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Li Y, Feng Y, Geng S, Xu F, Guo H. The role of liquid-liquid phase separation in defining cancer EMT. Life Sci 2024; 353:122931. [PMID: 39038510 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2024.122931] [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: 04/28/2024] [Revised: 07/08/2024] [Accepted: 07/19/2024] [Indexed: 07/24/2024]
Abstract
Cancer EMT is a pivotal process that drives carcinogenesis, metastasis, and cancer recurrence, with its initiation and regulation intricately governed by biochemical pathways in a precise spatiotemporal manner. Recently, the membrane-less biomolecular condensates formed via liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) have emerged as a universal mechanism underlying the spatiotemporal collaboration of biological activities in cancer EMT. In this review, we first elucidate the current understanding of LLPS formation and its cellular functions, followed by an overview of valuable tools for investigating LLPS. Secondly, we examine in detail the LLPS-mediated biological processes crucial for the initiation and regulation of cancer EMT. Lastly, we address current challenges in advancing LLPS research and explore the potential modulation of LLPS using therapeutic agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Li
- MOE Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, PR China; Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, PR China
| | - Yuqing Feng
- Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, PR China; Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, PR China
| | - Songmei Geng
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710004, PR China
| | - Feng Xu
- MOE Key Laboratory of Biomedical Information Engineering, School of Life Science and Technology, Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, PR China; Bioinspired Engineering and Biomechanics Center (BEBC), Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an 710049, PR China.
| | - Hui Guo
- Department of Medical Oncology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shaanxi 710004, PR China.
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2
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Mokin YI, Povarova OI, Antifeeva IA, Artemov AV, Uversky VN, Turoverov KK, Kuznetsova IM, Fonin AV. Bioinformatics Analysis of Actin Interactome: Characterization of the Nuclear and Cytoplasmic Actin-Binding Proteins. Protein J 2024:10.1007/s10930-024-10207-y. [PMID: 38824467 DOI: 10.1007/s10930-024-10207-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
Actin is present in the cytoplasm and nucleus of every eukaryotic cell. In the cytoplasm, framework and motor functions of actin are associated with its ability to polymerize to form F-actin. In the nucleus, globular actin plays a significant functional role. For a globular protein, actin has a uniquely large number of proteins with which it interacts. Bioinformatics analysis of the actin interactome showed that only a part of actin-binding proteins are both cytoplasmic and nuclear. There are proteins that interact only with cytoplasmic, or only with nuclear actin. The first pool includes proteins associated with the formation, regulation, and functioning of the actin cytoskeleton predominate, while nuclear actin-binding proteins are involved in the majority of key nuclear processes, from regulation of transcription to DNA damage response. Bioinformatics analysis of the structure of actin-binding proteins showed that these are mainly intrinsically disordered proteins, many of which are part of membrane-less organelles. Interestingly, although the number of intrinsically disordered actin-binding proteins in the nucleus is greater than in the cytoplasm, the drivers for the formation of the membrane-less organelles in the cytoplasm are significantly (four times) greater than in the nucleus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yakov I Mokin
- Laboratory of Structural Dynamics, Stability and Folding of Proteins, Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, 194064, Russian Federation
| | - Olga I Povarova
- Laboratory of Structural Dynamics, Stability and Folding of Proteins, Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, 194064, Russian Federation
| | - Iuliia A Antifeeva
- Laboratory of Structural Dynamics, Stability and Folding of Proteins, Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, 194064, Russian Federation
| | - Alexey V Artemov
- Laboratory of Structural Dynamics, Stability and Folding of Proteins, Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, 194064, Russian Federation
| | - Vladimir N Uversky
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Morsani College of Medicine, USF Health Byrd Alzheimer's Research Institute, University of South Florida, 12901 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., MDC07, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA.
| | - Konstantin K Turoverov
- Laboratory of Structural Dynamics, Stability and Folding of Proteins, Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, 194064, Russian Federation
| | - Irina M Kuznetsova
- Laboratory of Structural Dynamics, Stability and Folding of Proteins, Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, 194064, Russian Federation.
| | - Alexander V Fonin
- Laboratory of Structural Dynamics, Stability and Folding of Proteins, Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, 194064, Russian Federation.
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3
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Walker C, Chandrasekaran A, Mansour D, Graham K, Torres A, Wang L, Lafer EM, Rangamani P, Stachowiak JC. Liquid-like condensates that bind actin drive filament polymerization and bundling. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.05.04.592527. [PMID: 38826190 PMCID: PMC11142076 DOI: 10.1101/2024.05.04.592527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2024]
Abstract
Liquid-like protein condensates perform diverse physiological functions. Previous work showed that VASP, a processive actin polymerase, forms condensates that polymerize and bundle actin. To minimize their curvature, filaments accumulated at the inner condensate surface, ultimately deforming the condensate into a rod-like shape, filled with a bundle of parallel filaments. Here we show that this behavior does not require proteins with specific polymerase activity. Specifically, we found that condensates composed of Lamellipodin, a protein that binds actin but is not an actin polymerase, were also capable of polymerizing and bundling actin filaments. To probe the minimum requirements for condensate-mediated actin bundling, we developed an agent-based computational model. Guided by its predictions, we hypothesized that any condensate-forming protein that binds actin could bundle filaments through multivalent crosslinking. To test this idea, we added an actin-binding motif to Eps15, a condensate-forming protein that does not normally bind actin. The resulting chimera formed condensates that drove efficient actin polymerization and bundling. Collectively, these findings broaden the family of proteins that could organize cytoskeletal filaments to include any actin-binding protein that participates in protein condensation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caleb Walker
- Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
| | - Aravind Chandrasekaran
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Daniel Mansour
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Kristin Graham
- Cell and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
| | - Andrea Torres
- Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
| | - Liping Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Eileen M. Lafer
- Department of Biochemistry and Structural Biology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States
| | - Padmini Rangamani
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, United States
| | - Jeanne C. Stachowiak
- Biomedical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
- Chemical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, United States
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4
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Chandrasekaran A, Graham K, Stachowiak JC, Rangamani P. Kinetic trapping organizes actin filaments within liquid-like protein droplets. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3139. [PMID: 38605007 PMCID: PMC11009352 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46726-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Several actin-binding proteins (ABPs) phase separate to form condensates capable of curating the actin network shapes. Here, we use computational modeling to understand the principles of actin network organization within VASP condensate droplets. Our simulations reveal that the different actin shapes, namely shells, rings, and mixture states are highly dependent on the kinetics of VASP-actin interactions, suggesting that they arise from kinetic trapping. Specifically, we show that reducing the residence time of VASP on actin filaments reduces degree of bundling, thereby promoting assembly of shells rather than rings. We validate the model predictions experimentally using a VASP-mutant with decreased bundling capability. Finally, we investigate the ring opening within deformed droplets and found that the sphere-to-ellipsoid transition is favored under a wide range of filament lengths while the ellipsoid-to-rod transition is only permitted when filaments have a specific range of lengths. Our findings highlight key mechanisms of actin organization within phase-separated ABPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aravind Chandrasekaran
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0411, USA
| | - Kristin Graham
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA
| | - Jeanne C Stachowiak
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.
- Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX, 78712, USA.
| | - Padmini Rangamani
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, 92093-0411, USA.
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5
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Cao R, Tian H, Tian Y, Fu X. A Hierarchical Mechanotransduction System: From Macro to Micro. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2302327. [PMID: 38145330 PMCID: PMC10953595 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202302327] [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: 04/12/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/26/2023]
Abstract
Mechanotransduction is a strictly regulated process whereby mechanical stimuli, including mechanical forces and properties, are sensed and translated into biochemical signals. Increasing data demonstrate that mechanotransduction is crucial for regulating macroscopic and microscopic dynamics and functionalities. However, the actions and mechanisms of mechanotransduction across multiple hierarchies, from molecules, subcellular structures, cells, tissues/organs, to the whole-body level, have not been yet comprehensively documented. Herein, the biological roles and operational mechanisms of mechanotransduction from macro to micro are revisited, with a focus on the orchestrations across diverse hierarchies. The implications, applications, and challenges of mechanotransduction in human diseases are also summarized and discussed. Together, this knowledge from a hierarchical perspective has the potential to refresh insights into mechanotransduction regulation and disease pathogenesis and therapy, and ultimately revolutionize the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Cao
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismCenter for Diabetes Metabolism ResearchState Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer CenterWest China Medical SchoolWest China HospitalSichuan University and Collaborative Innovation CenterChengduSichuan610041China
| | - Huimin Tian
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismCenter for Diabetes Metabolism ResearchState Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer CenterWest China Medical SchoolWest China HospitalSichuan University and Collaborative Innovation CenterChengduSichuan610041China
| | - Yan Tian
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismCenter for Diabetes Metabolism ResearchState Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer CenterWest China Medical SchoolWest China HospitalSichuan University and Collaborative Innovation CenterChengduSichuan610041China
| | - Xianghui Fu
- Department of Endocrinology and MetabolismCenter for Diabetes Metabolism ResearchState Key Laboratory of Biotherapy and Cancer CenterWest China Medical SchoolWest China HospitalSichuan University and Collaborative Innovation CenterChengduSichuan610041China
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6
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Wang X, Liu J, Mao C, Mao Y. Phase separation-mediated biomolecular condensates and their relationship to tumor. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:143. [PMID: 38383403 PMCID: PMC10880379 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-024-01518-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Accepted: 02/07/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Phase separation is a cellular phenomenon where macromolecules aggregate or segregate, giving rise to biomolecular condensates resembling "droplets" and forming distinct, membrane-free compartments. This process is pervasive in biological cells, contributing to various essential cellular functions. However, when phase separation goes awry, leading to abnormal molecular aggregation, it can become a driving factor in the development of diseases, including tumor. Recent investigations have unveiled the intricate connection between dysregulated phase separation and tumor pathogenesis, highlighting its potential as a novel therapeutic target. This article provides an overview of recent phase separation research, with a particular emphasis on its role in tumor, its therapeutic implications, and outlines avenues for further exploration in this intriguing field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xi Wang
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212001, China
| | - Jiameng Liu
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212001, China
| | - Chaoming Mao
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212001, China.
| | - Yufei Mao
- Department of Ultrasound Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang, 212001, China.
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7
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He Y, Shi Q, Ling Y, Guo H, Fei Y, Wu R, Tang C, Zhang X, Yao L. ABLIM1, a novel ubiquitin E3 ligase, promotes growth and metastasis of colorectal cancer through targeting IĸBα ubiquitination and activating NF-ĸB signaling. Cell Death Differ 2024; 31:203-216. [PMID: 38228802 PMCID: PMC10850134 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-024-01256-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2023] [Revised: 12/29/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Actin-binding LIM protein 1 (ABLIM1), a member of the LIM-domain protein family, has been reported as a suppressor in several tumors whereas its role in colorectal cancer (CRC) remains unknown. In this study, we find that ABLIM1 is up-regulated in CRC patients and high levels of ABLIM1 predict short disease-free survival time. Knock-down of ABLIM1 in CRC cell lines by lenti-virus leads to inhibited cell proliferation, migration, and invasion capabilities in vitro and impaired growth of tumor xenografts and liver metastasis lesions in vivo, while ABLIM1 overexpression accelerates tumor growth and invasion in vitro. Mechanistically, we uncover that ABLIM1 activates the NF-ĸB/CCL-20 signaling through modulating IĸBα ubiquitination and proteasomal-mediated degradation. Further co-immunoprecipitation, in vivo and in vitro ubiquitination assays reveal ABLIM1 as a novel ubiquitin E3 ligase binding to IĸBα. Interestingly, The E3 ligase catalysis activity of ABLIM1 depends on its 402-778aa rather than its LIM domains and its interaction with IĸBα relies on the HP domain. Our findings delineate the oncogenic role of ABLIM1 in CRC progression and reveal it as a novel E3 ligase targeting IĸBα, providing new insights into the regulation of NF-ĸB signaling in tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying He
- Central Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University, Huzhou, 313000, Zhejiang, China
- Huzhou Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine, First People's Hospital of Huzhou, Huzhou, 313000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Qian Shi
- Central Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University, Huzhou, 313000, Zhejiang, China
- Huzhou Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine, First People's Hospital of Huzhou, Huzhou, 313000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yuhang Ling
- Central Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University, Huzhou, 313000, Zhejiang, China
- Huzhou Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine, First People's Hospital of Huzhou, Huzhou, 313000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Huihui Guo
- Central Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University, Huzhou, 313000, Zhejiang, China
- Huzhou Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine, First People's Hospital of Huzhou, Huzhou, 313000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yi Fei
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University, Huzhou, 313000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Ruoyu Wu
- Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University, Huzhou, 313000, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chengwu Tang
- Central Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University, Huzhou, 313000, Zhejiang, China.
- Huzhou Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine, First People's Hospital of Huzhou, Huzhou, 313000, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Xilin Zhang
- Central Laboratory, First Affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University, Huzhou, 313000, Zhejiang, China.
- Huzhou Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine, First People's Hospital of Huzhou, Huzhou, 313000, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Linhua Yao
- Huzhou Key Laboratory of Translational Medicine, First People's Hospital of Huzhou, Huzhou, 313000, Zhejiang, China.
- Department of Gastroenterology, First Affiliated Hospital of Huzhou University, Huzhou, 313000, Zhejiang, China.
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8
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Yu Y, Yoshimura SH. Self-assembly of CIP4 drives actin-mediated asymmetric pit-closing in clathrin-mediated endocytosis. Nat Commun 2023; 14:4602. [PMID: 37528083 PMCID: PMC10393992 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40390-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/23/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Clathrin-mediated endocytosis is pivotal to signal transduction pathways between the extracellular environment and the intracellular space. Evidence from live-cell imaging and super-resolution microscopy of mammalian cells suggests an asymmetric distribution of actin fibres near the clathrin-coated pit, which induces asymmetric pit-closing rather than radial constriction. However, detailed molecular mechanisms of this 'asymmetricity' remain elusive. Herein, we used high-speed atomic force microscopy to demonstrate that CIP4, a multi-domain protein with a classic F-BAR domain and intrinsically disordered regions, is necessary for asymmetric pit-closing. Strong self-assembly of CIP4 via intrinsically disordered regions, together with stereospecific interactions with the curved membrane and actin-regulating proteins, generates a small actin-rich environment near the pit, which deforms the membrane and closes the pit. Our results provide mechanistic insights into how disordered and structured domain collaboration promotes spatio-temporal actin polymerisation near the plasma membrane.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiming Yu
- Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan
| | - Shige H Yoshimura
- Graduate School of Biostudies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8501, Japan.
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9
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Sahu S, Chauhan P, Lumen E, Moody K, Peddireddy K, Mani N, Subramanian R, Robertson-Anderson R, Wolfe AJ, Ross JL. Interplay of self-organization of microtubule asters and crosslinking protein condensates. PNAS NEXUS 2023; 2:pgad231. [PMID: 37497046 PMCID: PMC10367440 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgad231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/28/2023]
Abstract
The cytoskeleton is a major focus of physical studies to understand organization inside cells given its primary role in cell motility, cell division, and cell mechanics. Recently, protein condensation has been shown to be another major intracellular organizational strategy. Here, we report that the microtubule crosslinking proteins, MAP65-1 and PRC1, can form phase separated condensates at physiological salt and temperature without additional crowding agents in vitro. The size of the droplets depends on the concentration of protein. MAP65 condensates are liquid at first and can gelate over time. We show that these condensates can nucleate and grow microtubule bundles that form asters, regardless of the viscoelasticity of the condensate. The droplet size directly controls the number of projections in the microtubule asters, demonstrating that the MAP65 concentration can control the organization of microtubules. When gel-like droplets nucleate and grow asters from a shell of tubulin at the surface, the microtubules are able to re-fluidize the MAP65 condensate, returning the MAP65 molecules to solution. This work implies that there is an interplay between condensate formation from microtubule-associated proteins, microtubule organization, and condensate dissolution that could be important for the dynamics of intracellular organization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumon Sahu
- Physics Department, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA
- Department of Physics, New York University, New York, NY 10003, USA
| | - Prashali Chauhan
- Physics Department, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA
- The Bioinspired Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA
| | - Ellie Lumen
- Ichor Life Sciences, Inc., 2561 US Route 11, LaFayette, NY 13084, USA
| | - Kelsey Moody
- The Bioinspired Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA
- Ichor Life Sciences, Inc., 2561 US Route 11, LaFayette, NY 13084, USA
- Lewis School of Health Sciences, Clarkson University, 8 Clarkson Avenue, Potsdam, NY 13699, USA
| | | | - Nandini Mani
- Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | | | - Aaron J Wolfe
- The Bioinspired Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA
- Ichor Life Sciences, Inc., 2561 US Route 11, LaFayette, NY 13084, USA
- Lewis School of Health Sciences, Clarkson University, 8 Clarkson Avenue, Potsdam, NY 13699, USA
| | - Jennifer L Ross
- Physics Department, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA
- The Bioinspired Institute, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 13244, USA
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10
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Ramm B, Schumacher D, Harms A, Heermann T, Klos P, Müller F, Schwille P, Søgaard-Andersen L. Biomolecular condensate drives polymerization and bundling of the bacterial tubulin FtsZ to regulate cell division. Nat Commun 2023; 14:3825. [PMID: 37380708 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-39513-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 06/07/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell division is spatiotemporally precisely regulated, but the underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. In the social bacterium Myxococcus xanthus, the PomX/PomY/PomZ proteins form a single megadalton-sized complex that directly positions and stimulates cytokinetic ring formation by the tubulin homolog FtsZ. Here, we study the structure and mechanism of this complex in vitro and in vivo. We demonstrate that PomY forms liquid-like biomolecular condensates by phase separation, while PomX self-assembles into filaments generating a single large cellular structure. The PomX structure enriches PomY, thereby guaranteeing the formation of precisely one PomY condensate per cell through surface-assisted condensation. In vitro, PomY condensates selectively enrich FtsZ and nucleate GTP-dependent FtsZ polymerization and bundle FtsZ filaments, suggesting a cell division site positioning mechanism in which the single PomY condensate enriches FtsZ to guide FtsZ-ring formation and division. This mechanism shares features with microtubule nucleation by biomolecular condensates in eukaryotes, supporting this mechanism's ancient origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatrice Ramm
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152, Martinsried, Germany.
- Department of Physics, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, 08544, USA.
| | - Dominik Schumacher
- Department of Ecophysiology, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch Str. 10, 35043, Marburg, Germany.
| | - Andrea Harms
- Department of Ecophysiology, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch Str. 10, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Tamara Heermann
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152, Martinsried, Germany
| | - Philipp Klos
- Department of Ecophysiology, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch Str. 10, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Franziska Müller
- Department of Ecophysiology, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch Str. 10, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Petra Schwille
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biophysics, Max Planck Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152, Martinsried, Germany.
| | - Lotte Søgaard-Andersen
- Department of Ecophysiology, Max Planck Institute for Terrestrial Microbiology, Karl-von-Frisch Str. 10, 35043, Marburg, Germany.
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11
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Povarova OI, Antifeeva IA, Fonin AV, Turoverov KK, Kuznetsova IM. The Role of Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation in Actin Polymerization. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24043281. [PMID: 36834689 PMCID: PMC9961026 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24043281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/10/2023] Open
Abstract
To date, it has been shown that the phenomenon of liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) underlies many seemingly completely different cellular processes. This provided a new idea of the spatiotemporal organization of the cell. The new paradigm makes it possible to provide answers to many long-standing, but still unresolved questions facing the researcher. In particular, spatiotemporal regulation of the assembly/disassembly of the cytoskeleton, including the formation of actin filaments, becomes clearer. To date, it has been shown that coacervates of actin-binding proteins that arise during the phase separation of the liquid-liquid type can integrate G-actin and thereby increase its concentration to initiate polymerization. It has also been shown that the activity intensification of actin-binding proteins that control actin polymerization, such as N-WASP and Arp2/3, can be caused by their integration into liquid droplet coacervates formed by signaling proteins on the inner side of the cell membrane.
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