymes enhance GSH formation. As aggressive cancer lesions are incomplete at early stages, they may be unrecognizable. We have found that machine learning provides superior analyses of tissue images and may be used to identify biomarker patterns associated with recurrent and non-recurrent patients with high accuracy. This suggests a new prognostic test to predict DCIS patients who are likely to recur and those who are at low risk for recurrence. Mechanistic interpretations provide a deeper understanding of anti-cancer drug action and suggest that aggressive metastatic cancer cells are sensitive to reductive chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Howard R Petty
- Dept. of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
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49
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Abstract
Biomolecular condensates are intracellular organelles that are not bounded by membranes and often show liquid-like, dynamic material properties. They typically contain various types of proteins and nucleic acids. How the interaction of proteins and nucleic acids finally results in dynamic condensates is not fully understood. Here we use optical tweezers and fluorescence microscopy to study how the prototypical prion-like protein Fused-in-Sarcoma (FUS) condenses with individual molecules of single- and double-stranded DNA. We find that FUS adsorbs on DNA in a monolayer and hence generates an effectively sticky FUS–DNA polymer that collapses and finally forms a dynamic, reversible FUS–DNA co-condensate. We speculate that protein monolayer-based protein–nucleic acid co-condensation is a general mechanism for forming intracellular membraneless organelles. Biomolecular condensates provide distinct compartments that can localize and organize biochemistry inside cells. Recent evidence suggests that condensate formation is prevalent in the cell nucleus. To understand how different components of the nucleus interact during condensate formation is an important challenge. In particular, the physics of co-condensation of proteins together with nucleic acids remains elusive. Here we use optical tweezers to study how the prototypical prion-like protein Fused-in-Sarcoma (FUS) forms liquid-like assemblies in vitro, by co-condensing together with individual DNA molecules. Through progressive force-induced peeling of dsDNA, buffer exchange, and force measurements, we show that FUS adsorbing in a single layer on DNA effectively generates a sticky FUS–DNA polymer that can collapse to form a liquid-like FUS–DNA co-condensate. Condensation occurs at constant DNA tension for double-stranded DNA, which is a signature of phase separation. We suggest that co-condensation mediated by protein monolayer adsorption on nucleic acids is an important mechanism for intracellular compartmentalization.
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50
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Spatiotemporal modulations in heterotypic condensates of prion and α-synuclein control phase transitions and amyloid conversion. Nat Commun 2022; 13:1154. [PMID: 35241680 PMCID: PMC8894376 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28797-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Biomolecular condensation via liquid-liquid phase separation of proteins and nucleic acids is associated with a range of critical cellular functions and neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we demonstrate that complex coacervation of the prion protein and α-synuclein within narrow stoichiometry results in the formation of highly dynamic, reversible, thermo-responsive liquid droplets via domain-specific electrostatic interactions between the positively-charged intrinsically disordered N-terminal segment of prion and the acidic C-terminal tail of α-synuclein. The addition of RNA to these coacervates yields multiphasic, vesicle-like, hollow condensates. Picosecond time-resolved measurements revealed the presence of transient electrostatic nanoclusters that are stable on the nanosecond timescale and can undergo breaking-and-making of interactions on slower timescales giving rise to a liquid-like behavior in the mesoscopic regime. The liquid-to-solid transition drives a rapid conversion of complex coacervates into heterotypic amyloids. Our results suggest that synergistic prion-α-synuclein interactions within condensates provide mechanistic underpinnings of their physiological role and overlapping neuropathological features. The authors show that prion protein and α-synuclein undergo phase separation through domain-specific electrostatic interactions. These complex coacervates possess electrostatic nanoclusters and can convert into multiphasic condensates and amyloids.
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