1
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Bian Y, Lv F, Pan H, Ren W, Zhang W, Wang Y, Cao Y, Li W, Wang W. Fusion Dynamics and Size-Dependence of Droplet Microstructure in ssDNA-Mediated Protein Phase Separation. JACS AU 2024; 4:3690-3704. [PMID: 39328748 PMCID: PMC11423313 DOI: 10.1021/jacsau.4c00690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2024] [Revised: 08/27/2024] [Accepted: 08/27/2024] [Indexed: 09/28/2024]
Abstract
Biomolecular condensation involving proteins and nucleic acids has been recognized to play crucial roles in genome organization and transcriptional regulation. However, the biophysical mechanisms underlying the droplet fusion dynamics and microstructure evolution during the early stage of liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) remain elusive. In this work, we study the phase separation of linker histone H1, which is among the most abundant chromatin proteins, in the presence of single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) capable of forming a G-quadruplex by using molecular simulations and experimental characterization. We found that droplet fusion is a rather stochastic and kinetically controlled process. Productive fusion events are triggered by the formation of ssDNA-mediated electrostatic bridges within the droplet contacting zone. The droplet microstructure is size-dependent and evolves driven by maximizing the number of electrostatic contacts. We also showed that the folding of ssDNA to the G-quadruplex promotes LLPS by increasing the multivalency and strength of protein-DNA interactions. These findings provide deep mechanistic insights into the growth dynamics of biomolecular droplets and highlight the key role of kinetic control during the early stage of ssDNA-protein condensation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yunqiang Bian
- Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Biophysics, Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Fangyi Lv
- Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Biophysics, Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Physics, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Hai Pan
- Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Biophysics, Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Weitong Ren
- Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Biophysics, Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Weiwei Zhang
- Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Biophysics, Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yanwei Wang
- Department of Physics, Wenzhou University, Wenzhou 325035, China
| | - Yi Cao
- Department of Physics, National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructure, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
- Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Biophysics, Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Wenfei Li
- Wenzhou Key Laboratory of Biophysics, Wenzhou Institute, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Wenzhou 325000, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Physics, National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructure, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Department of Physics, National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructure, Nanjing University, Nanjing 210093, China
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2
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Pradhan S, Campanile M, Sharma S, Oliva R, Patra S. Mechanistic Insights into the c-MYC G-Quadruplex and Berberine Binding inside an Aqueous Two-Phase System Mimicking Biomolecular Condensates. J Phys Chem Lett 2024; 15:8706-8714. [PMID: 39159468 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.4c01806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/21/2024]
Abstract
We investigated the binding between the c-MYC G-quadruplex (GQ) and berberine chloride (BCl) in an aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) with 12.3 wt % polyethylene glycol and 5.6 wt % dextran, mimicking the highly crowded intracellular biomolecular condensates formed via liquid-liquid phase separation. We found that in the ATPS, complex formation is significantly altered, leading to an increase in affinity and a change in the stoichiometry of the complex with respect to neat buffer conditions. Thermodynamic studies reveal that binding becomes more thermodynamically favorable in the ATPS due to entropic effects, as the strong excluded volume effect inside ATPS droplets reduces the entropic penalty associated with binding. Finally, the binding affinity of BCl for the c-MYC GQ is higher than those for other DNA structures, indicating potential specific interactions. Overall, these findings will be helpful in the design of potential drugs targeting the c-MYC GQ structures in cancer-related biocondensates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susmita Pradhan
- Department of Chemistry, Birla Institute of Technology and Science-Pilani, Pilani Campus, Pilani 333031, Rajasthan, India
| | - Marco Campanile
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia, 26, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Shubhangi Sharma
- Department of Chemistry, Birla Institute of Technology and Science-Pilani, Pilani Campus, Pilani 333031, Rajasthan, India
| | - Rosario Oliva
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia, 26, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Satyajit Patra
- Department of Chemistry, Birla Institute of Technology and Science-Pilani, Pilani Campus, Pilani 333031, Rajasthan, India
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3
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Kitamura K, Oshima A, Sasaki F, Shiramasa Y, Yamamoto R, Kameda T, Kitazawa S, Kitahara R. Modulation of Biomolecular Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation by Preferential Hydration and Interaction of Small Osmolytes with Proteins. J Phys Chem Lett 2024; 15:7620-7627. [PMID: 39029245 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.4c01365] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/21/2024]
Abstract
We examined the effects of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) and urea (known osmolytes) on the liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of fused in sarcoma (FUS) and three FUS-LLPS states: LLPS states at atmospheric pressure with low- and high-salt concentrations and a re-entrant LLPS state above 2 kbar. Temperature- and pressure-scan turbidity measurements revealed that TMAO and urea contributed to stabilizing and destabilizing LLPS, respectively. These results can be attributed to the excluded volume effect of TMAO (preferential hydration) and preferential interaction of urea with proteins. Additionally, TMAO counteracted the effects of equimolar urea on LLPS, a phenomenon not previously reported. The concept of the m-value for osmolyte-induced protein folding and unfolding can be applied to the osmolyte's effects on LLPS. In conclusion, biomolecular LLPS can be modulated by preferential hydration and the interaction of small osmolytes with proteins, thereby facilitating LLPS formation, even in extreme environments characterized by high-salt, high-urea, and high-pressure conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiji Kitamura
- Graduate School of Pharmacy, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Nojihigashi, Kusatsu, Shiga 525-8577, Japan
| | - Ayano Oshima
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Nojihigashi, Kusatsu, Shiga 525-8577, Japan
| | - Fuka Sasaki
- Graduate School of Pharmacy, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Nojihigashi, Kusatsu, Shiga 525-8577, Japan
| | - Yutaro Shiramasa
- Graduate School of Pharmacy, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Nojihigashi, Kusatsu, Shiga 525-8577, Japan
| | - Ryu Yamamoto
- Graduate School of Pharmacy, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Nojihigashi, Kusatsu, Shiga 525-8577, Japan
| | - Tomoshi Kameda
- Artificial Intelligence Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 2-3-26, Aomi, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-0064, Japan
| | - Soichiro Kitazawa
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Nojihigashi, Kusatsu, Shiga 525-8577, Japan
| | - Ryo Kitahara
- Graduate School of Pharmacy, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Nojihigashi, Kusatsu, Shiga 525-8577, Japan
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Nojihigashi, Kusatsu, Shiga 525-8577, Japan
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4
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Zhou HX, Kota D, Qin S, Prasad R. Fundamental Aspects of Phase-Separated Biomolecular Condensates. Chem Rev 2024; 124:8550-8595. [PMID: 38885177 PMCID: PMC11260227 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.4c00138] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/20/2024]
Abstract
Biomolecular condensates, formed through phase separation, are upending our understanding in much of molecular, cell, and developmental biology. There is an urgent need to elucidate the physicochemical foundations of the behaviors and properties of biomolecular condensates. Here we aim to fill this need by writing a comprehensive, critical, and accessible review on the fundamental aspects of phase-separated biomolecular condensates. We introduce the relevant theoretical background, present the theoretical basis for the computation and experimental measurement of condensate properties, and give mechanistic interpretations of condensate behaviors and properties in terms of interactions at the molecular and residue levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan-Xiang Zhou
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, USA
- Department of Physics, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, USA
| | - Divya Kota
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, USA
| | - Sanbo Qin
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, USA
| | - Ramesh Prasad
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, Illinois 60607, USA
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5
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Campanile M, Kurtul ED, Dec R, Möbitz S, Del Vecchio P, Petraccone L, Tatzelt J, Oliva R, Winter R. Morphological Transformations of SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Protein Biocondensates Mediated by Antimicrobial Peptides. Chemistry 2024; 30:e202400048. [PMID: 38483823 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202400048] [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: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/12/2024]
Abstract
Recently, the discovery of antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) as excellent candidates for overcoming antibiotic resistance has attracted significant attention. AMPs are short peptides active against bacteria, cancer cells, and viruses. It has been shown that the SARS-CoV-2 nucleocapsid protein (N-P) undergoes liquid-liquid phase separation in the presence of RNA, resulting in biocondensate formation. These biocondensates are crucial for viral replication as they concentrate the viral RNA with the host cell's protein machinery required for viral protein expression. Thus, N-P biocondensates are promising targets to block or slow down viral RNA transcription and consequently virion assembly. We investigated the ability of three AMPs to interfere with N-P/RNA condensates. Using microscopy techniques, supported by biophysical characterization, we found that the AMP LL-III partitions into the condensate, leading to clustering. Instead, the AMP CrACP1 partitions into the droplets without affecting their morphology but reducing their dynamics. Conversely, GKY20 leads to the formation of fibrillar structures after partitioning. It can be expected that such morphological transformation severely impairs the normal functionality of the N-P droplets and thus virion assembly. These results could pave the way for the development of a new class of AMP-based antiviral agents targeting biocondensates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Campanile
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia, 26, 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Emine Dila Kurtul
- Department Biochemistry of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801, Bochum, Germany
| | - Robert Dec
- Physical Chemistry I - Biophysical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a, 44227, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Simone Möbitz
- Physical Chemistry I - Biophysical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a, 44227, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Pompea Del Vecchio
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia, 26, 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Luigi Petraccone
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia, 26, 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Jörg Tatzelt
- Department Biochemistry of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Ruhr University Bochum, 44801, Bochum, Germany
| | - Rosario Oliva
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia, 26, 80126, Naples, Italy
| | - Roland Winter
- Physical Chemistry I - Biophysical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a, 44227, Dortmund, Germany
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6
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Rai S, Pramanik S, Mukherjee S. Deciphering the liquid-liquid phase separation induced modulation in the structure, dynamics, and enzymatic activity of an ordered protein β-lactoglobulin. Chem Sci 2024; 15:3936-3948. [PMID: 38487243 PMCID: PMC10935713 DOI: 10.1039/d3sc06802a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Owing to the significant role in the subcellular organization of biomolecules, physiology, and the realm of biomimetic materials, studies related to biomolecular condensates formed through liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) have emerged as a growing area of research. Despite valuable contributions of prior research, there is untapped potential in exploring the influence of phase separation on the conformational dynamics and enzymatic activities of native proteins. Herein, we investigate the LLPS of β-lactoglobulin (β-LG), a non-intrinsically disordered protein, under crowded conditions. In-depth characterization through spectroscopic and microscopic techniques revealed the formation of dynamic liquid-like droplets, distinct from protein aggregates, driven by hydrophobic interactions. Our analyses revealed that phase separation can alter structural flexibility and photophysical properties. Importantly, the phase-separated β-LG exhibited efficient enzymatic activity as an esterase; a characteristic seemingly exclusive to β-LG droplets. The droplets acted as robust catalytic crucibles, providing an ideal environment for efficient ester hydrolysis. Further investigation into the catalytic mechanism suggested the involvement of specific amino acid residues, rather than general acid or base catalysis. Also, the alteration in conformational distribution caused by phase separation unveils the latent functionality. Our study delineates the understanding of protein phase separation and insights into the diverse catalytic strategies employed by proteins. It opens exciting possibilities for designing functional artificial compartments based on phase-separated biomolecules.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saurabh Rai
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal Bhopal Bypass Road Bhopal 462066 Madhya Pradesh India
| | - Srikrishna Pramanik
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal Bhopal Bypass Road Bhopal 462066 Madhya Pradesh India
| | - Saptarshi Mukherjee
- Department of Chemistry, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research Bhopal Bhopal Bypass Road Bhopal 462066 Madhya Pradesh India
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7
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Li Y, Li Q, Gillilan RE, Abbaspourrad A. Reversible disassembly-reassembly of C-phycocyanin in pressurization-depressurization cycles of high hydrostatic pressure. Int J Biol Macromol 2023; 253:127623. [PMID: 37879586 PMCID: PMC10842036 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127623] [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: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 10/20/2023] [Accepted: 10/21/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023]
Abstract
Hydrostatic pressure can reversibly modulate protein-protein and protein-chromophore interactions of C-phycocyanin (C-PC) from Spirulina platensis. Small-angle X-ray scattering combined with UV-Vis spectrophotometry and protein modeling was used to explore the color and structural changes of C-PC under high pressure conditions at different pH levels. It was revealed that pressures up to 350 MPa were enough to fully disassemble C-PC from trimers to monomers at pH 7.0, or from monomers to detached subunits at pH 9.0. These disassemblies were accompanied by protein unfolding that caused these high-pressure induced structures to be more extended. These changes were reversible following depressurization. The trimer-to-monomer transition proceeded through a collection of previously unrecognized, L-shaped intermediates resembling C-PC dimers. Additionally, pressurized C-PC showed decayed Q-band absorption and fortified Soret-band absorption. This was evidence that the folded tetrapyrroles, which had folded at ambient pressure, formed semicyclic unfolded conformations at a high pressure. Upon depressurization, the peak intensity and shift all recovered stepwise, showing pressure can precisely manipulate C-PC's structure as well as its color. Overall, a protein-chromophore regulatory theory of C-PC was unveiled. The pressure-tunability could be harnessed to modify and stabilize C-PC's structure and photochemical properties for designing new delivery and optical materials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Li
- Department of Food Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Qike Li
- Department of Food Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Richard E Gillilan
- Cornell High Energy Synchrotron Source (MacCHESS), Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Alireza Abbaspourrad
- Department of Food Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
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8
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Peters J, Oliva R, Caliò A, Oger P, Winter R. Effects of Crowding and Cosolutes on Biomolecular Function at Extreme Environmental Conditions. Chem Rev 2023; 123:13441-13488. [PMID: 37943516 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
The extent of the effect of cellular crowding and cosolutes on the functioning of proteins and cells is manifold and includes the stabilization of the biomolecular systems, the excluded volume effect, and the modulation of molecular dynamics. Simultaneously, it is becoming increasingly clear how important it is to take the environment into account if we are to shed light on biological function under various external conditions. Many biosystems thrive under extreme conditions, including the deep sea and subseafloor crust, and can take advantage of some of the effects of crowding. These relationships have been studied in recent years using various biophysical techniques, including neutron and X-ray scattering, calorimetry, FTIR, UV-vis and fluorescence spectroscopies. Combining knowledge of the structure and conformational dynamics of biomolecules under extreme conditions, such as temperature, high hydrostatic pressure, and high salinity, we highlight the importance of considering all results in the context of the environment. Here we discuss crowding and cosolute effects on proteins, nucleic acids, membranes, and live cells and explain how it is possible to experimentally separate crowding-induced effects from other influences. Such findings will contribute to a better understanding of the homeoviscous adaptation of organisms and the limits of life in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith Peters
- Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, LiPhy, 140 rue de la physique, 38400 St Martin d'Hères, France
- Institut Laue Langevin, 71 avenue des Martyrs, 38000 Grenoble, France
- Institut Universitaire de France, 75005 Paris, France
| | - Rosario Oliva
- Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia 4, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | - Antonino Caliò
- European Synchrotron Radiation Facility, 71 avenue des Martyrs, 38000 Grenoble, France
| | - Philippe Oger
- INSA Lyon, Universite Claude Bernard Lyon1, CNRS, UMR5240, 69621 Villeurbanne, France
| | - Roland Winter
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Biophysical Chemistry, TU Dortmund University, Dortmund, Otto-Hahn-Str. 4a, D-44227 Dortmund, Germany
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9
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Nobeyama T, Furuki T, Shiraki K. Phase-Diagram Observation of Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation in the Poly(l-lysine)/ATP System and a Proposal for Diagram-Based Application Strategy. LANGMUIR : THE ACS JOURNAL OF SURFACES AND COLLOIDS 2023; 39:17043-17049. [PMID: 37967197 DOI: 10.1021/acs.langmuir.3c01640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2023]
Abstract
Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) is essential to understanding the biomacromolecule compartmentalization in living cells and to developing soft-matter structures for chemical reactions and drug delivery systems. However, the importance of detailed experimental phase diagrams of modern LLPS systems tends to be overlooked in recent times. Even for the poly(l-lysine) (PLL)/ATP system, which is one of the most widely used LLPS models, any detailed phase diagram of LLPS has not been reported. Herein, we report the first phase diagram of the PLL/ATP system and demonstrate the feasibility of phase-diagram-based research design for understanding the physical properties of LLPS systems and realizing biophysical and medical applications. We established an experimentally handy model for the droplet formation-disappearance process by generating a concentration gradient in a chamber for extracting a suitable condition on the phase diagram, including the two-phase droplet region. As a proof of concept of pharmaceutical application, we added a human immunoglobulin G (IgG) solution to the PLL/ATP system. Using the knowledge from the phase diagram, we realized the formation of IgG/PLL droplets in a pharmaceutically required IgG concentration of ca. 10 mg/mL. Thus, this study provides guidance for using the phase diagram to analyze and utilize LLPS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomohiro Nobeyama
- Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8573, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Furuki
- Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8573, Japan
| | - Kentaro Shiraki
- Faculty of Pure and Applied Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba 305-8573, Japan
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10
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Gao R, Yu X, Kumar BVVSP, Tian L. Hierarchical Structuration in Protocellular System. SMALL METHODS 2023; 7:e2300422. [PMID: 37438327 DOI: 10.1002/smtd.202300422] [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: 03/31/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/14/2023]
Abstract
Spatial control is one of the ubiquitous features in biological systems and the key to the functional complexity of living cells. The strategies to achieve such precise spatial control in protocellular systems are crucial to constructing complex artificial living systems with functional collective behavior. Herein, the authors review recent advances in the spatial control within a single protocell or between different protocells and discuss how such hierarchical structured protocellular system can be used to understand complex living systems or to advance the development of functional microreactors with the programmable release of various biomacromolecular payloads, or smart protocell-biological cell hybrid system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Gao
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Cardio-Cerebral Vascular Detection Technology and Medicinal Effectiveness Appraisal, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
| | - Xinran Yu
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Cardio-Cerebral Vascular Detection Technology and Medicinal Effectiveness Appraisal, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
| | | | - Liangfei Tian
- Key Laboratory of Biomedical Engineering of Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Cardio-Cerebral Vascular Detection Technology and Medicinal Effectiveness Appraisal, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
- Department of Ultrasound, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China
- Innovation Center for Smart Medical Technologies & Devices, Binjiang Institute of Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310053, China
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11
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Cai Z, Mei S, Zhou L, Ma X, Wuyun Q, Yan J, Ding H. Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation Sheds New Light upon Cardiovascular Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:15418. [PMID: 37895097 PMCID: PMC10607581 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242015418] [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: 10/02/2023] [Revised: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 10/19/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) is a biophysical process that mediates the precise and complex spatiotemporal coordination of cellular processes. Proteins and nucleic acids are compartmentalized into micron-scale membrane-less droplets via LLPS. These droplets, termed biomolecular condensates, are highly dynamic, have concentrated components, and perform specific functions. Biomolecular condensates have been observed to organize diverse key biological processes, including gene transcription, signal transduction, DNA damage repair, chromatin organization, and autophagy. The dysregulation of these biological activities owing to aberrant LLPS is important in cardiovascular diseases. This review provides a detailed overview of the regulation and functions of biomolecular condensates, provides a comprehensive depiction of LLPS in several common cardiovascular diseases, and discusses the revolutionary therapeutic perspective of modulating LLPS in cardiovascular diseases and new treatment strategies relevant to LLPS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziyang Cai
- Division of Cardiology, Departments of Internal Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; (Z.C.); (S.M.); (L.Z.); (X.M.); (Q.W.)
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Mechanisms of Cardiological Disorders, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Shuai Mei
- Division of Cardiology, Departments of Internal Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; (Z.C.); (S.M.); (L.Z.); (X.M.); (Q.W.)
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Mechanisms of Cardiological Disorders, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Li Zhou
- Division of Cardiology, Departments of Internal Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; (Z.C.); (S.M.); (L.Z.); (X.M.); (Q.W.)
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Mechanisms of Cardiological Disorders, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Xiaozhu Ma
- Division of Cardiology, Departments of Internal Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; (Z.C.); (S.M.); (L.Z.); (X.M.); (Q.W.)
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Mechanisms of Cardiological Disorders, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Qidamugai Wuyun
- Division of Cardiology, Departments of Internal Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; (Z.C.); (S.M.); (L.Z.); (X.M.); (Q.W.)
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Mechanisms of Cardiological Disorders, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Jiangtao Yan
- Division of Cardiology, Departments of Internal Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; (Z.C.); (S.M.); (L.Z.); (X.M.); (Q.W.)
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Mechanisms of Cardiological Disorders, Wuhan 430030, China
- Genetic Diagnosis Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Hu Ding
- Division of Cardiology, Departments of Internal Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; (Z.C.); (S.M.); (L.Z.); (X.M.); (Q.W.)
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Genetics and Molecular Mechanisms of Cardiological Disorders, Wuhan 430030, China
- Genetic Diagnosis Center, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
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12
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Sarkar S, Guha A, Sadhukhan R, Narayanan TN, Mondal J. Osmolytes as Cryoprotectants under Salt Stress. ACS Biomater Sci Eng 2023; 9:5639-5652. [PMID: 37697623 DOI: 10.1021/acsbiomaterials.3c00763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/13/2023]
Abstract
Cryoprotecting agent (CPA)-guided preservation is essential for effective protection of cells from cryoinjuries. However, current cryoprotecting technologies practiced to cryopreserve cells for biomedical applications are met with extreme challenges due to the associated toxicity of CPAs. Because of these limitations of present CPAs, the quest for nontoxic alternatives for useful application in cell-based biomedicines has been attracting growing interest. Toward this end, here, we investigate naturally occurring osmolytes' scope as biocompatible cryoprotectants under cold stress conditions in high-saline medium. Via a combination of the simulation and experiment on charged silica nanostructures, we render first-hand evidence that a pair of archetypal osmolytes, glycine and betaine, would act as a cryoprotectant by restoring the indigenous intersurface electrostatic interaction, which had been a priori screened due to the cold effect under salt stress. While these osmolytes' individual modes of action are sensitive to subtle chemical variation, a uniform augmentation in the extent of osmolytic activity is observed with an increase in temperature to counter the proportionately enhanced salt screening. The trend as noted in inorganic nanostructures is found to be recurrent and robustly transferable in a charged protein interface. In hindsight, our observation justifies the sufficiency of the reduced requirement of osmolytes in cells during critical cold conditions and encourages their direct usage and biomimicry for cryopreservation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susmita Sarkar
- Center for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Hyderabad 500046, India
| | - Anku Guha
- Center for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Hyderabad 500046, India
| | - Rayantan Sadhukhan
- Center for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Hyderabad 500046, India
| | - Tharangattu N Narayanan
- Center for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Hyderabad 500046, India
| | - Jagannath Mondal
- Center for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Hyderabad 500046, India
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13
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Qin S, Zhou HX. Atomistic modeling of liquid-liquid phase equilibrium explains dependence of critical temperature on γ-crystallin sequence. Commun Biol 2023; 6:886. [PMID: 37644195 PMCID: PMC10465548 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-023-05270-7] [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: 05/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Liquid-liquid phase separation of protein solutions has regained heightened attention for its biological importance and pathogenic relevance. Coarse-grained models are limited when explaining residue-level effects on phase equilibrium. Here we report phase diagrams for γ-crystallins using atomistic modeling. The calculations were made possible by combining our FMAP method for computing chemical potentials and Brownian dynamics simulations for configurational sampling of dense protein solutions, yielding the binodal and critic temperature (Tc). We obtain a higher Tc for a known high-Tc γ-crystallin, γF, than for a low-Tc paralog, γB. The difference in Tc is corroborated by a gap in second virial coefficient. Decomposition of inter-protein interactions reveals one amino-acid substitution between γB and γF, from Ser to Trp at position 130, as the major contributor to the difference in Tc. This type of analysis enables us to link phase equilibrium to amino-acid sequence and to design mutations for altering phase equilibrium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanbo Qin
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA
| | - Huan-Xiang Zhou
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA.
- Department of Physics, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL, 60607, USA.
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14
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Silva JL, Foguel D, Ferreira VF, Vieira TCRG, Marques MA, Ferretti GDS, Outeiro TF, Cordeiro Y, de Oliveira GAP. Targeting Biomolecular Condensation and Protein Aggregation against Cancer. Chem Rev 2023. [PMID: 37379327 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Biomolecular condensates, membrane-less entities arising from liquid-liquid phase separation, hold dichotomous roles in health and disease. Alongside their physiological functions, these condensates can transition to a solid phase, producing amyloid-like structures implicated in degenerative diseases and cancer. This review thoroughly examines the dual nature of biomolecular condensates, spotlighting their role in cancer, particularly concerning the p53 tumor suppressor. Given that over half of the malignant tumors possess mutations in the TP53 gene, this topic carries profound implications for future cancer treatment strategies. Notably, p53 not only misfolds but also forms biomolecular condensates and aggregates analogous to other protein-based amyloids, thus significantly influencing cancer progression through loss-of-function, negative dominance, and gain-of-function pathways. The exact molecular mechanisms underpinning the gain-of-function in mutant p53 remain elusive. However, cofactors like nucleic acids and glycosaminoglycans are known to be critical players in this intersection between diseases. Importantly, we reveal that molecules capable of inhibiting mutant p53 aggregation can curtail tumor proliferation and migration. Hence, targeting phase transitions to solid-like amorphous and amyloid-like states of mutant p53 offers a promising direction for innovative cancer diagnostics and therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jerson L Silva
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, National Institute of Science and Technology for Structural Biology and Bioimaging, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Debora Foguel
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, National Institute of Science and Technology for Structural Biology and Bioimaging, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Vitor F Ferreira
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Fluminense Federal University (UFF), Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Tuane C R G Vieira
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, National Institute of Science and Technology for Structural Biology and Bioimaging, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Mayra A Marques
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, National Institute of Science and Technology for Structural Biology and Bioimaging, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Giulia D S Ferretti
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, National Institute of Science and Technology for Structural Biology and Bioimaging, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Tiago F Outeiro
- Department of Experimental Neurodegeneration, Center for Biostructural Imaging of Neurodegeneration, University Medical Center, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
- Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
- Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Framlington Place, Newcastle Upon Tyne NE2 4HH, U.K
- Scientific employee with an honorary contract at Deutsches Zentrum für Neurodegenerative Erkrankungen (DZNE), 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Yraima Cordeiro
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil
| | - Guilherme A P de Oliveira
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, National Institute of Science and Technology for Structural Biology and Bioimaging, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ), Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-902, Brazil
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15
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Qin S, Zhou HX. Atomistic Modeling of Liquid-Liquid Phase Equilibrium Explains Dependence of Critical Temperature on γ-Crystallin Sequence. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.04.25.538329. [PMID: 37162827 PMCID: PMC10168431 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.25.538329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Liquid-liquid phase separation of protein solutions has regained heightened attention for its biological importance and pathogenic relevance. Coarse-grained models are limited when explaining residue-level effects on phase equilibrium. Here we report phase diagrams for γ-crystallins using atomistic modeling. The calculations were made possible by combining our FMAP method for computing chemical potentials and Brownian dynamics simulations for configurational sampling of dense protein solutions, yielding the binodal and critic temperature ( T c ). We obtain a higher T c for a known high- T c γ-crystallin, γF, than for a low- T c paralog, γB. The difference in T c is corroborated by a gap in second virial coefficient. Decomposition of inter-protein interactions reveals one amino-acid substitution between γB and γF, from Ser to Trp at position 130, as the major contributor to the difference in T c . This type of analysis enables us to link phase equilibrium to amino-acid sequence and to design mutations for altering phase equilibrium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanbo Qin
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
| | - Huan-Xiang Zhou
- Department of Chemistry, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
- Department of Physics, University of Illinois Chicago, Chicago, IL 60607, USA
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16
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Dec R, Jaworek MW, Dzwolak W, Winter R. Liquid-Droplet-Mediated ATP-Triggered Amyloidogenic Pathway of Insulin-Derived Chimeric Peptides: Unraveling the Microscopic and Molecular Processes. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:4177-4186. [PMID: 36762833 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c12611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Disease-associated progression of protein dysfunction is typically determined by an interplay of transition pathways leading to liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) and amyloid fibrils. As LLPS introduces another layer of complexity into fibrillization of metastable proteins, a need for tunable model systems to study these intertwined processes has emerged. Here, we demonstrate the LLPS/fibrillization properties of a family of chimeric peptides, ACC1-13Kn, in which the highly amyloidogenic fragment of insulin (ACC1-13) is merged with oligolysine segments of various lengths (Kn, n = 8, 16, 24, 32, 40). LLPS and fibrillization of ACC1-13Kn are triggered by ATP through Coulombic interactions with Kn fragments. ACC1-13K8 and ACC1-13K16 form fibrils after a short lag phase without any evidence of LLPS. However, in the case of the three longest peptides, ATP triggers instantaneous LLPS followed by the disappearance of droplets occurring in-phase with the formation of amyloid fibrils. The kinetics of the phase transition and the stability of mature co-aggregates are highly sensitive to ionic strength, indicating that electrostatic interactions play a pivotal role in selecting the LLPS-fibrillization transition pathway. Densely packed ionic interactions that characterize ACC1-13Kn-ATP fibrils render them highly sensitive to hydrostatic pressure due to solvent electrostriction, as demonstrated by infrared spectroscopy. Using atomic force microscopy imaging of rapidly frozen samples, we demonstrate that early fibrils form within single liquid droplets, starting at the droplet/bulk interface through the formation of single bent fibers. A hypothetical molecular scenario underlying the emergence of the LLPS-to-fibrils pathway in the ACC1-13Kn-ATP system has been put forward.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Dec
- Physical Chemistry I - Biophysical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn Street 4a, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Michel W Jaworek
- Physical Chemistry I - Biophysical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn Street 4a, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Wojciech Dzwolak
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, Pasteur Street 1, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Roland Winter
- Physical Chemistry I - Biophysical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn Street 4a, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
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17
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Knop JM, Mukherjee S, Jaworek MW, Kriegler S, Manisegaran M, Fetahaj Z, Ostermeier L, Oliva R, Gault S, Cockell CS, Winter R. Life in Multi-Extreme Environments: Brines, Osmotic and Hydrostatic Pressure─A Physicochemical View. Chem Rev 2023; 123:73-104. [PMID: 36260784 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.2c00491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Elucidating the details of the formation, stability, interactions, and reactivity of biomolecular systems under extreme environmental conditions, including high salt concentrations in brines and high osmotic and high hydrostatic pressures, is of fundamental biological, astrobiological, and biotechnological importance. Bacteria and archaea are able to survive in the deep ocean or subsurface of Earth, where pressures of up to 1 kbar are reached. The deep subsurface of Mars may host high concentrations of ions in brines, such as perchlorates, but we know little about how these conditions and the resulting osmotic stress conditions would affect the habitability of such environments for cellular life. We discuss the combined effects of osmotic (salts, organic cosolvents) and hydrostatic pressures on the structure, stability, and reactivity of biomolecular systems, including membranes, proteins, and nucleic acids. To this end, a variety of biophysical techniques have been applied, including calorimetry, UV/vis, FTIR and fluorescence spectroscopy, and neutron and X-ray scattering, in conjunction with high pressure techniques. Knowledge of these effects is essential to our understanding of life exposed to such harsh conditions, and of the physical limits of life in general. Finally, we discuss strategies that not only help us understand the adaptive mechanisms of organisms that thrive in such harsh geological settings but could also have important ramifications in biotechnological and pharmaceutical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jim-Marcel Knop
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Biophysical Chemistry, TU Dortmund University, D-44221Dortmund, Germany
| | - Sanjib Mukherjee
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Biophysical Chemistry, TU Dortmund University, D-44221Dortmund, Germany
| | - Michel W Jaworek
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Biophysical Chemistry, TU Dortmund University, D-44221Dortmund, Germany
| | - Simon Kriegler
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Biophysical Chemistry, TU Dortmund University, D-44221Dortmund, Germany
| | - Magiliny Manisegaran
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Biophysical Chemistry, TU Dortmund University, D-44221Dortmund, Germany
| | - Zamira Fetahaj
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Biophysical Chemistry, TU Dortmund University, D-44221Dortmund, Germany
| | - Lena Ostermeier
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Biophysical Chemistry, TU Dortmund University, D-44221Dortmund, Germany
| | - Rosario Oliva
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Biophysical Chemistry, TU Dortmund University, D-44221Dortmund, Germany.,Department of Chemical Sciences, University of Naples Federico II, Via Cintia 4, 80126Naples, Italy
| | - Stewart Gault
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, SUPA School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, James Clerk Maxwell Building, Peter Guthrie Tait Road, EH9 3FDEdinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Charles S Cockell
- UK Centre for Astrobiology, SUPA School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Edinburgh, James Clerk Maxwell Building, Peter Guthrie Tait Road, EH9 3FDEdinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Roland Winter
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Biophysical Chemistry, TU Dortmund University, D-44221Dortmund, Germany
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18
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Rozhkov SP, Goryunov AS. Possible Phase Effects in the Dispersion of a Globular Protein in the Temperature Range of the Native State. Biophysics (Nagoya-shi) 2022. [DOI: 10.1134/s0006350922060215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
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19
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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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20
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Folberth A, van der Vegt NFA. Influence of TMAO and Pressure on the Folding Equilibrium of TrpCage. J Phys Chem B 2022; 126:8374-8380. [PMID: 36251479 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c04034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) is an osmolyte known for its ability to counteract the pressure denaturation of proteins. Computational studies addressing the molecular mechanisms of TMAO's osmolyte action have however focused exclusively on its protein-stabilizing properties at ambient pressure, neglecting the changes that may occur under high-pressure conditions where TMAO's hydration structure changes to that of increased water binding. Here, we present the first study on the combined effect of pressure and TMAO on a mini-protein, TrpCage. The results showed that at high pressures, nonpolar residues packed less tightly and the salt bridge of TrpCage was destabilized. This effect was mitigated by TMAO which was found to be strongly depleted from the protein/water interface at 1 kbar than at 1 bar ambient pressure, thus counterbalancing the thermodynamically unfavorable effect of elevated pressure in the free energy of folding. TMAO was depleted from charged groups, like the salt bridge-forming ones, and accumulated around hydrophobic groups. Still, it stabilized both kinds of interactions. Furthermore, enthalpically favorable TrpCage-water hydrogen bonds were reduced in the presence of TMAO, causing a stronger destabilization of the unfolded state than the folded state. This shifted the protein-folding equilibrium toward the folded state. Therefore, TMAO showed stabilizing effects on different kinds of groups, which were partially enhanced at high pressures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelina Folberth
- Eduard-Zintl-Institut Fuer Anorganische und Physikalische Chemie, Technical University of Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Strasse 10, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Nico F A van der Vegt
- Eduard-Zintl-Institut Fuer Anorganische und Physikalische Chemie, Technical University of Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Strasse 10, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
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21
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An Overview of Coacervates: The Special Disperse State of Amphiphilic and Polymeric Materials in Solution. COLLOIDS AND INTERFACES 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/colloids6030045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Individual amphiphiles, polymers, and colloidal dispersions influenced by temperature, pH, and environmental conditions or interactions between their oppositely charged pairs in solvent medium often produce solvent-rich and solvent-poor phases in the system. The solvent-poor denser phase found either on the top or the bottom of the system is called coacervate. Coacervates have immense applications in various technological fields. This review comprises a concise introduction, focusing on the types of coacervates, and the influence of different factors in their formation, structures, and stability. In addition, their physicochemical properties, thermodynamics of formation, and uses and multifarious applications are also concisely presented and discussed.
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22
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Fetahaj Z, Jaworek MW, Oliva R, Winter R. Suppression of Liquid‐Liquid Phase Separation and Aggregation of Antibodies by Modest Pressure Application. Chemistry 2022; 28:e202201658. [PMID: 35759377 PMCID: PMC9544093 DOI: 10.1002/chem.202201658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The high colloidal stability of antibody (immunoglobulin) solutions is important for pharmaceutical applications. Inert cosolutes, excipients, are generally used in therapeutic protein formulations to minimize physical instabilities, such as liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS), aggregation and precipitation, which are often encountered during manufacturing and storage. Despite their widespread use, a detailed understanding of how excipients modulate the specific protein‐protein interactions responsible for these instabilities is still lacking. In this work, we demonstrate the high sensitivity to pressure of globulin condensates as a suitable means to suppress LLPS and subsequent aggregation of concentrated antibody solutions. The addition of excipients has only a minor effect. The high pressure sensitivity observed is due to the fact that these flexible Y‐shaped molecules create a considerable amount of void volume in the condensed phase, leading to an overall decrease in the volume of the system upon dissociation of the droplet phase by pressure already at a few tens of to hundred bar. Moreover, we show that immunoglobulin molecules themselves are highly resistant to unfolding under pressure, and can even sustain pressures up to about 6 kbar without conformational changes. This implies that immunoglobulins are resistant to the pressure treatment of foods, such as milk, in high‐pressure food‐processing technologies, thereby preserving their immunological activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zamira Fetahaj
- Physical Chemistry I–Biophysical Chemistry Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology TU Dortmund Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a 44227 Dortmund Germany
| | - Michel W. Jaworek
- Physical Chemistry I–Biophysical Chemistry Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology TU Dortmund Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a 44227 Dortmund Germany
| | - Rosario Oliva
- Physical Chemistry I–Biophysical Chemistry Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology TU Dortmund Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a 44227 Dortmund Germany
- Department of Chemical Sciences University of Naples Federico II Via Cintia 4 80126 Naples Italy
| | - Roland Winter
- Physical Chemistry I–Biophysical Chemistry Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology TU Dortmund Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a 44227 Dortmund Germany
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23
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Glazier AN. Proposed Role for Internal Lens Pressure as an Initiator of Age-Related Lens Protein Aggregation Diseases. Clin Ophthalmol 2022; 16:2329-2340. [PMID: 35924184 PMCID: PMC9342656 DOI: 10.2147/opth.s369676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The process that initiates lens stiffness evident in age-related lens protein aggregation diseases is thought to be mainly the result of oxidation. While oxidation is a major contributor, the exposure of lens proteins to physical stress over time increases susceptibility of lens proteins to oxidative damage, and this is believed to play a significant role in initiating these diseases. Accordingly, an overview of key physical stressors and molecular factors known to be implicated in the development of age-related lens protein aggregation diseases is presented, paying particular attention to the consequence of persistent increase in internal lens pressure.
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24
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Wessén J, Pal T, Chan HS. Field theory description of ion association in re-entrant phase separation of polyampholytes. J Chem Phys 2022; 156:194903. [DOI: 10.1063/5.0088326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Phase separation of several different overall neutral polyampholyte species (with zero net charge) is studied in solution with two oppositely charged ion species that can form ion-pairs through an association reaction. A field theory description of the system, that treats polyampholyte charge sequence dependent electrostatic interactions as well as excluded volume effects, is hereby given. Interestingly, analysis of the model using random phase approximation and field theoretic simulation consistently show evidence of a re-entrant polyampholyte phase separation at high ion concentrations when there is an overall decrease of volume upon ion-association. As an illustration of the ramifications of our theoretical framework, several polyampholyte concentration vs ion concentration phase diagrams under constant temperature conditions are presented to elucidate the dependence of phase separation behavior on polyampholyte sequence charge pattern as well as ion-pair dissociation constant, volumetric effects on ion association, solvent quality, and temperature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Wessén
- Department of Biochemsitry, University of Toronto, Canada
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25
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Dreydoppel M, Balbach J, Weininger U. Monitoring protein unfolding transitions by NMR-spectroscopy. JOURNAL OF BIOMOLECULAR NMR 2022; 76:3-15. [PMID: 34984658 PMCID: PMC9018662 DOI: 10.1007/s10858-021-00389-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
NMR-spectroscopy has certain unique advantages for recording unfolding transitions of proteins compared e.g. to optical methods. It enables per-residue monitoring and separate detection of the folded and unfolded state as well as possible equilibrium intermediates. This allows a detailed view on the state and cooperativity of folding of the protein of interest and the correct interpretation of subsequent experiments. Here we summarize in detail practical and theoretical aspects of such experiments. Certain pitfalls can be avoided, and meaningful simplification can be made during the analysis. Especially a good understanding of the NMR exchange regime and relaxation properties of the system of interest is beneficial. We show by a global analysis of signals of the folded and unfolded state of GB1 how accurate values of unfolding can be extracted and what limits different NMR detection and unfolding methods. E.g. commonly used exchangeable amides can lead to a systematic under determination of the thermodynamic protein stability. We give several perspectives of how to deal with more complex proteins and how the knowledge about protein stability at residue resolution helps to understand protein properties under crowding conditions, during phase separation and under high pressure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Dreydoppel
- Institute of Physics, Biophysics, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Jochen Balbach
- Institute of Physics, Biophysics, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany
| | - Ulrich Weininger
- Institute of Physics, Biophysics, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg, 06120, Halle (Saale), Germany.
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26
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Noda N, Jung Y, Ado G, Mizuhata Y, Higuchi M, Ogawa T, Ishidate F, Sato SI, Kurata H, Tokitoh N, Uesugi M. Glucose as a Protein-Condensing Cellular Solute. ACS Chem Biol 2022; 17:567-575. [PMID: 35188733 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.1c00849] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The present study reports a surprising protein-condensing effect of glucose, prompted by our accidental observation during chemical library screening under a high-glucose condition. We noticed "glucosing-out" of certain compounds, in which physiological concentrations of glucose induced compound aggregation. Adapting the "glucosing-out" concept to proteins, our proteomic analysis identified three cellular proteins (calmodulin, rho guanine nucleotide exchange factor 40, and polyubiquitin-C) that displayed robust glucose-dependent precipitation. One of these proteins, calmodulin, formed glucose-dependent condensates that control cellular glycogenolysis in hepatic cells. Our findings suggest that glucose is a heretofore underappreciated driver of protein phase separation that may have profound effects on cellular homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naotaka Noda
- Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan
- Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan
| | - Yejin Jung
- Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan
- Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan
| | - Genyir Ado
- Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan
- Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan
| | - Yoshiyuki Mizuhata
- Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan
| | - Masakazu Higuchi
- Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (WPI-iCeMS), Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Ogawa
- Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan
| | - Fumiyoshi Ishidate
- Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (WPI-iCeMS), Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan
| | - Shin-ichi Sato
- Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan
| | - Hiroki Kurata
- Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan
| | - Norihiro Tokitoh
- Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan
| | - Motonari Uesugi
- Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan
- Institute for Integrated Cell-Material Sciences (WPI-iCeMS), Kyoto University, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan
- School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai 201203, China
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27
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Cinar H, Oliva R, Wu H, Zhang M, Chan HS, Winter R. Effects of Cosolvents and Crowding Agents on the Stability and Phase Transition Kinetics of the SynGAP/PSD-95 Condensate Model of Postsynaptic Densities. J Phys Chem B 2022; 126:1734-1741. [PMID: 35171623 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c00794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The SynGAP/PSD-95 binary protein system serves as a simple mimicry of postsynaptic densities (PSDs), which are protein assemblies based largely on liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), that are located underneath the plasma membrane of excitatory synapses. Surprisingly, the LLPS of the SynGAP/PSD-95 system is much more pressure sensitive than typical folded states of proteins or nucleic acids. It was found that phase-separated SynGAP/PSD-95 droplets dissolve into a homogeneous solution at a pressure of tens to hundred bar. Since organisms in the deep sea are exposed to pressures of up to ∼1000 bar, this observation suggests that deep-sea organisms must counteract the high pressure sensitivity of PSDs to avoid neurological impairment. We demonstrate here that the compatible osmolyte trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) as well as macromolecular crowding agents at moderate concentrations can mitigate the deleterious effect of pressure on SynGAP/PSD-95 droplet stability, extending stable LLPS up to almost a kbar level. Moreover, the formation of SynGAP/PSD-95 droplets is a very rapid process that can be switched on and off in seconds. In contrast with the marked effects of the cosolutes on droplet stability, at the cosolutes' respective biologically relevant concentrations, their impact on the phase transformation kinetics is rather small. Only a high TMAO concentration results in a significant kinetic retardation of LLPS. Taken together, these findings offer new biophysical insights into the neurological effects of hydrostatic pressure. In particular, our results indicate how pressure-induced neurological disorders might be alleviated by upregulating certain cosolutes in the cellular milieu.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hasan Cinar
- Physical Chemistry I - Biophysical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Rosario Oliva
- Physical Chemistry I - Biophysical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Haowei Wu
- Division of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon 999077, Hong Kong, China
| | - Mingjie Zhang
- Division of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon 999077, Hong Kong, China.,School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Hue Sun Chan
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Roland Winter
- Physical Chemistry I - Biophysical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
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28
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Folberth A, Bharadwaj S, van der Vegt NFA. Small-to-large length scale transition of TMAO interaction with hydrophobic solutes. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2022; 24:2080-2087. [PMID: 35018925 DOI: 10.1039/d1cp05167a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
We report the effect of trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO) on the solvation of nonpolar solutes in water studied with molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and free-energy calculations. The simulation data indicate the occurrence of a length scale crossover in the TMAO interaction with repulsive Weeks-Chandler-Andersen (WCA) solutes: while TMAO is depleted from the hydration shell of a small WCA solute (methane) and increases the free-energy cost of solute-cavity formation, it preferentially binds to a large WCA solute (α-helical polyalanine), reducing the free-energy cost of solute-cavity formation via a surfactant-like mechanism. Significantly, we show that this surfactant-like behaviour of TMAO reinforces the solvent-mediated attraction between large WCA solutes by means of an entropic force linked to the interfacial accumulation of TMAO. Specifically, this entropic force arises from the natural tendency of adsorbed TMAO molecules to mix back into the bulk. It therefore favours solute-solute contact states that minimise the surface area exposed to the solvent and have a small overall number of TMAO molecules adsorbed. In contrast to the well-known depletion force, its effect is compensated by enthalpic solute-solvent interactions. Correspondingly, the hydrophobic association free energy of the large α-helical solutes passes through a minimum at low TMAO concentration when cohesive solute-solvent van der Waals interactions are considered. The observations reported herein are reminiscent to cosolvent effects on hydrophobic polymer coil-globule collapse free energies (Bharadwaj et al., Commun. Chem. 2020, 3, 165) and may be of general significance in systems whose properties are determined by hydrophobic self-assembly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelina Folberth
- Eduard-Zintl-Institut für Anorganische und Physikalische Chemie, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Strasse 10, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany.
| | - Swaminath Bharadwaj
- Eduard-Zintl-Institut für Anorganische und Physikalische Chemie, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Strasse 10, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany.
| | - Nico F A van der Vegt
- Eduard-Zintl-Institut für Anorganische und Physikalische Chemie, Technische Universität Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Strasse 10, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany.
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29
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Gillilan RE. High-pressure SAXS, deep life, and extreme biophysics. Methods Enzymol 2022; 677:323-355. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2022.08.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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30
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Li P, Zeng X, Li S, Xiang X, Chen P, Li Y, Liu BF. Rapid Determination of Phase Diagrams for Biomolecular Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation with Microfluidics. Anal Chem 2021; 94:687-694. [PMID: 34936324 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c02700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Biomolecular phase separation is currently emerging in both the medical and life science fields. Meanwhile, the application of liquid-liquid phase separation has been extended to many fields including drug discovery, fibrous material fabrication, 3D printing, and polymer design. Although more than 8600 proteins and other synthetic macromolecules are capable of phase separation as recently reported, there is still a lack of a high-throughput approach to quantitatively characterize its phase behaviors. To meet this requirement, here, we proposed fast and high-resolution acquisition of biomolecular phase diagrams using microfluidic chips. Using this platform, we demonstrated the phase behavior of polyU/RRASLRRASLRRASL in a quantitative manner. Up to 1750 concentration conditions can be generated in 140 min. The detection limitation of our device to capture the saturation concentration for phase separation is about 5 times lower than that of the traditional turbidity method. Thus, our results provide a basis for the rapid acquisition of phase diagrams with high-throughput and pave the way for its wide application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengjie Li
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Xuemei Zeng
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Shunji Li
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Xufu Xiang
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Peng Chen
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Yiwei Li
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
| | - Bi-Feng Liu
- The Key Laboratory for Biomedical Photonics of MOE at Wuhan National Laboratory for Optoelectronics-Hubei Bioinformatics and Molecular Imaging Key Laboratory, Systems Biology Theme, Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430074, China
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31
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Dec R, Puławski W, Dzwolak W. Selective and stoichiometric incorporation of ATP by self-assembling amyloid fibrils. J Mater Chem B 2021; 9:8626-8630. [PMID: 34622264 DOI: 10.1039/d1tb01976g] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
ATP acts as a biological hydrotrope preventing protein aggregation. Here, we report a novel chimeric peptide, ACC1-13K8, with an unusual capacity to bind and incorporate ATP while self-assembling into amyloid fibrils. The amino acid sequence combines a highly amyloidogenic segment of insulin's A-chain (ACC1-13) and octalysine (K8). Fibrillization requires binding 2 ATP molecules per ACC1-13K8 monomer and is not triggered by adenosine di- and monophosphates (ADP, AMP). Infrared and CD spectra and AFM-based morphological analysis reveal tight and orderly entrapment of ATP within superstructural hybrid peptide-ATP fibrils. The incorporation of ATP is an emergent property of ACC1-13K8 not observed for ACC1-13 and K8 segments separately. We demonstrate how new functionalities (e.g. ATP storage) emerge from synergistic coupling of amyloidogenic segments with non-amyloidogenic peptide ligands, and suggest that ATP's role in protein misfolding is more nuanced than previously assumed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Dec
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, 1 Pasteur Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland. .,Institute of High Pressure Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, 29/37 Sokołowska Street, 01-142 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Wojciech Puławski
- Institute of High Pressure Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, 29/37 Sokołowska Street, 01-142 Warsaw, Poland.,Bioinformatics Laboratory, Mossakowski Medical Research Institute, Polish Academy of Sciences, 5 Pawinskiego Street, 02-106 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Wojciech Dzwolak
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, 1 Pasteur Street, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland. .,Institute of High Pressure Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, 29/37 Sokołowska Street, 01-142 Warsaw, Poland
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32
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Li L, Herzog M, Möbitz S, Winter R. Liquid droplets of protein LAF1 provide a vehicle to regulate storage of the signaling protein K-Ras4B and its transport to the lipid membrane. Phys Chem Chem Phys 2021; 23:5370-5375. [PMID: 33645620 DOI: 10.1039/d1cp00007a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Liquid-liquid phase separation has been shown to promote the formation of functional membraneless organelles involved in various cellular processes, including metabolism, stress response and signal transduction. Protein LAF1 found in P-granules phase separates into liquid-like droplets by patterned electrostatic interactions between acidic and basic tracts in LAF1 and has been used as model system in this study. We show that signaling proteins, such as K-Ras4B, a small GTPase that acts as a molecular switch and regulates many cellular processes including proliferation, apoptosis and cell growth, can colocalize in LAF1 droplets. Colocalization is facilitated by electrostatic interactions between the positively charged polybasic domain of K-Ras4B and the negatively charged motifs of LAF1. The interaction partners B- and C-Raf of K-Ras4B can also be recruited to the liquid droplets. Upon contact with an anionic lipid bilayer membrane, the liquid droplets dissolve and K-Ras4B is released, forming nanoclusters in the lipid membrane. Considering the high tuneability of liquid-liquid phase separation in the cell, the colocalization of signaling proteins and their effector molecules in liquid droplets may provide an additional vehicle for regulating storage and transport of membrane-associated signaling proteins such as K-Ras4B and offer an alternative strategy for high-fidelity signal output.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Li
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Physical Chemistry I - Biophysical Chemistry, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Str. 4a, 44227 Dortmund, Germany.
| | - Marius Herzog
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Physical Chemistry I - Biophysical Chemistry, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Str. 4a, 44227 Dortmund, Germany.
| | - Simone Möbitz
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Physical Chemistry I - Biophysical Chemistry, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Str. 4a, 44227 Dortmund, Germany.
| | - Roland Winter
- Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Physical Chemistry I - Biophysical Chemistry, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Str. 4a, 44227 Dortmund, Germany.
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33
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Li S, Yoshizawa T, Yamazaki R, Fujiwara A, Kameda T, Kitahara R. Pressure and Temperature Phase Diagram for Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation of the RNA-Binding Protein Fused in Sarcoma. J Phys Chem B 2021; 125:6821-6829. [PMID: 34156864 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.1c01451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of proteins and nucleic acids to form membraneless cellular compartments is considered to be involved in various biological functions. The RNA-binding protein fused in sarcoma (FUS) undergoes LLPS in vivo and in vitro. Here, we investigated the effects of pressure and temperature on the LLPS of FUS by high-pressure microscopy and high-pressure UV/vis spectroscopy. The phase-separated condensate of FUS was obliterated with increasing pressure but was observed again at a higher pressure. We generated a pressure-temperature phase diagram that describes the phase separation of FUS and provides a general understanding of the thermodynamic properties of self-assembly and phase separation of proteins. FUS has two types of condensed phases, observed at low pressure (LP-LLPS) and high pressure (HP-LLPS). The HP-LLPS state was more condensed and exhibited lower susceptibility to dissolution by 1,6-hexanediol and karyopherin-β2 than the LP-LLPS state. Moreover, molecular dynamic simulations revealed that electrostatic interactions were destabilized, whereas cation-π, π-π, and hydrophobic interactions were stabilized in HP-LLPS. When cation-π, π-π, and hydrophobic interactions were transiently stabilized in the cellular environment, the phase transition to HP-LLPS occurred; this might be correlated to the aberrant enrichment of cytoplasmic ribonucleoprotein granules, leading to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shujie Li
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Nojihigashi, Kusatsu, Shiga 525-8577, Japan
| | - Takuya Yoshizawa
- College of Life Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Nojihigashi, Kusatsu, Shiga 525-8577, Japan
| | - Ryota Yamazaki
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Nojihigashi, Kusatsu, Shiga 525-8577, Japan
| | - Ayano Fujiwara
- Graduate School of Life Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Nojihigashi, Kusatsu, Shiga 525-8577, Japan
| | - Tomoshi Kameda
- Artificial Intelligence Research Center, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Koto, Tokyo 135-0064, Japan
| | - Ryo Kitahara
- College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, 1-1-1 Nojihigashi, Kusatsu, Shiga 525-8577, Japan
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34
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Tsubotani K, Maeyama S, Murakami S, Schaffer SW, Ito T. Taurine suppresses liquid-liquid phase separation of lysozyme protein. Amino Acids 2021; 53:745-751. [PMID: 33881613 DOI: 10.1007/s00726-021-02980-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Taurine is a compatible osmolyte that confers stability to proteins. Recent studies have revealed that liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of proteins underlie the formation of membraneless organelles in cells. In the present study, we evaluated the role of taurine on LLPS of hen egg lysozyme. We demonstrated that taurine decreases the turbidity of the polyethylene glycol-induced crowding solution of lysozyme. We also demonstrated that taurine attenuates LLPS-dependent cloudiness of lysozyme solution with 0.5 or 1 M NaCl at a critical temperature. Moreover, we observed that taurine inhibits LLPS formation of a heteroprotein mix solution of lysozyme and ovalbumin. These data indicate that taurine can modulate the formation of LLPS of proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanae Tsubotani
- Department of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Fukui Prefectural University, 4-1-1 Matsuokakenjojima, Eiheiji-cho, Yoshida-gun, Fukui, 910-1195, Japan
| | - Sayuri Maeyama
- Department of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Fukui Prefectural University, 4-1-1 Matsuokakenjojima, Eiheiji-cho, Yoshida-gun, Fukui, 910-1195, Japan
| | - Shigeru Murakami
- Department of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Fukui Prefectural University, 4-1-1 Matsuokakenjojima, Eiheiji-cho, Yoshida-gun, Fukui, 910-1195, Japan
| | - Stephen W Schaffer
- College of Medicine, University of South Alabama, 5795 Drive North, CSAB 170, Mobile, AL, 36688, USA
| | - Takashi Ito
- Department of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Fukui Prefectural University, 4-1-1 Matsuokakenjojima, Eiheiji-cho, Yoshida-gun, Fukui, 910-1195, Japan.
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35
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Rocha MA, Sprague-Piercy MA, Kwok AO, Roskamp KW, Martin RW. Chemical Properties Determine Solubility and Stability in βγ-Crystallins of the Eye Lens. Chembiochem 2021; 22:1329-1346. [PMID: 33569867 PMCID: PMC8052307 DOI: 10.1002/cbic.202000739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2020] [Revised: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
βγ-Crystallins are the primary structural and refractive proteins found in the vertebrate eye lens. Because crystallins are not replaced after early eye development, their solubility and stability must be maintained for a lifetime, which is even more remarkable given the high protein concentration in the lens. Aggregation of crystallins caused by mutations or post-translational modifications can reduce crystallin protein stability and alter intermolecular interactions. Common post-translational modifications that can cause age-related cataracts include deamidation, oxidation, and tryptophan derivatization. Metal ion binding can also trigger reduced crystallin solubility through a variety of mechanisms. Interprotein interactions are critical to maintaining lens transparency: crystallins can undergo domain swapping, disulfide bonding, and liquid-liquid phase separation, all of which can cause opacity depending on the context. Important experimental techniques for assessing crystallin conformation in the absence of a high-resolution structure include dye-binding assays, circular dichroism, fluorescence, light scattering, and transition metal FRET.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan A. Rocha
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, 1102 Natural Sciences 2, Irvine, CA 92697-2025 (USA)
| | - Marc A. Sprague-Piercy
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California Irvine, 3205 McGaugh Hall, Irvine, CA 92697-2525
| | - Ashley O. Kwok
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, 1102 Natural Sciences 2, Irvine, CA 92697-2025 (USA)
| | - Kyle W. Roskamp
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, 1102 Natural Sciences 2, Irvine, CA 92697-2025 (USA)
| | - Rachel W. Martin
- Department of Chemistry, University of California, Irvine, 1102 Natural Sciences 2, Irvine, CA 92697-2025 (USA)
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of California Irvine, 3205 McGaugh Hall, Irvine, CA 92697-2525
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36
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Ahlers J, Adams EM, Bader V, Pezzotti S, Winklhofer KF, Tatzelt J, Havenith M. The key role of solvent in condensation: Mapping water in liquid-liquid phase-separated FUS. Biophys J 2021; 120:1266-1275. [PMID: 33515602 PMCID: PMC8059208 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpj.2021.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Revised: 11/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Formation of biomolecular condensates through liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) has emerged as a pervasive principle in cell biology, allowing compartmentalization and spatiotemporal regulation of dynamic cellular processes. Proteins that form condensates under physiological conditions often contain intrinsically disordered regions with low-complexity domains. Among them, the RNA-binding proteins FUS and TDP-43 have been a focus of intense investigation because aberrant condensation and aggregation of these proteins is linked to neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and frontotemporal dementia. LLPS occurs when protein-rich condensates form surrounded by a dilute aqueous solution. LLPS is per se entropically unfavorable. Energetically favorable multivalent protein-protein interactions are one important aspect to offset entropic costs. Another proposed aspect is the release of entropically unfavorable preordered hydration water into the bulk. We used attenuated total reflection spectroscopy in the terahertz frequency range to characterize the changes in the hydrogen bonding network accompanying the FUS enrichment in liquid-liquid phase-separated droplets to provide experimental evidence for the key role of the solvent as a thermodynamic driving force. The FUS concentration inside LLPS droplets was determined to be increased to 2.0 mM independent of the initial protein concentration (5 or 10 μM solutions) by fluorescence measurements. With terahertz spectroscopy, we revealed a dewetting of hydrophobic side chains in phase-separated FUS. Thus, the release of entropically unfavorable water populations into the bulk goes hand in hand with enthalpically favorable protein-protein interaction. Both changes are energetically favorable, and our study shows that both contribute to the thermodynamic driving force in phase separation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonas Ahlers
- Department Physical Chemistry, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Ellen M Adams
- Department Physical Chemistry, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Verian Bader
- Department Molecular Cell Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Simone Pezzotti
- Department Physical Chemistry, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Konstanze F Winklhofer
- Department Molecular Cell Biology, Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Jörg Tatzelt
- Department Biochemistry of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Institute of Biochemistry and Pathobiochemistry, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany
| | - Martina Havenith
- Department Physical Chemistry, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bochum, Germany.
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37
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Pal T, Wessén J, Das S, Chan HS. Subcompartmentalization of polyampholyte species in organelle-like condensates is promoted by charge-pattern mismatch and strong excluded-volume interaction. Phys Rev E 2021; 103:042406. [PMID: 34005864 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.103.042406] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Polyampholyte field theory and explicit-chain molecular dynamics models of sequence-specific phase separation of a system with two intrinsically disordered protein (IDP) species indicate consistently that a substantial polymer excluded volume and a significant mismatch of the IDP sequence charge patterns can act in concert, but not in isolation, to demix the two IDP species upon condensation. This finding reveals an energetic-geometric interplay in a stochastic, "fuzzy" molecular recognition mechanism that may facilitate subcompartmentalization of membraneless organelles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanmoy Pal
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Jonas Wessén
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Suman Das
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Hue Sun Chan
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada
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38
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Fetahaj Z, Ostermeier L, Cinar H, Oliva R, Winter R. Biomolecular Condensates under Extreme Martian Salt Conditions. J Am Chem Soc 2021; 143:5247-5259. [PMID: 33755443 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.1c01832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Biomolecular condensates formed by liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) are considered one of the early compartmentalization strategies of cells, which still prevail today forming nonmembranous compartments in biological cells. Studies of the effect of high pressures, such as those encountered in the subsurface salt lakes of Mars or in the depths of the subseafloor on Earth, on biomolecular LLPS will contribute to questions of protocell formation under prebiotic conditions. We investigated the effects of extreme environmental conditions, focusing on highly aggressive Martian salts (perchlorate and sulfate) and high pressure, on the formation of biomolecular condensates of proteins. Our data show that the driving force for phase separation of proteins is not only sensitively dictated by their amino acid sequence but also strongly influenced by the type of salt and its concentration. At high salinity, as encountered in Martian soil and similar harsh environments on Earth, attractive short-range interactions, ion correlation effects, hydrophobic, and π-driven interactions can sustain LLPS for suitable polypeptide sequences. Our results also show that salts across the Hofmeister series have a differential effect on shifting the boundary of immiscibility that determines phase separation. In addition, we show that confinement mimicking cracks in sediments and subsurface saline water pools in the Antarctica or on Mars can dramatically stabilize liquid phase droplets, leading to an increase in the temperature and pressure stability of the droplet phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zamira Fetahaj
- Physical Chemistry I - Biophysical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn Street 4a, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Lena Ostermeier
- Physical Chemistry I - Biophysical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn Street 4a, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Hasan Cinar
- Physical Chemistry I - Biophysical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn Street 4a, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Rosario Oliva
- Physical Chemistry I - Biophysical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn Street 4a, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Roland Winter
- Physical Chemistry I - Biophysical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn Street 4a, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
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Farahi N, Lazar T, Wodak SJ, Tompa P, Pancsa R. Integration of Data from Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation Databases Highlights Concentration and Dosage Sensitivity of LLPS Drivers. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22063017. [PMID: 33809541 PMCID: PMC8002189 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22063017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2021] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) is a molecular process that leads to the formation of membraneless organelles, representing functionally specialized liquid-like cellular condensates formed by proteins and nucleic acids. Integrating the data on LLPS-associated proteins from dedicated databases revealed only modest agreement between them and yielded a high-confidence dataset of 89 human LLPS drivers. Analysis of the supporting evidence for our dataset uncovered a systematic and potentially concerning difference between protein concentrations used in a good fraction of the in vitro LLPS experiments, a key parameter that governs the phase behavior, and the proteomics-derived cellular abundance levels of the corresponding proteins. Closer scrutiny of the underlying experimental data enabled us to offer a sound rationale for this systematic difference, which draws on our current understanding of the cellular organization of the proteome and the LLPS process. In support of this rationale, we find that genes coding for our human LLPS drivers tend to be dosage-sensitive, suggesting that their cellular availability is tightly regulated to preserve their functional role in direct or indirect relation to condensate formation. Our analysis offers guideposts for increasing agreement between in vitro and in vivo studies, probing the roles of proteins in LLPS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nazanin Farahi
- VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, Flemish Institute for Biotechnology, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; (N.F.); (T.L.); (S.J.W.)
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
- Department of Biology, Technical University of Kaiserslautern, 67663 Kaiserslautern, Germany
| | - Tamas Lazar
- VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, Flemish Institute for Biotechnology, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; (N.F.); (T.L.); (S.J.W.)
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Shoshana J. Wodak
- VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, Flemish Institute for Biotechnology, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; (N.F.); (T.L.); (S.J.W.)
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Peter Tompa
- VIB-VUB Center for Structural Biology, Flemish Institute for Biotechnology, 1050 Brussels, Belgium; (N.F.); (T.L.); (S.J.W.)
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
- Correspondence: (P.T.); (R.P.)
| | - Rita Pancsa
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, 1117 Budapest, Hungary
- Correspondence: (P.T.); (R.P.)
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40
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Levengood JD, Peterson J, Tolbert BS, Roche J. Thermodynamic stability of hnRNP A1 low complexity domain revealed by high-pressure NMR. Proteins 2021; 89:781-791. [PMID: 33550645 DOI: 10.1002/prot.26058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2020] [Revised: 12/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
We have investigated the pressure- and temperature-induced conformational changes associated with the low complexity domain of hnRNP A1, an RNA-binding protein able to phase separate in response to cellular stress. Solution NMR spectra of the hnRNP A1 low-complexity domain fused with protein-G B1 domain were collected from 1 to 2500 bar and from 268 to 290 K. While the GB1 domain shows the typical pressure-induced and cold temperature-induced unfolding expected for small globular domains, the low-complexity domain of hnRNP A1 exhibits unusual pressure and temperature dependences. We observed that the low-complexity domain is pressure sensitive, undergoing a major conformational transition within the prescribed pressure range. Remarkably, this transition has the inverse temperature dependence of a typical folding-unfolding transition. Our results suggest the presence of a low-lying extended and fully solvated state(s) of the low-complexity domain that may play a role in phase separation. This study highlights the exquisite sensitivity of solution NMR spectroscopy to observe subtle conformational changes and illustrates how pressure perturbation can be used to determine the properties of metastable conformational ensembles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeffrey D Levengood
- Department of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Jake Peterson
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
| | - Blanton S Tolbert
- Department of Chemistry, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | - Julien Roche
- Roy J. Carver Department of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Molecular Biology, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA
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Pancsa R, Vranken W, Mészáros B. Computational resources for identifying and describing proteins driving liquid-liquid phase separation. Brief Bioinform 2021; 22:6124912. [PMID: 33517364 PMCID: PMC8425267 DOI: 10.1093/bib/bbaa408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Revised: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/12/2020] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
One of the most intriguing fields emerging in current molecular biology is the study of membraneless organelles formed via liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS). These organelles perform crucial functions in cell regulation and signalling, and recent years have also brought about the understanding of the molecular mechanism of their formation. The LLPS field is continuously developing and optimizing dedicated in vitro and in vivo methods to identify and characterize these non-stoichiometric molecular condensates and the proteins able to drive or contribute to LLPS. Building on these observations, several computational tools and resources have emerged in parallel to serve as platforms for the collection, annotation and prediction of membraneless organelle-linked proteins. In this survey, we showcase recent advancements in LLPS bioinformatics, focusing on (i) available databases and ontologies that are necessary to describe the studied phenomena and the experimental results in an unambiguous way and (ii) prediction methods to assess the potential LLPS involvement of proteins. Through hands-on application of these resources on example proteins and representative datasets, we give a practical guide to show how they can be used in conjunction to provide in silico information on LLPS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rita Pancsa
- Enzymology Institute of the Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Wim Vranken
- Computer Science, chemistry and biomedical sciences at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel
| | - Bálint Mészáros
- Structural and Computational Biology Unit at the European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg 69117, Germany
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42
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Mukherjee M, Mondal J. Bottom-Up View of the Mechanism of Action of Protein-Stabilizing Osmolytes. J Phys Chem B 2020; 124:11316-11323. [PMID: 33198465 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.0c06658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The molecular mechanism of osmolytes on the stabilization of native states of protein is still controversial irrespective of extensive studies over several decades. Recent investigations in terms of experiments and molecular dynamics simulations challenge the popular osmophobic model explaining the mechanistic action of protein-stabilizing osmolytes. The current Perspective presents an updated view on the mechanistic action of osmolytes in light of resurgence of interesting experiments and computer simulations over the past few years in this direction. In this regard, the Perspective adopts a bottom-up approach starting from hydrophobic interactions and eventually adds complexity in the system, going toward the protein, in a complex topology of hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions. Finally, the Perspective unifies osmolyte-induced protein conformational equilibria in terms of preferential interaction theory, irrespective of individual preferential binding or exclusion of osmolytes depending on different osmolytes and protein surfaces. The Perspective also identifies future research directions that can potentially shape this interesting area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mrinmoy Mukherjee
- Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Center For Interdisciplinary Sciences, Hyderabad 500107, India
| | - Jagannath Mondal
- Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Center For Interdisciplinary Sciences, Hyderabad 500107, India
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Das S, Lin YH, Vernon RM, Forman-Kay JD, Chan HS. Comparative roles of charge, π, and hydrophobic interactions in sequence-dependent phase separation of intrinsically disordered proteins. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2020; 117:28795-28805. [PMID: 33139563 PMCID: PMC7682375 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2008122117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 145] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Endeavoring toward a transferable, predictive coarse-grained explicit-chain model for biomolecular condensates underlain by liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of proteins, we conducted multiple-chain simulations of the N-terminal intrinsically disordered region (IDR) of DEAD-box helicase Ddx4, as a test case, to assess roles of electrostatic, hydrophobic, cation-π, and aromatic interactions in amino acid sequence-dependent LLPS. We evaluated three different residue-residue interaction schemes with a shared electrostatic potential. Neither a common hydrophobicity scheme nor one augmented with arginine/lysine-aromatic cation-π interactions consistently accounted for available experimental LLPS data on the wild-type, a charge-scrambled, a phenylalanine-to-alanine (FtoA), and an arginine-to-lysine (RtoK) mutant of Ddx4 IDR. In contrast, interactions based on contact statistics among folded globular protein structures reproduce the overall experimental trend, including that the RtoK mutant has a much diminished LLPS propensity. Consistency between simulation and experiment was also found for RtoK mutants of P-granule protein LAF-1, underscoring that, to a degree, important LLPS-driving π-related interactions are embodied in classical statistical potentials. Further elucidation is necessary, however, especially of phenylalanine's role in condensate assembly because experiments on FtoA and tyrosine-to-phenylalanine mutants suggest that LLPS-driving phenylalanine interactions are significantly weaker than posited by common statistical potentials. Protein-protein electrostatic interactions are modulated by relative permittivity, which in general depends on aqueous protein concentration. Analytical theory suggests that this dependence entails enhanced interprotein interactions in the condensed phase but more favorable protein-solvent interactions in the dilute phase. The opposing trends lead to only a modest overall impact on LLPS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suman Das
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Yi-Hsuan Lin
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
- Molecular Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Robert M Vernon
- Molecular Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Julie D Forman-Kay
- Molecular Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Hue Sun Chan
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada;
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Ostermeier L, de Oliveira GAP, Dzwolak W, Silva JL, Winter R. Exploring the polymorphism, conformational dynamics and function of amyloidogenic peptides and proteins by temperature and pressure modulation. Biophys Chem 2020; 268:106506. [PMID: 33221697 DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2020.106506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Our understanding of amyloid structures and the mechanisms by which disease-associated peptides and proteins self-assemble into these fibrillar aggregates, has advanced considerably in recent years. It is also established that amyloid fibrils are generally polymorphic. The molecular structures of the aggregation intermediates and the causes of molecular and structural polymorphism are less understood, however. Such information is mandatory to explain the pathological diversity of amyloid diseases. What is also clear is that not only protein mutations, but also the physiological milieu, i.e. pH, cosolutes, crowding and surface interactions, have an impact on fibril formation. In this minireview, we focus on the effect of the less explored physical parameters temperature and pressure on the fibrillization propensity of proteins and how these variables can be used to reveal additional mechanistic information about intermediate states of fibril formation and molecular and structural polymorphism. Generally, amyloids are very stable and can resist harsh environmental conditions, such as extreme pH, high temperature and high pressure, and can hence serve as valuable functional amyloid. As an example, we discuss the effect of temperature and pressure on the catalytic activity of peptide amyloid fibrils that exhibit enzymatic activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Ostermeier
- Physical Chemistry I - Biophysical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn Street 4a, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Guilherme A P de Oliveira
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, National Institute of Science and Technology for Structural Biology and Bioimaging, National Center of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Jiri Jonas, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-901, Brazil
| | - Wojciech Dzwolak
- Faculty of Chemistry, Biological and Chemical Research Centre, University of Warsaw, Pasteur 1 Str., 02-093 Warsaw, Poland.
| | - Jerson L Silva
- Institute of Medical Biochemistry Leopoldo de Meis, National Institute of Science and Technology for Structural Biology and Bioimaging, National Center of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Jiri Jonas, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-901, Brazil.
| | - Roland Winter
- Physical Chemistry I - Biophysical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn Street 4a, 44227 Dortmund, Germany.
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The effects of cosolutes and crowding on the kinetics of protein condensate formation based on liquid-liquid phase separation: a pressure-jump relaxation study. Sci Rep 2020; 10:17245. [PMID: 33057154 PMCID: PMC7566631 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-74271-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Biomolecular assembly processes based on liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) are ubiquitous in the biological cell. To fully understand the role of LLPS in biological self-assembly, it is necessary to characterize also their kinetics of formation and dissolution. Here, we introduce the pressure-jump relaxation technique in concert with UV/Vis and FTIR spectroscopy as well as light microscopy to characterize the evolution of LLPS formation and dissolution in a time-dependent manner. As a model system undergoing LLPS we used the globular eye-lens protein γD-crystallin. As cosolutes and macromolecular crowding are known to affect the stability and dynamics of biomolecular condensates in cellulo, we extended our kinetic study by addressing also the impact of urea, the deep-sea osmolyte trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) and a crowding agent on the transformation kinetics of the LLPS system. As a prerequisite for the kinetic studies, the phase diagram of γD-crystallin at the different solution conditions also had to be determined. The formation of the droplet phase was found to be a very rapid process and can be switched on and off on the 1-4 s timescale. Theoretical treatment using the Johnson-Mehl-Avrami-Kolmogorov model indicates that the LLPS proceeds via a diffusion-limited nucleation and growth mechanism at subcritical protein concentrations, a scenario which is also expected to prevail within biologically relevant crowded systems. Compared to the marked effect the cosolutes take on the stability of the LLPS region, their effect at biologically relevant concentrations on the phase transformation kinetics is very small, which might be a particular advantage in the cellular context, as a fast switching capability of the transition should not be compromised by the presence of cellular cosolutes.
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46
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Cinar H, Oliva R, Lin Y, Chen X, Zhang M, Chan HS, Winter R. Pressure Sensitivity of SynGAP/PSD-95 Condensates as a Model for Postsynaptic Densities and Its Biophysical and Neurological Ramifications. Chemistry 2020; 26:11024-11031. [PMID: 31910298 PMCID: PMC7496680 DOI: 10.1002/chem.201905269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Biomolecular condensates consisting of proteins and nucleic acids can serve critical biological functions, so that some condensates are referred as membraneless organelles. They can also be disease-causing, if their assembly is misregulated. A major physicochemical basis of the formation of biomolecular condensates is liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). In general, LLPS depends on environmental variables, such as temperature and hydrostatic pressure. The effects of pressure on the LLPS of a binary SynGAP/PSD-95 protein system mimicking postsynaptic densities, which are protein assemblies underneath the plasma membrane of excitatory synapses, were investigated. Quite unexpectedly, the model system LLPS is much more sensitive to pressure than the folded states of typical globular proteins. Phase-separated droplets of SynGAP/PSD-95 were found to dissolve into a homogeneous solution already at ten-to-hundred bar levels. The pressure sensitivity of SynGAP/PSD-95 is seen here as a consequence of both pressure-dependent multivalent interaction strength and void volume effects. Considering that organisms in the deep sea are under pressures up to about 1 kbar, this implies that deep-sea organisms have to devise means to counteract this high pressure sensitivity of biomolecular condensates to avoid harm. Intriguingly, these findings may shed light on the biophysical underpinning of pressure-related neurological disorders in terrestrial vertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hasan Cinar
- Physical Chemistry I—Biophysical ChemistryFaculty of Chemistry and Chemical BiologyTU DortmundOtto-Hahn-Strasse 4a44227DortmundGermany
| | - Rosario Oliva
- Physical Chemistry I—Biophysical ChemistryFaculty of Chemistry and Chemical BiologyTU DortmundOtto-Hahn-Strasse 4a44227DortmundGermany
| | - Yi‐Hsuan Lin
- Department of BiochemistryFaculty of MedicineUniversity of TorontoTorontoOntarioM5S 1A8Canada
- Molecular MedicineHospital for Sick ChildrenTorontoOntarioM5G 0A4Canada
| | - Xudong Chen
- Division of Life ScienceState Key Laboratory of Molecular NeuroscienceHong Kong University of Science and TechnologyClear Water BayKowloon, Hong KongChina
| | - Mingjie Zhang
- Division of Life ScienceState Key Laboratory of Molecular NeuroscienceHong Kong University of Science and TechnologyClear Water BayKowloon, Hong KongChina
| | - Hue Sun Chan
- Department of BiochemistryFaculty of MedicineUniversity of TorontoTorontoOntarioM5S 1A8Canada
| | - Roland Winter
- Physical Chemistry I—Biophysical ChemistryFaculty of Chemistry and Chemical BiologyTU DortmundOtto-Hahn-Strasse 4a44227DortmundGermany
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47
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Folberth A, Polák J, Heyda J, van der Vegt NFA. Pressure, Peptides, and a Piezolyte: Structural Analysis of the Effects of Pressure and Trimethylamine- N-oxide on the Peptide Solvation Shell. J Phys Chem B 2020; 124:6508-6519. [PMID: 32615760 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.0c03319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The osmolyte trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO) is able to increase the thermodynamic stability of folded proteins, counteracting pressure denaturation. Herein, we report experimental solubility data on penta-alanine (pAla) in aqueous TMAO solutions (at pH = 7 and pH = 13) together with molecular simulation data for pAla, penta-serine (pSer), and an elastin-like peptide (ELP) sequence (VPGVG) under varying pH and pressure conditions. The effect of the peptide end groups on TMAO-peptide interactions is investigated by comparing the solvation of zwitterionic and negatively charged pentamers with the solvation of pentamers with charge-neutral C- and N-termini and linear, virtually infinite, peptide chains stretched across the periodic boundaries of the simulation cell. The experiments and simulations consistently show that TMAO is net-depleted from the pAla-water interface, but local accumulation of TMAO is observed just outside the first hydration shell of the peptide. While the same observations are also made in the simulations of the zwitterionic pentamers (Ala, Ser, and ELP) and virtually infinite peptide chains (Ala and ELP), weak preferential binding of TMAO is instead observed for pAla with neutral end groups at a 1 M TMAO concentration and for an ELP pentamer with capped neutral end groups at a 0.55 M TMAO concentration studied in previous work (Y.-T. Liao et al. Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, 2017, 114, 2479-2484). The above observations made at 1 bar ambient pressure remain qualitatively unchanged at 500 bar and 2 kbar. Local accumulation of TMAO correlates with a reduction in the total number of peptide-solvent hydrogen bonds, independent of the peptide's primary sequence and the applied pressure. By weakening water hydrogen bonds with the protein backbone, TMAO indirectly contributes to stabilizing internal hydrogen bonds in proteins, thus providing a protein stabilization mechanism beyond net depletion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelina Folberth
- Eduard-Zintl-Institut fuer Anorganische und Physikalische Chemie, Technical University of Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Strasse 10, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
| | - Jakub Polák
- Physical Chemistry Department, University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague Technicka 5, 16628 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Heyda
- Physical Chemistry Department, University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague Technicka 5, 16628 Prague 6, Czech Republic
| | - Nico F A van der Vegt
- Eduard-Zintl-Institut fuer Anorganische und Physikalische Chemie, Technical University of Darmstadt, Alarich-Weiss-Strasse 10, 64287 Darmstadt, Germany
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48
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Mukherjee M, Mondal J. Unifying the Contrasting Mechanisms of Protein-Stabilizing Osmolytes. J Phys Chem B 2020; 124:6565-6574. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.0c04757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Mrinmoy Mukherjee
- Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Center for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Hyderabad 500046, India
| | - Jagannath Mondal
- Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Center for Interdisciplinary Sciences, Hyderabad 500046, India
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49
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Zhou L, Shi H, Li Z, He C. Recent Advances in Complex Coacervation Design from Macromolecular Assemblies and Emerging Applications. Macromol Rapid Commun 2020; 41:e2000149. [DOI: 10.1002/marc.202000149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Revised: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Lili Zhou
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering National University of Singapore 9 Engineering Drive 1 Singapore 117576 Singapore
| | - Huihui Shi
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering National University of Singapore 9 Engineering Drive 1 Singapore 117576 Singapore
| | - Zibiao Li
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering A:STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research) 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis, #08‐03 Singapore 138634 Singapore
| | - Chaobin He
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering National University of Singapore 9 Engineering Drive 1 Singapore 117576 Singapore
- Institute of Materials Research and Engineering A:STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research) 2 Fusionopolis Way, Innovis, #08‐03 Singapore 138634 Singapore
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50
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Oliva R, Banerjee S, Cinar H, Ehrt C, Winter R. Alteration of Protein Binding Affinities by Aqueous Two-Phase Systems Revealed by Pressure Perturbation. Sci Rep 2020; 10:8074. [PMID: 32415277 PMCID: PMC7228918 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-65053-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 04/21/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Interactions between proteins and ligands, which are fundamental to many biochemical processes essential to life, are mostly studied at dilute buffer conditions. The effects of the highly crowded nature of biological cells and the effects of liquid-liquid phase separation inducing biomolecular droplet formation as a means of membrane-less compartmentalization have been largely neglected in protein binding studies. We investigated the binding of a small ligand (ANS) to one of the most multifunctional proteins, bovine serum albumin (BSA) in an aqueous two-phase system (ATPS) composed of PEG and Dextran. Also, aiming to shed more light on differences in binding mode compared to the neat buffer data, we examined the effect of high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) on the binding process. We observe a marked effect of the ATPS on the binding characteristics of BSA. Not only the binding constants change in the ATPS system, but also the integrity of binding sites is partially lost, which is most likely due to soft enthalpic interactions of the BSA with components in the dense droplet phase of the ATPS. Using pressure modulation, differences in binding sites could be unravelled by their different volumetric and hydration properties. Regarding the vital biological relevance of the study, we notice that extreme biological environments, such as HHP, can markedly affect the binding characteristics of proteins. Hence, organisms experiencing high-pressure stress in the deep sea need to finely adjust the volume changes of their biochemical reactions in cellulo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosario Oliva
- Physical Chemistry I - Biophysical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a, 44227, Dortmund, Germany.
| | - Sudeshna Banerjee
- Physical Chemistry I - Biophysical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a, 44227, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Hasan Cinar
- Physical Chemistry I - Biophysical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a, 44227, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Christiane Ehrt
- Medicinal Chemistry - Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a, 44227, Dortmund, Germany
| | - Roland Winter
- Physical Chemistry I - Biophysical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, Otto-Hahn-Strasse 4a, 44227, Dortmund, Germany.
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