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Ibrahim KA, Naidu AS, Miljkovic H, Radenovic A, Yang W. Label-Free Techniques for Probing Biomolecular Condensates. ACS NANO 2024; 18:10738-10757. [PMID: 38609349 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c01534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/14/2024]
Abstract
Biomolecular condensates play important roles in a wide array of fundamental biological processes, such as cellular compartmentalization, cellular regulation, and other biochemical reactions. Since their discovery and first observations, an extensive and expansive library of tools has been developed to investigate various aspects and properties, encompassing structural and compositional information, material properties, and their evolution throughout the life cycle from formation to eventual dissolution. This Review presents an overview of the expanded set of tools and methods that researchers use to probe the properties of biomolecular condensates across diverse scales of length, concentration, stiffness, and time. In particular, we review recent years' exciting development of label-free techniques and methodologies. We broadly organize the set of tools into 3 categories: (1) imaging-based techniques, such as transmitted-light microscopy (TLM) and Brillouin microscopy (BM), (2) force spectroscopy techniques, such as atomic force microscopy (AFM) and the optical tweezer (OT), and (3) microfluidic platforms and emerging technologies. We point out the tools' key opportunities, challenges, and future perspectives and analyze their correlative potential as well as compatibility with other techniques. Additionally, we review emerging techniques, namely, differential dynamic microscopy (DDM) and interferometric scattering microscopy (iSCAT), that have huge potential for future applications in studying biomolecular condensates. Finally, we highlight how some of these techniques can be translated for diagnostics and therapy purposes. We hope this Review serves as a useful guide for new researchers in this field and aids in advancing the development of new biophysical tools to study biomolecular condensates.
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2
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Narayanan T. Recent advances in synchrotron scattering methods for probing the structure and dynamics of colloids. Adv Colloid Interface Sci 2024; 325:103114. [PMID: 38452431 DOI: 10.1016/j.cis.2024.103114] [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: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
Recent progress in synchrotron based X-ray scattering methods applied to colloid science is reviewed. An important figure of merit of these techniques is that they enable in situ investigations of colloidal systems under the desired thermophysical and rheological conditions. An ensemble averaged simultaneous structural and dynamical information can be derived albeit in reciprocal space. Significant improvements in X-ray source brilliance and advances in detector technology have overcome some of the limitations in the past. Notably coherent X-ray scattering techniques have become more competitive and they provide complementary information to laboratory based real space methods. For a system with sufficient scattering contrast, size ranges from nm to several μm and time scales down to μs are now amenable to X-ray scattering investigations. A wide variety of sample environments can be combined with scattering experiments further enriching the science that could be pursued by means of advanced X-ray scattering instruments. Some of these recent progresses are illustrated via representative examples. To derive quantitative information from the scattering data, rigorous data analysis or modeling is required. Development of powerful computational tools including the use of artificial intelligence have become the emerging trend.
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3
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Poonoosamy J, Obaied A, Deissmann G, Prasianakis NI, Kindelmann M, Wollenhaupt B, Bosbach D, Curti E. Microfluidic investigation of pore-size dependency of barite nucleation. Commun Chem 2023; 6:250. [PMID: 37974009 PMCID: PMC10654916 DOI: 10.1038/s42004-023-01049-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The understanding and prediction of mineral precipitation processes in porous media are relevant for various energy-related subsurface applications. While it is well known that thermodynamic effects can inhibit crystallization in pores with sizes <0.1 µm, the retarded observation of mineral precipitation as function of pore size is less explored. Using barite as an example and based on a series of microfluidic experiments with well-defined pore sizes and shapes, we show that retardation of observation of barite crystallite can already start in pores of 1 µm size, with the probability of nucleation scaling with the pore volume. In general, it can be expected that mineralization occurs preferentially in larger pores in rock matrices, but other parameters such as the exchange of the fluids with respect to reaction time, as well as shape, roughness, and surface functional properties of the pores may affect the crystallization process which can reverse this trend.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenna Poonoosamy
- Institute of Energy and Climate Research (IEK-6): Nuclear Waste Management, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425, Jülich, Germany.
| | - Abdulmonem Obaied
- Institute of Energy and Climate Research (IEK-6): Nuclear Waste Management, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Guido Deissmann
- Institute of Energy and Climate Research (IEK-6): Nuclear Waste Management, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Nikolaos I Prasianakis
- Laboratory for Waste Management, Paul Scherrer Institut, CH-5232, Villigen PSI, Switzerland
| | - Moritz Kindelmann
- Ernst Ruska-Centre for Microscopy and Spectroscopy with Electrons (ER-C 2): Materials Science and Technology, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Bastian Wollenhaupt
- Institute of Bio- and Geosciences (IBG-1): Biotechnology, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Dirk Bosbach
- Institute of Energy and Climate Research (IEK-6): Nuclear Waste Management, Forschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, 52425, Jülich, Germany
| | - Enzo Curti
- Laboratory for Waste Management, Paul Scherrer Institut, CH-5232, Villigen PSI, Switzerland
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4
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Toledo PL, Gianotti AR, Vazquez DS, Ermácora MR. Protein nanocondensates: the next frontier. Biophys Rev 2023; 15:515-530. [PMID: 37681092 PMCID: PMC10480383 DOI: 10.1007/s12551-023-01105-1] [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] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Over the past decade, myriads of studies have highlighted the central role of protein condensation in subcellular compartmentalization and spatiotemporal organization of biological processes. Conceptually, protein condensation stands at the highest level in protein structure hierarchy, accounting for the assembly of bodies ranging from thousands to billions of molecules and for densities ranging from dense liquids to solid materials. In size, protein condensates range from nanocondensates of hundreds of nanometers (mesoscopic clusters) to phase-separated micron-sized condensates. In this review, we focus on protein nanocondensation, a process that can occur in subsaturated solutions and can nucleate dense liquid phases, crystals, amorphous aggregates, and fibers. We discuss the nanocondensation of proteins in the light of general physical principles and examine the biophysical properties of several outstanding examples of nanocondensation. We conclude that protein nanocondensation cannot be fully explained by the conceptual framework of micron-scale biomolecular condensation. The evolution of nanocondensates through changes in density and order is currently under intense investigation, and this should lead to the development of a general theoretical framework, capable of encompassing the full range of sizes and densities found in protein condensates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pamela L. Toledo
- Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Roque Sáenz Peña 352, 1876, Bernal, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Grupo de Biología Estructural y Biotecnología, IMBICE, CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Bernal, Argentina
| | - Alejo R. Gianotti
- Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Roque Sáenz Peña 352, 1876, Bernal, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Grupo de Biología Estructural y Biotecnología, IMBICE, CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Bernal, Argentina
| | - Diego S. Vazquez
- Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Roque Sáenz Peña 352, 1876, Bernal, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Grupo de Biología Estructural y Biotecnología, IMBICE, CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Bernal, Argentina
| | - Mario R. Ermácora
- Departamento de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Roque Sáenz Peña 352, 1876, Bernal, Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Grupo de Biología Estructural y Biotecnología, IMBICE, CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Quilmes, Bernal, Argentina
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5
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Zalar M, Bye J, Curtis R. Nonspecific Binding of Adenosine Tripolyphosphate and Tripolyphosphate Modulates the Phase Behavior of Lysozyme. J Am Chem Soc 2023; 145:929-943. [PMID: 36608272 PMCID: PMC9853864 DOI: 10.1021/jacs.2c09615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Adenosine tripolyphosphate (ATP) is a small polyvalent anion that has recently been shown to interact with proteins and have a major impact on assembly processes involved in biomolecular condensate formation and protein aggregation. However, the nature of non-specific protein-ATP interactions and their effects on protein solubility are largely unknown. Here, the binding of ATP to the globular model protein is characterized in detail using X-ray crystallography and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). Using NMR, we identified six ATP binding sites on the lysozyme surface, with one known high-affinity nucleic acid binding site and five non-specific previously unknown sites with millimolar affinities that also bind tripolyphosphate (TPP). ATP binding occurs primarily through the polyphosphate moiety, which was confirmed by the X-ray structure of the lysozyme-ATP complex. Importantly, ATP binds preferentially to arginine over lysine in non-specific binding sites. ATP and TPP have similar effects on solution-phase protein-protein interactions. At low salt concentrations, ion binding to lysozyme causes precipitation, while at higher salt concentrations, redissolution occurs. The addition of an equimolar concentration of magnesium to ATP does not alter ATP binding affinities but prevents lysozyme precipitation. These findings have important implications for both protein crystallization and cell biology. Crystallization occurs readily in ATP solutions outside the well-established crystallization window. In the context of cell biology, the findings suggest that ATP binds non-specifically to folded proteins in physiological conditions. Based on the nature of the binding sites identified by NMR, we propose several mechanisms for how ATP binding can prevent the aggregation of natively folded proteins.
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6
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Sweatman MB, Afify ND, Ferreiro-Rangel CA, Jorge M, Sefcik J. Molecular Dynamics Investigation of Clustering in Aqueous Glycine Solutions. J Phys Chem B 2022; 126:4711-4722. [PMID: 35729500 PMCID: PMC9251761 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.2c01975] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
![]()
Recent experiments
with undersaturated aqueous glycine solutions
have repeatedly exhibited the presence of giant liquid-like clusters
or nanodroplets around 100 nm in diameter. These nanodroplets re-appear
even after careful efforts for their removal and purification of the
glycine solution. The composition of these clusters is not clear,
although it has been suggested that they are mainly composed of glycine,
a small and very soluble amino acid. To gain insights into this phenomenon,
we study the aggregation of glycine in aqueous solutions at concentrations
below the experimental solubility limit using large-scale molecular
dynamics simulations under ambient conditions. Three protonation states
of glycine (zwitterion = GLZ, anion = GLA, and cation = GLC) are simulated
using molecular force fields based on the 1.14*CM1A partial charge
scheme, which incorporates the OPLS all-atom force field and TIP3P
water. When initiated from dispersed states, we find that giant clusters
do not form in our simulations unless salt impurities are present.
Moreover, if simulations are initiated from giant cluster states,
we find that they tend to dissolve in the absence of salt impurities.
Therefore, the simulation results provide little support for the possibility
that the giant clusters seen in experiments are composed purely of
glycine (and water). Considering that strenuous efforts are made in
experiments to remove impurities such as salt, we propose that the
giant clusters observed might instead result from the aggregation
of reaction products of aqueous glycine, such as diketopiperazine
or other oligoglycines which may be difficult to separate from glycine
using conventional methods, or their co-aggregation with glycine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin B Sweatman
- School of Engineering, The University of Edinburgh, The King's Buildings, Sanderson Building, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JL, U.K
| | - Nasser D Afify
- School of Engineering, The University of Edinburgh, The King's Buildings, Sanderson Building, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JL, U.K
| | - Carlos A Ferreiro-Rangel
- School of Engineering, The University of Edinburgh, The King's Buildings, Sanderson Building, Mayfield Road, Edinburgh EH9 3JL, U.K
| | - Miguel Jorge
- Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Strathclyde, James Weir Building, Montrose Street, Glasgow G1 1XJ, U.K
| | - Jan Sefcik
- Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Strathclyde, James Weir Building, Montrose Street, Glasgow G1 1XJ, U.K
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7
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Bowles RK, Harrowell P. Influence on crystal nucleation of an order-disorder transition among the subcritical clusters. Phys Rev E 2022; 105:L062602. [PMID: 35854518 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.105.l062602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Studies of nucleation generally focus on the properties of the critical cluster, but the presence of defects within the crystal lattice means that the population of nuclei necessarily evolve through a distribution of precritical clusters with varying degrees of structural disorder on their way to forming a growing stable crystal. To investigate the role precritical clusters play in nucleation, we develop a simple thermodynamic model for crystal nucleation in terms of cluster size and the degree of cluster order that allows us to alter the work of forming the precritical clusters without affecting the properties of the critical cluster. The steady state and transient nucleation behavior of the system are then studied numerically, for different microscopic ordering kinetics. We find that the model exhibits a generic order-disorder transition in the precritical clusters. Independent of the types of ordering kinetics, increasing the accessibility of disordered precritical clusters decreases both the steady state nucleation rate and the nucleation lag time. Furthermore, the interplay between the free-energy surface and the microscopic ordering kinetics leads to three distinct nucleation pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard K Bowles
- Department of Chemistry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada S7H 0H1
- Centre for Quantum Topology and its Applications (quanTA), University of Saskatchewan, SK, Canada S7N 5E6
| | - Peter Harrowell
- School of Chemistry, University of Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia
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8
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Exploring Nucleation Pathways in Distinct Physicochemical Environments Unveiling Novel Options to Modulate and Optimize Protein Crystallization. CRYSTALS 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/cryst12030437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The scientific discussion about classical and nonclassical nucleation theories has lasted for two decades so far. Recently, multiple nucleation pathways and the occurrence and role of metastable intermediates in crystallization processes have attracted increasing attention, following the discovery of functional phase separation, which is now under investigation in different fields of cellular life sciences, providing interesting and novel aspects for conventional crystallization experiments. In this context, more systematic investigations need to be carried out to extend the current knowledge about nucleation processes. In terms of the data we present, a well-studied model protein, glucose isomerase (GI), was employed first to investigate systematically the early stages of the crystallization process, covering condensing and prenucleation ordering of protein molecules in diverse scenarios, including varying ionic and crowding agent conditions, as well as the application of a pulsed electric field (pEF). The main method used to characterize the early events of nucleation was synchronized polarized and depolarized dynamic light scattering (DLS/DDLS), which is capable of collecting the polarized and depolarized component of scattered light from a sample suspension in parallel, thus monitoring the time-resolved evolution of the condensation and geometrical ordering of proteins at the early stages of nucleation. A diffusion interaction parameter, KD, of GI under varying salt conditions was evaluated to discuss how the proportion of specific and non-specific protein–protein interactions affects the nucleation process. The effect of mesoscopic ordered clusters (MOCs) on protein crystallization was explored further by adding different ratios of MOCs induced by a pEF to fresh GI droplets in solution with different PEG concentrations. To emphasize and complement the data and results obtained with GI, a recombinant pyridoxal 5-phosphate (vitamin B6) synthase (Pdx) complex of Staphylococcus aureus assembled from twelve monomers of Pdx1 and twelve monomers of Pdx2 was employed to validate the ability of the pEF influencing the nucleation of complex macromolecules and the effect of MOCs on adjusting the crystallization pathway. In summary, our data revealed multiple nucleation pathways by tuning the proportion of specific and non-specific protein interactions, or by utilizing a pEF which turned out to be efficient to accelerate the nucleation process. Finally, a novel and reproducible experimental strategy, which can adjust and facilitate a crystallization process by pEF-induced MOCs, was summarized and reported for the first time.
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9
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Computational study of metformin hydrochloride nucleation in hydroxylic solvents: Experimental kinetics and DFT simulation. Int J Pharm 2022; 616:121517. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpharm.2022.121517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Accepted: 01/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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10
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Zhang TD, Deng X, Wang MY, Chen LL, Wang XT, Li CY, Shi WP, Lin WJ, Li Q, Pan W, Ni X, Pan T, Yin DC. Formation of β-Lactoglobulin Self-Assemblies via Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation for Applications beyond the Biological Functions. ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES 2021; 13:46391-46405. [PMID: 34570465 DOI: 10.1021/acsami.1c14634] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Proteins are like miracle machines, playing important roles in living organisms. They perform vital biofunctions by further combining together and/or with other biomacromolecules to form assemblies or condensates such as membraneless organelles. Therefore, studying the self-assembly of biomacromolecules is of fundamental importance. In addition to their biological activities, protein assemblies also exhibit extra properties that enable them to achieve applications beyond their original functions. Herein, this study showed that in the presence of monosaccharides, ethylene glycols, and amino acids, β-lactoglobulin (β-LG) can form assemblies with specific structures, which were highly reproducible. The mechanism of the assembly process was studied through multi-scale observations and theoretical analysis, and it was found that the assembling all started from the formation of solute-rich liquid droplets via liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). These droplets then combined together to form condensates with elaborate structures, and the condensates finally evolved to form assemblies with various morphologies. Such a mechanism of the assembly is valuable for studying the assembly processes that frequently occur in living organisms. Detailed studies concerning the properties and applications of the obtained β-LG assemblies showed that the assemblies exhibited significantly better performances than the protein itself in terms of autofluorescence, antioxidant activity, and metal ion absorption, which indicates broad applications of these assemblies in bioimaging, biodetection, biodiagnosis, health maintenance, and pollution treatment. This study revealed that biomacromolecules, especially proteins, can be assembled via LLPS, and some unexpected application potentials could be found beyond their original biological functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuo-Di Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Xudong Deng
- School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Meng-Ying Wang
- Laboratory for Structural Biology of Infection and Inflammation, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, c/o DESY, Building 22a, Notkestr. 85, Hamburg 22607, Germany
| | - Liang-Liang Chen
- School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Xue-Ting Wang
- School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Chen-Yuan Li
- School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Wen-Pu Shi
- School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Wen-Juan Lin
- School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Qiang Li
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Weichun Pan
- Food Safety Key Lab of Zhejiang Province, The School of Food Science and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310018, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaodan Ni
- Laboratory of Membrane Proteins and Structural Biology, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, United States
| | - Tiezheng Pan
- School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
| | - Da-Chuan Yin
- School of Life Sciences, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an 710072, Shaanxi, People's Republic of China
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11
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Cheng R, Li J, Ríos de Anda I, Taylor TWC, Faers MA, Anderson JLR, Seddon AM, Royall CP. Protein-polymer mixtures in the colloid limit: Aggregation, sedimentation, and crystallization. J Chem Phys 2021; 155:114901. [PMID: 34551522 DOI: 10.1063/5.0052122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
While proteins have been treated as particles with a spherically symmetric interaction, of course in reality, the situation is rather more complex. A simple step toward higher complexity is to treat the proteins as non-spherical particles and that is the approach we pursue here. We investigate the phase behavior of the enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP) under the addition of a non-adsorbing polymer, polyethylene glycol. From small angle x-ray scattering, we infer that the eGFP undergoes dimerization and we treat the dimers as spherocylinders with aspect ratio L/D - 1 = 1.05. Despite the complex nature of the proteins, we find that the phase behavior is similar to that of hard spherocylinders with an ideal polymer depletant, exhibiting aggregation and, in a small region of the phase diagram, crystallization. By comparing our measurements of the onset of aggregation with predictions for hard colloids and ideal polymers [S. V. Savenko and M. Dijkstra, J. Chem. Phys. 124, 234902 (2006) and Lo Verso et al., Phys. Rev. E 73, 061407 (2006)], we find good agreement, which suggests that the behavior of the eGFP is consistent with that of hard spherocylinders and ideal polymers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Cheng
- HH Wills Physics Laboratory, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TL, United Kingdom
| | - Jingwen Li
- HH Wills Physics Laboratory, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TL, United Kingdom
| | | | - Thomas W C Taylor
- HH Wills Physics Laboratory, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TL, United Kingdom
| | | | - J L Ross Anderson
- School of Biochemistry, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, United Kingdom
| | - Annela M Seddon
- HH Wills Physics Laboratory, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TL, United Kingdom
| | - C Patrick Royall
- HH Wills Physics Laboratory, Tyndall Avenue, Bristol BS8 1TL, United Kingdom
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12
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Van Driessche AES, Van Gerven N, Joosten RRM, Ling WL, Bacia M, Sommerdijk N, Sleutel M. Nucleation of protein mesocrystals via oriented attachment. Nat Commun 2021; 12:3902. [PMID: 34162863 PMCID: PMC8222410 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-24171-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 06/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Self-assembly of proteins holds great promise for the bottom-up design and production of synthetic biomaterials. In conventional approaches, designer proteins are pre-programmed with specific recognition sites that drive the association process towards a desired organized state. Although proven effective, this approach poses restrictions on the complexity and material properties of the end-state. An alternative, hierarchical approach that has found wide adoption for inorganic systems, relies on the production of crystalline nanoparticles that become the building blocks of a next-level assembly process driven by oriented attachment (OA). As it stands, OA has not yet been observed for protein systems. Here we employ cryo-transmission electron microscopy (cryoEM) in the high nucleation rate limit of protein crystals and map the self-assembly route at molecular resolution. We observe the initial formation of facetted nanocrystals that merge lattices by means of OA alignment well before contact is made, satisfying non-trivial symmetry rules in the process. As these nanocrystalline assemblies grow larger we witness imperfect docking events leading to oriented aggregation into mesocrystalline assemblies. These observations highlight the underappreciated role of the interaction between crystalline nuclei, and the impact of OA on the crystallization process of proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Nani Van Gerven
- grid.8767.e0000 0001 2290 8069Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium ,grid.11486.3a0000000104788040Structural and Molecular Microbiology, Structural Biology Research Center, VIB, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Rick R. M. Joosten
- grid.6852.90000 0004 0398 8763Department of Chemical Engineering and Chemistry, Center of Multiscale Electron Microscopy, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands ,grid.6852.90000 0004 0398 8763Institute for Complex Molecular Systems, Eindhoven University of Technology, Eindhoven, The Netherlands
| | - Wai Li Ling
- grid.450307.5Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CEA, CNRS, IRIG, IBS, Grenoble, France
| | - Maria Bacia
- grid.450307.5Univ. Grenoble Alpes, CEA, CNRS, IRIG, IBS, Grenoble, France
| | - Nico Sommerdijk
- grid.10417.330000 0004 0444 9382Department of Biochemistry, Radboud Institute of Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Geert Grooteplein, GA Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Mike Sleutel
- grid.8767.e0000 0001 2290 8069Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium ,grid.11486.3a0000000104788040Structural and Molecular Microbiology, Structural Biology Research Center, VIB, Brussels, Belgium
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13
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Eaton D, Saika-Voivod I, Bowles RK, Poole PH. Free energy surface of two-step nucleation. J Chem Phys 2021; 154:234507. [PMID: 34241260 DOI: 10.1063/5.0055877] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
We test the theoretical free energy surface (FES) for two-step nucleation (TSN) proposed by Iwamatsu [J. Chem. Phys. 134, 164508 (2011)] by comparing the predictions of the theory to numerical results for the FES recently reported from Monte Carlo simulations of TSN in a simple lattice system [James et al., J. Chem. Phys. 150, 074501 (2019)]. No adjustable parameters are used to make this comparison. That is, all the parameters of the theory are evaluated directly for the model system, yielding a predicted FES, which we then compare to the FES obtained from simulations. We find that the theoretical FES successfully predicts the numerically evaluated FES over a range of thermodynamic conditions that spans distinct regimes of behavior associated with TSN. All the qualitative features of the FES are captured by the theory, and the quantitative comparison is also very good. Our results demonstrate that Iwamatsu's extension of classical nucleation theory provides an excellent framework for understanding the thermodynamics of TSN.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dean Eaton
- Department of Physics, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia B2G 2W5, Canada
| | - Ivan Saika-Voivod
- Department of Physics and Physical Oceanography, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, Newfoundland A1B 3X7, Canada
| | - Richard K Bowles
- Department of Chemistry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan 57N 5C9, Canada
| | - Peter H Poole
- Department of Physics, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia B2G 2W5, Canada
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14
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Li Y, Peng P, Xu D, Yang R. Identification of critical nuclei in the rapid solidification via configuration heredity. JOURNAL OF PHYSICS. CONDENSED MATTER : AN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS JOURNAL 2021; 33:175701. [PMID: 33508806 DOI: 10.1088/1361-648x/abe0e1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The identification and characterization of critical nuclei is a long-standing issue in the rapid solidification of metals and alloys. An ambiguous description for their sizes and shapes used to lead to an overestimation or underestimation of homogeneous nucleation ratesITin the framework of classical nucleation theory (CNT). In this paper, a unique method able to distinguish the critical nucleus from numerous embryos is put forward on the basis of configuration heredities of clusters during rapid solidifications. As this technique is applied to analyze the formation and evolution of various fcc-Al single crystal clusters in a large-scale molecular dynamics simulation system, it is found that the sizencand geometrical configuration of critical nuclei as well as their liquid-solid interfacial structure can be determined directly. For the present deep super-cooled system with an undercooling ofTm=0.42Tmcal, the average size of critical nuclei is demonstrated to benc̄≈26, but most of which are non-spherical lamellae. Also, their liquid-solid interfaces are revealed to be not an fcc-liquid duplex-phase interface but an fcc/hcp-liquid multi-phase structure. These findings shed some lights on the CNT, and a good agreement with previous simulations and experiments inITindicates this technique can be used to explore the early-stage of nucleation from atomistic levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Li
- School of Material Science & Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, People's Republic of China
| | - Ping Peng
- School of Material Science & Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, People's Republic of China
| | - Dongsheng Xu
- Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China
| | - Rui Yang
- Institute of Metal Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenyang 110016, People's Republic of China
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15
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Nucleation and Post-Nucleation Growth in Diffusion-Controlled and Hydrodynamic Theory of Solidification. CRYSTALS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/cryst11040437] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
Two-step nucleation and subsequent growth processes were investigated in the framework of the single mode phase-field crystal model combined with diffusive dynamics (corresponding to colloid suspensions) and hydrodynamical density relaxation (simple liquids). It is found that independently of dynamics, nucleation starts with the formation of solid precursor clusters that consist of domains with noncrystalline ordering (ringlike projections are seen from certain angles), and regions that have amorphous structure. Using the average bond order parameter q¯6, we distinguished amorphous, medium range crystallike order (MRCO), and crystalline local orders. We show that crystallization to the stable body-centered cubic phase is preceded by the formation of a mixture of amorphous and MRCO structures. We have determined the time dependence of the phase composition of the forming solid state. We also investigated the time/size dependence of the growth rate for solidification. The bond order analysis indicates similar structural transitions during solidification in the case of diffusive and hydrodynamic density relaxation.
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16
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Nonclassical Nucleation—Role of Metastable Intermediate Phase in Crystal Nucleation: An Editorial Prefix. CRYSTALS 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/cryst11020174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Classical nucleation theory (CNT), which was established about 90 years ago, represents the most commonly used theory in describing nucleation processes. For a fluid-to-solid phase transition, CNT states that the solutes in a supersaturated solution reversibly form small clusters. Once a cluster reaches its critical size, it becomes thermodynamically stable and is favored for further growth. One of the most important assumptions of CNT is that the nucleation process is described by one reaction coordinate and all order parameters proceed simultaneously. Recent studies in experiments, computer simulations, and theory have revealed nonclassical features in the early stage of nucleation. In particular, the decoupling of order parameters involved during a fluid-to-solid transition leads to the so-called two-step nucleation mechanism, in which a metastable intermediate phase (MIP) exists in parallel to the initial supersaturated solution and the final crystals. These MIPs can be high-density liquid phases, mesoscopic clusters, or preordered states. In this Special Issue, we focus on the role of the various MIPs in the early stage of crystal nucleation of organic materials, metals and alloys, aqueous solutions, minerals, colloids, and proteins, and thus on various scenarios of nonclassical pathways of crystallization.
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17
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Matsarskaia O, Roosen‐Runge F, Schreiber F. Multivalent ions and biomolecules: Attempting a comprehensive perspective. Chemphyschem 2020; 21:1742-1767. [PMID: 32406605 PMCID: PMC7496725 DOI: 10.1002/cphc.202000162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2020] [Revised: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Ions are ubiquitous in nature. They play a key role for many biological processes on the molecular scale, from molecular interactions, to mechanical properties, to folding, to self-organisation and assembly, to reaction equilibria, to signalling, to energy and material transport, to recognition etc. Going beyond monovalent ions to multivalent ions, the effects of the ions are frequently not only stronger (due to the obviously higher charge), but qualitatively different. A typical example is the process of binding of multivalent ions, such as Ca2+ , to a macromolecule and the consequences of this ion binding such as compaction, collapse, potential charge inversion and precipitation of the macromolecule. Here we review these effects and phenomena induced by multivalent ions for biological (macro)molecules, from the "atomistic/molecular" local picture of (potentially specific) interactions to the more global picture of phase behaviour including, e. g., crystallisation, phase separation, oligomerisation etc. Rather than attempting an encyclopedic list of systems, we rather aim for an embracing discussion using typical case studies. We try to cover predominantly three main classes: proteins, nucleic acids, and amphiphilic molecules including interface effects. We do not cover in detail, but make some comparisons to, ion channels, colloidal systems, and synthetic polymers. While there are obvious differences in the behaviour of, and the relevance of multivalent ions for, the three main classes of systems, we also point out analogies. Our attempt of a comprehensive discussion is guided by the idea that there are not only important differences and specific phenomena with regard to the effects of multivalent ions on the main systems, but also important similarities. We hope to bridge physico-chemical mechanisms, concepts of soft matter, and biological observations and connect the different communities further.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Felix Roosen‐Runge
- Department of Biomedical Sciences and Biofilms-Research Center for Biointerfaces (BRCB), Faculty of Health and SocietyMalmö UniversitySweden
- Division of Physical ChemistryLund UniversitySweden
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18
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Houben L, Weissman H, Wolf SG, Rybtchinski B. A mechanism of ferritin crystallization revealed by cryo-STEM tomography. Nature 2020; 579:540-543. [DOI: 10.1038/s41586-020-2104-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2018] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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19
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Narayanan T, Konovalov O. Synchrotron Scattering Methods for Nanomaterials and Soft Matter Research. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2020; 13:E752. [PMID: 32041363 PMCID: PMC7040635 DOI: 10.3390/ma13030752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2019] [Revised: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
This article aims to provide an overview of broad range of applications of synchrotron scattering methods in the investigation of nanoscale materials. These scattering techniques allow the elucidation of the structure and dynamics of nanomaterials from sub-nm to micron size scales and down to sub-millisecond time ranges both in bulk and at interfaces. A major advantage of scattering methods is that they provide the ensemble averaged information under in situ and operando conditions. As a result, they are complementary to various imaging techniques which reveal more local information. Scattering methods are particularly suitable for probing buried structures that are difficult to image. Although, many qualitative features can be directly extracted from scattering data, derivation of detailed structural and dynamical information requires quantitative modeling. The fourth-generation synchrotron sources open new possibilities for investigating these complex systems by exploiting the enhanced brightness and coherence properties of X-rays.
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20
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Falke S, Brognaro H, Martirosyan A, Dierks K, Betzel C. A multi-channel in situ light scattering instrument utilized for monitoring protein aggregation and liquid dense cluster formation. Heliyon 2019; 5:e03016. [PMID: 31886430 PMCID: PMC6921120 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2019.e03016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Revised: 11/29/2019] [Accepted: 12/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) phenomena have been observed in vitro as well as in vivo and came in focus of interdisciplinary research activities particularly aiming at understanding the physico-chemical pathways of LLPS and its functionality in recent years. Dynamic light scattering (DLS) has been proven to be a most efficient method to analyze macromolecular clustering in solutions and suspensions with diverse applications in life sciences, material science and biotechnology. For spatially and time-resolved investigations of LLPS, i.e. formation of liquid dense protein clusters (LDCs) and aggregation, a novel eight-channel in situ DLS instrument was designed, constructed and applied. The real time formation of LDCs of glucose isomerase (GI) and bovine pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) under different physico-chemical conditions was investigated in situ. Complex shifts in the particle size distributions indicated growth of LDCs up to the μm size regime. Additionally, near-UV circular dichroism spectroscopy was performed to monitor the folding state of the proteins in the process of LDC formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sven Falke
- University Hamburg, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Laboratory for Structural Biology of Infection and Inflammation, c/o DESY, Build. 22a, Notkestr. 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
- The Hamburg Center for Ultrafast Imaging, c/o DESY, Luruper Chaussee 149, Hamburg, 22607, Germany
| | - Hévila Brognaro
- University Hamburg, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Laboratory for Structural Biology of Infection and Inflammation, c/o DESY, Build. 22a, Notkestr. 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
- Centre for Free-Electron-Laser Science, c/o DESY, Luruper Chaussee 149, Hamburg, 22607, Germany
| | - Arayik Martirosyan
- University Hamburg, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Laboratory for Structural Biology of Infection and Inflammation, c/o DESY, Build. 22a, Notkestr. 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Karsten Dierks
- Xtal Concepts GmbH, Schnackenburgallee 13, 22525, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Christian Betzel
- University Hamburg, Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Laboratory for Structural Biology of Infection and Inflammation, c/o DESY, Build. 22a, Notkestr. 85, 22607, Hamburg, Germany
- The Hamburg Center for Ultrafast Imaging, c/o DESY, Luruper Chaussee 149, Hamburg, 22607, Germany
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21
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Multi-Step Concanavalin A Phase Separation and Early-Stage Nucleation Monitored Via Dynamic and Depolarized Light Scattering. CRYSTALS 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/cryst9120620] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Protein phase separation and protein liquid cluster formation have been observed and analysed in protein crystallization experiments and, in recent years, have been reported more frequently, especially in studies related to membraneless organelles and protein cluster formation in cells. A detailed understanding about the phase separation process preceding liquid dense cluster formation will elucidate what has, so far, been poorly understood—despite intracellular crowding and phase separation being very common processes—and will also provide more insights into the early events of in vitro protein crystallization. In this context, the phase separation and crystallization kinetics of concanavalin A were analysed in detail, which applies simultaneous dynamic light scattering and depolarized dynamic light scattering to obtain insights into metastable intermediate states between the soluble phase and the crystalline form. A multi-step mechanism was identified for ConA phase separation, according to the resultant ACF decay, acquired after an increase in the concentration of the crowding agent until a metastable ConA gel intermediate between the soluble and final crystalline phases was observed. The obtained results also revealed that ConA is trapped in a macromolecular network due to short-range intermolecular protein interactions and is unable to transform back into a non-ergodic solution.
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22
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James D, Beairsto S, Hartt C, Zavalov O, Saika-Voivod I, Bowles RK, Poole PH. Phase transitions in fluctuations and their role in two-step nucleation. J Chem Phys 2019; 150:074501. [DOI: 10.1063/1.5057429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Daniella James
- Department of Physics, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia B2G 2W5, Canada
| | - Seamus Beairsto
- Department of Physics, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia B2G 2W5, Canada
| | - Carmen Hartt
- Department of Physics, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia B2G 2W5, Canada
| | - Oleksandr Zavalov
- Department of Physics, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia B2G 2W5, Canada
| | - Ivan Saika-Voivod
- Department of Physics and Physical Oceanography, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John’s, Newfoundland A1B 3X7, Canada
| | - Richard K. Bowles
- Department of Chemistry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan 57N 5C9, Canada
| | - Peter H. Poole
- Department of Physics, St. Francis Xavier University, Antigonish, Nova Scotia B2G 2W5, Canada
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23
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Gebauer D, Wolf SE. Designing Solid Materials from Their Solute State: A Shift in Paradigms toward a Holistic Approach in Functional Materials Chemistry. J Am Chem Soc 2019; 141:4490-4504. [DOI: 10.1021/jacs.8b13231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 87] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Denis Gebauer
- Department of Chemistry, Physical Chemistry, University of Konstanz, 78457 Konstanz, Germany
| | - Stephan E. Wolf
- Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Institute of Glass and Ceramics and Interdisciplinary Center for Functional Particle Systems, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, 91058 Erlangen, Germany
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24
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Braun MK, Sauter A, Matsarskaia O, Wolf M, Roosen-Runge F, Sztucki M, Roth R, Zhang F, Schreiber F. Reentrant Phase Behavior in Protein Solutions Induced by Multivalent Salts: Strong Effect of Anions Cl - Versus NO 3.. J Phys Chem B 2018; 122:11978-11985. [PMID: 30461282 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.8b10268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
In this work, the effects of the two anions Cl- and NO3- on the phase behavior of bovine serum albumin (BSA) in solution with trivalent salts are compared systematically. In the presence of trivalent metal salts, negatively charged proteins such as BSA in solution undergo a reentrant condensation (RC) phase behavior, which has been established for several proteins with chlorides of trivalent salts. Here, we show that replacing Cl- by NO3- leads to a marked change in the phase behavior. The effect is investigated for the two different cations Y3+ and La3+. The salts are thus YCl3, Y(NO3)3, LaCl3, and La(NO3)3. The experimental phase behavior shows that while the chloride salts induce both liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) and RC, the nitrate salts also induce LLPS, but RC becomes partial with La(NO3)3 and disappears with Y(NO3)3. The observed phase behavior is rationalized by effective protein-protein interactions which are characterized using small-angle X-ray scattering. The results based on the reduced second virial coefficients B2/ B2HS and 1/ I( q → 0) demonstrate that the NO3- salts induce a stronger attraction than the Cl- salts. Overall, the effective attraction, the width of the condensed regime in the RC phase diagram, and the nature of LLPS follow the order LaCl3 < YCl3 < La(NO3)3 < Y(NO3)3. Despite the decisive role of cations in RC phase behavior, isothermal titration calorimetry measurements indicate that replacing anions does not significantly influence the cation binding to proteins. The experimental results observed are discussed based on an "enhanced Hofmeister effect" including electrostatic and hydrophobic interactions between protein-cation complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michal K Braun
- Institut für Angewandte Physik , Universität Tübingen , Auf der Morgenstelle 10 , 72076 Tübingen , Germany
| | - Andrea Sauter
- Institut für Angewandte Physik , Universität Tübingen , Auf der Morgenstelle 10 , 72076 Tübingen , Germany
| | - Olga Matsarskaia
- Institut für Angewandte Physik , Universität Tübingen , Auf der Morgenstelle 10 , 72076 Tübingen , Germany
| | - Marcell Wolf
- Institut für Angewandte Physik , Universität Tübingen , Auf der Morgenstelle 10 , 72076 Tübingen , Germany
| | - Felix Roosen-Runge
- Division of Physical Chemistry, Department of Chemistry , Lund University , Naturvetarvägen 14 , 22100 Lund , Sweden
| | - Michael Sztucki
- ESRF-The European Synchrotron Radiation Facility , 71 avenue des Martyrs , 38000 Grenoble , France
| | - Roland Roth
- Institut für Theoretische Physik , Universität Tübingen , Auf der Morgenstelle 14 , 72076 Tübingen , Germany
| | - Fajun Zhang
- Institut für Angewandte Physik , Universität Tübingen , Auf der Morgenstelle 10 , 72076 Tübingen , Germany
| | - Frank Schreiber
- Institut für Angewandte Physik , Universität Tübingen , Auf der Morgenstelle 10 , 72076 Tübingen , Germany
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25
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Kumar A, Molinero V. Two-Step to One-Step Nucleation of a Zeolite through a Metastable Gyroid Mesophase. J Phys Chem Lett 2018; 9:5692-5697. [PMID: 30196700 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.8b02413] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
The importance of nonclassical nucleation pathways in the formation of complex crystals has become apparent in recent years. Nonclassical pathways were unraveled for, among others, the crystallization of proteins, colloids, and clathrates. In those cases, the formation of a metastable fluid with density close to the crystal decreases the crystallization barrier. Recent simulations indicate that mesophases can facilitate the nucleation of zeolites. Here, we use molecular simulations to investigate the role of a gyroid mesophase on the crystallization of a model zeolite from liquid. The nucleation pathway is always nonclassical. At warmer temperatures, the mechanism proceeds in two well-defined steps: nucleation of a metastable gyroid followed by its crystallization into a zeolite. At colder temperatures, the second barrier becomes negligible, and the crystallization occurs in one step. This second scenario is also nonclassical, as the critical nucleus for the crystallization has the structure of the gyroid and seamlessly transforms into a zeolite as it grows past its critical size. To our knowledge, this is the first report of a nonclassical mechanism of crystallization mediated by a mesophase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhinaw Kumar
- Department of Chemistry , The University of Utah , 315 South 1400 East , Salt Lake City , Utah 84112-0850 , United States
| | - Valeria Molinero
- Department of Chemistry , The University of Utah , 315 South 1400 East , Salt Lake City , Utah 84112-0850 , United States
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