1
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Rathnayaka-Mudiyanselage IW, Nandana V, Schrader JM. Proteomic composition of eukaryotic and bacterial RNA decay condensates suggests convergent evolution. Curr Opin Microbiol 2024; 79:102467. [PMID: 38569418 PMCID: PMC11162941 DOI: 10.1016/j.mib.2024.102467] [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: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
Bacterial cells have a unique challenge to organize their cytoplasm without the use of membrane-bound organelles. Biomolecular condensates (henceforth BMCs) are a class of nonmembrane-bound organelles, which, through the physical process of phase separation, can form liquid-like droplets with proteins/nucleic acids. BMCs have been broadly characterized in eukaryotic cells, and BMCs have been recently identified in bacteria, with the first and best studied example being bacterial ribonucleoprotein bodies (BR-bodies). BR-bodies contain the RNA decay machinery and show functional parallels to eukaryotic P-bodies (PBs) and stress granules (SGs). Due to the finding that mRNA decay machinery is compartmentalized in BR-bodies and in eukaryotic PBs/SGs, we will explore the functional similarities in the proteins, which are known to enrich in these structures based on recent proteomic studies. Interestingly, despite the use of different mRNA decay and post-transcriptional regulatory machinery, this analysis has revealed evolutionary convergence in the classes of enriched enzymes in these structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- I W Rathnayaka-Mudiyanselage
- Wayne State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Detroit, MI, USA; Wayne State University, Department of Chemistry, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - V Nandana
- Wayne State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Detroit, MI, USA
| | - J M Schrader
- Wayne State University, Department of Biological Sciences, Detroit, MI, USA.
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2
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Gao M. Me31B: a key repressor in germline regulation and beyond. Biosci Rep 2024; 44:BSR20231769. [PMID: 38606619 PMCID: PMC11065648 DOI: 10.1042/bsr20231769] [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: 02/05/2024] [Revised: 04/10/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Maternally Expressed at 31B (Me31B), an evolutionarily conserved ATP-dependent RNA helicase, plays an important role in the development of the germline across diverse animal species. Its cellular functionality has been posited as a translational repressor, participating in various RNA metabolism pathways to intricately regulate the spatiotemporal expression of RNAs. Despite its evident significance, the precise role and mechanistic underpinnings of Me31B remain insufficiently understood. This article endeavors to comprehensively review historic and recent research on Me31B, distill the major findings, discern generalizable patterns in Me31B's functions across different research contexts, and provide insights into its fundamental role and mechanism of action. The primary focus of this article centers on elucidating the role of Drosophila Me31B within the germline, while concurrently delving into pertinent research on its orthologs within other species and cellular systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Gao
- Biology Department, Indiana University Northwest, Gary, IN, U.S.A
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3
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Giudice J, Jiang H. Splicing regulation through biomolecular condensates and membraneless organelles. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2024:10.1038/s41580-024-00739-7. [PMID: 38773325 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-024-00739-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/23/2024]
Abstract
Biomolecular condensates, sometimes also known as membraneless organelles (MLOs), can form through weak multivalent intermolecular interactions of proteins and nucleic acids, a process often associated with liquid-liquid phase separation. Biomolecular condensates are emerging as sites and regulatory platforms of vital cellular functions, including transcription and RNA processing. In the first part of this Review, we comprehensively discuss how alternative splicing regulates the formation and properties of condensates, and conversely the roles of biomolecular condensates in splicing regulation. In the second part, we focus on the spatial connection between splicing regulation and nuclear MLOs such as transcriptional condensates, splicing condensates and nuclear speckles. We then discuss key studies showing how splicing regulation through biomolecular condensates is implicated in human pathologies such as neurodegenerative diseases, different types of cancer, developmental disorders and cardiomyopathies, and conclude with a discussion of outstanding questions pertaining to the roles of condensates and MLOs in splicing regulation and how to experimentally study them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jimena Giudice
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- McAllister Heart Institute, School of Medicine, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | - Hao Jiang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Charlottesville, VA, USA.
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4
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Paul S, Arias MA, Wen L, Liao SE, Zhang J, Wang X, Regev O, Fei J. RNA molecules display distinctive organization at nuclear speckles. iScience 2024; 27:109603. [PMID: 38638569 PMCID: PMC11024929 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109603] [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: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 01/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024] Open
Abstract
RNA molecules often play critical roles in assisting the formation of membraneless organelles in eukaryotic cells. Yet, little is known about the organization of RNAs within membraneless organelles. Here, using super-resolution imaging and nuclear speckles as a model system, we demonstrate that different sequence domains of RNA transcripts exhibit differential spatial distributions within speckles. Specifically, we image transcripts containing a region enriched in binding motifs of serine/arginine-rich (SR) proteins and another region enriched in binding motifs of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs). We show that these transcripts localize to the outer shell of speckles, with the SR motif-rich region localizing closer to the speckle center relative to the hnRNP motif-rich region. Further, we identify that this intra-speckle RNA organization is driven by the strength of RNA-protein interactions inside and outside speckles. Our results hint at novel functional roles of nuclear speckles and likely other membraneless organelles in organizing RNA substrates for biochemical reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sneha Paul
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Mauricio A. Arias
- Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University, New York, NY 10012, USA
- Institute for System Genetics, NYU Langone Health, New York, NY 10016, USA
| | - Li Wen
- Department of Physics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Susan E. Liao
- Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University, New York, NY 10012, USA
| | - Jiacheng Zhang
- Graduate Program in Biophysical Sciences, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Xiaoshu Wang
- The College, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Oded Regev
- Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, New York University, New York, NY 10012, USA
| | - Jingyi Fei
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
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5
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Wahiduzzaman, Tindell SJ, Alexander E, Hackney E, Kharel K, Schmidtke R, Arkov AL. Drosophila germ granules are assembled from protein components through different modes of competing interactions with the multi-domain Tudor protein. FEBS Lett 2024; 598:774-786. [PMID: 38499396 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/14/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Membraneless organelles are RNA-protein assemblies which have been implicated in post-transcriptional control. Germ cells form membraneless organelles referred to as germ granules, which contain conserved proteins including Tudor domain-containing scaffold polypeptides and their partner proteins that interact with Tudor domains. Here, we show that in Drosophila, different germ granule proteins associate with the multi-domain Tudor protein using different numbers of Tudor domains. Furthermore, these proteins compete for interaction with Tudor in vitro and, surprisingly, partition to distinct and poorly overlapping clusters in germ granules in vivo. This partition results in minimization of the competition. Our data suggest that Tudor forms structurally different configurations with different partner proteins which dictate different biophysical properties and phase separation parameters within the same granule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wahiduzzaman
- Department of Biological Sciences, Murray State University, KY, USA
| | - Samuel J Tindell
- Department of Biological Sciences, Murray State University, KY, USA
| | - Emma Alexander
- Department of Biological Sciences, Murray State University, KY, USA
| | - Ethan Hackney
- Department of Biological Sciences, Murray State University, KY, USA
| | - Kabita Kharel
- Department of Biological Sciences, Murray State University, KY, USA
| | - Ryan Schmidtke
- Department of Biological Sciences, Murray State University, KY, USA
| | - Alexey L Arkov
- Department of Biological Sciences, Murray State University, KY, USA
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6
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Monterroso B, Margolin W, Boersma AJ, Rivas G, Poolman B, Zorrilla S. Macromolecular Crowding, Phase Separation, and Homeostasis in the Orchestration of Bacterial Cellular Functions. Chem Rev 2024; 124:1899-1949. [PMID: 38331392 PMCID: PMC10906006 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.3c00622] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
Macromolecular crowding affects the activity of proteins and functional macromolecular complexes in all cells, including bacteria. Crowding, together with physicochemical parameters such as pH, ionic strength, and the energy status, influences the structure of the cytoplasm and thereby indirectly macromolecular function. Notably, crowding also promotes the formation of biomolecular condensates by phase separation, initially identified in eukaryotic cells but more recently discovered to play key functions in bacteria. Bacterial cells require a variety of mechanisms to maintain physicochemical homeostasis, in particular in environments with fluctuating conditions, and the formation of biomolecular condensates is emerging as one such mechanism. In this work, we connect physicochemical homeostasis and macromolecular crowding with the formation and function of biomolecular condensates in the bacterial cell and compare the supramolecular structures found in bacteria with those of eukaryotic cells. We focus on the effects of crowding and phase separation on the control of bacterial chromosome replication, segregation, and cell division, and we discuss the contribution of biomolecular condensates to bacterial cell fitness and adaptation to environmental stress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Begoña Monterroso
- Department
of Structural and Chemical Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas
Margarita Salas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones
Científicas (CSIC), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - William Margolin
- Department
of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, McGovern Medical School, UTHealth-Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, United States
| | - Arnold J. Boersma
- Cellular
Protein Chemistry, Bijvoet Centre for Biomolecular Research, Faculty
of Science, Utrecht University, Padualaan 8, 3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Germán Rivas
- Department
of Structural and Chemical Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas
Margarita Salas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones
Científicas (CSIC), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Bert Poolman
- Department
of Biochemistry, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Silvia Zorrilla
- Department
of Structural and Chemical Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas
Margarita Salas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones
Científicas (CSIC), 28040 Madrid, Spain
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7
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Rana U, Xu K, Narayanan A, Walls MT, Panagiotopoulos AZ, Avalos JL, Brangwynne CP. Asymmetric oligomerization state and sequence patterning can tune multiphase condensate miscibility. Nat Chem 2024:10.1038/s41557-024-01456-6. [PMID: 38383656 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-024-01456-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/23/2024]
Abstract
Endogenous biomolecular condensates, composed of a multitude of proteins and RNAs, can organize into multiphasic structures with compositionally distinct phases. This multiphasic organization is generally understood to be critical for facilitating their proper biological function. However, the biophysical principles driving multiphase formation are not completely understood. Here we use in vivo condensate reconstitution experiments and coarse-grained molecular simulations to investigate how oligomerization and sequence interactions modulate multiphase organization in biomolecular condensates. We demonstrate that increasing the oligomerization state of an intrinsically disordered protein results in enhanced immiscibility and multiphase formation. Interestingly, we find that oligomerization tunes the miscibility of intrinsically disordered proteins in an asymmetric manner, with the effect being more pronounced when the intrinsically disordered protein, exhibiting stronger homotypic interactions, is oligomerized. Our findings suggest that oligomerization is a flexible biophysical mechanism that cells can exploit to tune the internal organization of biomolecular condensates and their associated biological functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ushnish Rana
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Ke Xu
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Amal Narayanan
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Mackenzie T Walls
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | | | - José L Avalos
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
- Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
- Omenn-Darling Bioengineering Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
| | - Clifford P Brangwynne
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
- Omenn-Darling Bioengineering Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
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8
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Pareek G, Kundu M. Physiological functions of ULK1/2. J Mol Biol 2024:168472. [PMID: 38311233 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2024.168472] [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: 12/19/2023] [Revised: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/10/2024]
Abstract
UNC-51-like kinases 1 and 2 (ULK1/2) are serine/threonine kinases that are best known for their evolutionarily conserved role in the autophagy pathway. Upon sensing the nutrient status of a cell, ULK1/2 integrate signals from upstream cellular energy sensors such as mTOR and AMPK and relay them to the downstream components of the autophagy machinery. ULK1/2 also play indispensable roles in the selective autophagy pathway, removing damaged mitochondria, invading pathogens, and toxic protein aggregates. Additional functions of ULK1/2 have emerged beyond autophagy, including roles in protein trafficking, RNP granule dynamics, and signaling events impacting innate immunity, axon guidance, cellular homeostasis, and cell fate. Therefore, it is no surprise that alterations in ULK1/2 expression and activity have been linked with pathophysiological processes, including cancer, neurological disorders, and cardiovascular diseases. Growing evidence suggests that ULK1/2 function as biological rheostats, tuning cellular functions to intra and extra-cellular cues. Given their broad physiological relevance, ULK1/2 are candidate targets for small molecule activators or inhibitors that may pave the way for the development of therapeutics for the treatment of diseases in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gautam Pareek
- Cell and Molecular Biology Department, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Mondira Kundu
- Cell and Molecular Biology Department, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
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9
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Beck M, Covino R, Hänelt I, Müller-McNicoll M. Understanding the cell: Future views of structural biology. Cell 2024; 187:545-562. [PMID: 38306981 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.12.017] [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: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/04/2024]
Abstract
Determining the structure and mechanisms of all individual functional modules of cells at high molecular detail has often been seen as equal to understanding how cells work. Recent technical advances have led to a flush of high-resolution structures of various macromolecular machines, but despite this wealth of detailed information, our understanding of cellular function remains incomplete. Here, we discuss present-day limitations of structural biology and highlight novel technologies that may enable us to analyze molecular functions directly inside cells. We predict that the progression toward structural cell biology will involve a shift toward conceptualizing a 4D virtual reality of cells using digital twins. These will capture cellular segments in a highly enriched molecular detail, include dynamic changes, and facilitate simulations of molecular processes, leading to novel and experimentally testable predictions. Transferring biological questions into algorithms that learn from the existing wealth of data and explore novel solutions may ultimately unveil how cells work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Beck
- Max Planck Institute of Biophysics, Max-von-Laue-Straße 3, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany.
| | - Roberto Covino
- Frankfurt Institute for Advanced Studies, Ruth-Moufang-Straße 1, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| | - Inga Hänelt
- Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany.
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10
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Choi H, Hong Y, Najafi S, Kim SY, Shea J, Hwang DS, Choi YS. Spontaneous Transition of Spherical Coacervate to Vesicle-Like Compartment. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2305978. [PMID: 38063842 PMCID: PMC10870063 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202305978] [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: 08/23/2023] [Revised: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
Numerous biological systems contain vesicle-like biomolecular compartments without membranes, which contribute to diverse functions including gene regulation, stress response, signaling, and skin barrier formation. Coacervation, as a form of liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), is recognized as a representative precursor to the formation and assembly of membrane-less vesicle-like structures, although their formation mechanism remains unclear. In this study, a coacervation-driven membrane-less vesicle-like structure is constructed using two proteins, GG1234 (an anionic intrinsically disordered protein) and bhBMP-2 (a bioengineered human bone morphogenetic protein 2). GG1234 formed both simple coacervates by itself and complex coacervates with the relatively cationic bhBMP-2 under acidic conditions. Upon addition of dissolved bhBMP-2 to the simple coacervates of GG1234, a phase transition from spherical simple coacervates to vesicular condensates occurred via the interactions between GG1234 and bhBMP-2 on the surface of the highly viscoelastic GG1234 simple coacervates. Furthermore, the shell structure in the outer region of the GG1234/bhBMP-2 vesicular condensates exhibited gel-like properties, leading to the formation of multiphasic vesicle-like compartments. A potential mechanism is proposed for the formation of the membrane-less GG1234/bhBMP-2 vesicle-like compartments. This study provides a dynamic process underlying the formation of biomolecular multiphasic condensates, thereby enhancing the understanding of these biomolecular structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyunsuk Choi
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied ChemistryChungnam National UniversityDaejeon34134South Korea
| | - Yuri Hong
- Division of Environmental Science and EngineeringPohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH)Pohang37673South Korea
| | - Saeed Najafi
- Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryUniversity of CaliforniaSanta BarbaraCA93106USA
| | - Sun Young Kim
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied ChemistryChungnam National UniversityDaejeon34134South Korea
| | - Joan‐Emma Shea
- Department of Chemistry and BiochemistryUniversity of CaliforniaSanta BarbaraCA93106USA
| | - Dong Soo Hwang
- Division of Environmental Science and EngineeringPohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH)Pohang37673South Korea
| | - Yoo Seong Choi
- Department of Chemical Engineering and Applied ChemistryChungnam National UniversityDaejeon34134South Korea
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11
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Wu H, Chen X, Shen Z, Li H, Liang S, Lu Y, Zhang M. Phosphorylation-dependent membraneless organelle fusion and fission illustrated by postsynaptic density assemblies. Mol Cell 2024; 84:309-326.e7. [PMID: 38096828 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2023.11.011] [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: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 09/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
Membraneless organelles formed by phase separation of proteins and nucleic acids play diverse cellular functions. Whether and, if yes, how membraneless organelles in ways analogous to membrane-based organelles also undergo regulated fusion and fission is unknown. Here, using a partially reconstituted mammalian postsynaptic density (PSD) condensate as a paradigm, we show that membraneless organelles can undergo phosphorylation-dependent fusion and fission. Without phosphorylation of the SAPAP guanylate kinase domain-binding repeats, the upper and lower layers of PSD protein mixtures form two immiscible sub-compartments in a phase-in-phase organization. Phosphorylation of SAPAP leads to fusion of the two sub-compartments into one condensate accompanied with an increased Stargazin density in the condensate. Dephosphorylation of SAPAP can reverse this event. Preventing SAPAP phosphorylation in vivo leads to increased separation of proteins from the lower and upper layers of PSD sub-compartments. Thus, analogous to membrane-based organelles, membraneless organelles can also undergo regulated fusion and fission.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haowei Wu
- Division of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Xudong Chen
- Division of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zeyu Shen
- Division of Life Science, State Key Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Clear Water Bay, Kowloon, Hong Kong, China
| | - Hao Li
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine and Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; The Institute for Brain Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Shiqi Liang
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine and Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; The Institute for Brain Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Youming Lu
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine and Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; The Institute for Brain Research, Collaborative Innovation Center for Brain Science, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Mingjie Zhang
- Greater Bay Biomedical Innocenter, Shenzhen Bay Laboratory, Shenzhen 518036, China; School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China.
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12
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Zhang Q, Kim W, Panina S, Mayfield JE, Portz B, Zhang YJ. Variation of C-terminal domain governs RNA polymerase II genomic locations and alternative splicing in eukaryotic transcription. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.01.01.573828. [PMID: 38260389 PMCID: PMC10802280 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.01.573828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
The C-terminal domain of RPB1 (CTD) orchestrates transcription by recruiting regulators to RNA Pol II upon phosphorylation. Recent insights highlight the pivotal role of CTD in driving condensate formation on gene loci. Yet, the molecular mechanism behind how CTD-mediated recruitment of transcriptional regulators influences condensates formation remains unclear. Our study unveils that phosphorylation reversibly dissolves phase separation induced by the unphosphorylated CTD. Phosphorylated CTD, upon specific association with transcription regulatory proteins, forms distinct condensates from unphosphorylated CTD. Function studies demonstrate CTD variants with diverse condensation properties in vitro exhibit difference in promoter binding and mRNA co-processing in cells. Notably, varying CTD lengths lead to alternative splicing outcomes impacting cellular growth, linking the evolution of CTD variation/length with the complexity of splicing from yeast to human. These findings provide compelling evidence for a model wherein post-translational modification enables the transition of functionally specialized condensates, highlighting a co-evolution link between CTD condensation and splicing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qian Zhang
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, 78712
| | - Wantae Kim
- McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, 78712
| | - Svetlana Panina
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, 78712
| | - Joshua E. Mayfield
- Department of Pharmacology, Chemistry, and Biochemistry, and Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California 92093
| | - Bede Portz
- Dewpoint Therapeutics, 451 D Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02210
| | - Y. Jessie Zhang
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, 78712
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13
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Gorsheneva NA, Sopova JV, Azarov VV, Grizel AV, Rubel AA. Biomolecular Condensates: Structure, Functions, Methods of Research. BIOCHEMISTRY. BIOKHIMIIA 2024; 89:S205-S223. [PMID: 38621751 DOI: 10.1134/s0006297924140116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2023] [Revised: 10/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
The term "biomolecular condensates" is used to describe membraneless compartments in eukaryotic cells, accumulating proteins and nucleic acids. Biomolecular condensates are formed as a result of liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). Often, they demonstrate properties of liquid-like droplets or gel-like aggregates; however, some of them may appear to have a more complex structure and high-order organization. Membraneless microcompartments are involved in diverse processes both in cytoplasm and in nucleus, among them ribosome biogenesis, regulation of gene expression, cell signaling, and stress response. Condensates properties and structure could be highly dynamic and are affected by various internal and external factors, e.g., concentration and interactions of components, solution temperature, pH, osmolarity, etc. In this review, we discuss variety of biomolecular condensates and their functions in live cells, describe their structure variants, highlight domain and primary sequence organization of the constituent proteins and nucleic acids. Finally, we describe current advances in methods that characterize structure, properties, morphology, and dynamics of biomolecular condensates in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Julia V Sopova
- St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, 199034, Russia.
| | | | - Anastasia V Grizel
- School of Biological Sciences, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA.
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14
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Faria JRC, Tinti M, Marques CA, Zoltner M, Yoshikawa H, Field MC, Horn D. An allele-selective inter-chromosomal protein bridge supports monogenic antigen expression in the African trypanosome. Nat Commun 2023; 14:8200. [PMID: 38081826 PMCID: PMC10713589 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-44043-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
UPF1-like helicases play roles in telomeric heterochromatin formation and X-chromosome inactivation, and also in monogenic variant surface glycoprotein (VSG) expression via VSG exclusion-factor-2 (VEX2), a UPF1-related protein in the African trypanosome. We show that VEX2 associates with chromatin specifically at the single active VSG expression site on chromosome 6, forming an allele-selective connection, via VEX1, to the trans-splicing locus on chromosome 9, physically bridging two chromosomes and the VSG transcription and splicing compartments. We further show that the VEX-complex is multimeric and self-regulates turnover to tightly control its abundance. Using single cell transcriptomics following VEX2-depletion, we observed simultaneous derepression of many other telomeric VSGs and multi-allelic VSG expression in individual cells. Thus, an allele-selective, inter-chromosomal, and self-limiting VEX1-2 bridge supports monogenic VSG expression and multi-allelic VSG exclusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joana R C Faria
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK.
- Biology Department, University of York, York, UK.
- York Biomedical Research Institute, University of York, York, UK.
| | - Michele Tinti
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Catarina A Marques
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Parasitology, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Martin Zoltner
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
- Faculty of Science, Charles University in Prague, Biocev, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Harunori Yoshikawa
- Gene Regulation and Expression, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
- Division of Cell Signaling, Fujii Memorial Institute of Medical Sciences, Institute of Advanced Medical Sciences, Tokushima University, Tokushima, Japan
| | - Mark C Field
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
- Biology Centre, Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Parasitology, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - David Horn
- Wellcome Centre for Anti-Infectives Research, Biological Chemistry and Drug Discovery, School of Life Sciences, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK.
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15
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Gao G, Sumrall ES, Pitchiaya S, Bitzer M, Alberti S, Walter NG. Biomolecular condensates in kidney physiology and disease. Nat Rev Nephrol 2023; 19:756-770. [PMID: 37752323 DOI: 10.1038/s41581-023-00767-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
The regulation and preservation of distinct intracellular and extracellular solute microenvironments is crucial for the maintenance of cellular homeostasis. In mammals, the kidneys control bodily salt and water homeostasis. Specifically, the urine-concentrating mechanism within the renal medulla causes fluctuations in extracellular osmolarity, which enables cells of the kidney to either conserve or eliminate water and electrolytes, depending on the balance between intake and loss. However, relatively little is known about the subcellular and molecular changes caused by such osmotic stresses. Advances have shown that many cells, including those of the kidney, rapidly (within seconds) and reversibly (within minutes) assemble membraneless, nano-to-microscale subcellular assemblies termed biomolecular condensates via the biophysical process of hyperosmotic phase separation (HOPS). Mechanistically, osmotic cell compression mediates changes in intracellular hydration, concentration and molecular crowding, rendering HOPS one of many related phase-separation phenomena. Osmotic stress causes numerous homo-multimeric proteins to condense, thereby affecting gene expression and cell survival. HOPS rapidly regulates specific cellular biochemical processes before appropriate protective or corrective action by broader stress response mechanisms can be initiated. Here, we broadly survey emerging evidence for, and the impact of, biomolecular condensates in nephrology, where initial concentration buffering by HOPS and its subsequent cellular escalation mechanisms are expected to have important implications for kidney physiology and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoming Gao
- Biophysics Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Center for RNA Biomedicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Emily S Sumrall
- Biophysics Graduate Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Chemistry and Center for RNA Biomedicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | | | - Markus Bitzer
- Department of Medicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Simon Alberti
- Technische Universität Dresden, Biotechnology Center (BIOTEC) and Center for Molecular and Cellular Engineering (CMCB), Dresden, Germany
| | - Nils G Walter
- Department of Chemistry and Center for RNA Biomedicine, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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16
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O’Connell LC, Johnson V, Hutton AK, Otis JP, Murthy AC, Liang MC, Wang SH, Fawzi NL, Mowry KL. Intrinsically disordered regions and RNA binding domains contribute to protein enrichment in biomolecular condensates in Xenopus oocytes. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.11.10.566489. [PMID: 37986933 PMCID: PMC10659413 DOI: 10.1101/2023.11.10.566489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2023]
Abstract
Proteins containing both intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) and RNA binding domains (RBDs) can phase separate in vitro, forming bodies similar to cellular biomolecular condensates. However, how IDR and RBD domains contribute to in vivo recruitment of proteins to biomolecular condensates remains poorly understood. Here, we analyzed the roles of IDRs and RBDs in L-bodies, biomolecular condensates present in Xenopus oocytes. We show that a cytoplasmic isoform of hnRNPAB, which contains two RBDs and an IDR, is highly enriched in L-bodies. While both of these domains contribute to hnRNPAB self-association and phase separation in vitro and mediate enrichment into L-bodies in oocytes, neither the RBDs nor the IDR replicate the localization of full-length hnRNPAB. Our results suggest a model where the additive effects of the IDR and RBDs regulate hnRNPAB partitioning into L-bodies. This model likely has widespread applications as proteins containing RBD and IDR domains are common biomolecular condensate residents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liam C. O’Connell
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Brown University Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Victoria Johnson
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Brown University Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Anika K. Hutton
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Brown University Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Jessica P. Otis
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Brown University Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Anastasia C. Murthy
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Brown University Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Mark C. Liang
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Brown University Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Szu-Huan Wang
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Brown University Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Nicolas L. Fawzi
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Brown University Providence, RI 02912, USA
| | - Kimberly L. Mowry
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology & Biochemistry, Brown University Providence, RI 02912, USA
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17
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Otis JP, Mowry KL. Hitting the mark: Localization of mRNA and biomolecular condensates in health and disease. WILEY INTERDISCIPLINARY REVIEWS. RNA 2023; 14:e1807. [PMID: 37393916 PMCID: PMC10758526 DOI: 10.1002/wrna.1807] [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: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 05/29/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
Subcellular mRNA localization is critical to a multitude of biological processes such as development of cellular polarity, embryogenesis, tissue differentiation, protein complex formation, cell migration, and rapid responses to environmental stimuli and synaptic depolarization. Our understanding of the mechanisms of mRNA localization must now be revised to include formation and trafficking of biomolecular condensates, as several biomolecular condensates that transport and localize mRNA have recently been discovered. Disruptions in mRNA localization can have catastrophic effects on developmental processes and biomolecular condensate biology and have been shown to contribute to diverse diseases. A fundamental understanding of mRNA localization is essential to understanding how aberrations in this biology contribute the etiology of numerous cancers though support of cancer cell migration and biomolecular condensate dysregulation, as well as many neurodegenerative diseases, through misregulation of mRNA localization and biomolecular condensate biology. This article is categorized under: RNA Export and Localization > RNA Localization RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Disease RNA in Disease and Development > RNA in Development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica P. Otis
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States, 02912
| | - Kimberly L. Mowry
- Department of Molecular Biology, Cell Biology, and Biochemistry, Brown University, Providence, RI, United States, 02912
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18
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Ripin N, Parker R. Formation, function, and pathology of RNP granules. Cell 2023; 186:4737-4756. [PMID: 37890457 PMCID: PMC10617657 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/29/2023]
Abstract
Ribonucleoprotein (RNP) granules are diverse membrane-less organelles that form through multivalent RNA-RNA, RNA-protein, and protein-protein interactions between RNPs. RNP granules are implicated in many aspects of RNA physiology, but in most cases their functions are poorly understood. RNP granules can be described through four key principles. First, RNP granules often arise because of the large size, high localized concentrations, and multivalent interactions of RNPs. Second, cells regulate RNP granule formation by multiple mechanisms including posttranslational modifications, protein chaperones, and RNA chaperones. Third, RNP granules impact cell physiology in multiple manners. Finally, dysregulation of RNP granules contributes to human diseases. Outstanding issues in the field remain, including determining the scale and molecular mechanisms of RNP granule function and how granule dysfunction contributes to human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Ripin
- Department of Biochemistry and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80303, USA
| | - Roy Parker
- Department of Biochemistry and Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80303, USA.
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19
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Gallo R, Rai AK, McIntyre ABR, Meyer K, Pelkmans L. DYRK3 enables secretory trafficking by maintaining the liquid-like state of ER exit sites. Dev Cell 2023; 58:1880-1897.e11. [PMID: 37643612 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2023.08.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Revised: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
The dual-specificity kinase DYRK3 controls the formation and dissolution of multiple biomolecular condensates, regulating processes including stress recovery and mitotic progression. Here, we report that DYRK3 functionally interacts with proteins associated with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) exit sites (ERESs) and that inhibition of DYRK3 perturbs the organization of the ERES-Golgi interface and secretory trafficking. DYRK3-mediated regulation of ERES depends on the N-terminal intrinsically disordered region (IDR) of the peripheral membrane protein SEC16A, which co-phase separates with ERES components to form liquid-like condensates on the surface of the ER. By modulating the liquid-like properties of ERES, we show that their physical state is essential for functional cargo trafficking through the early secretory pathway. Our findings support a mechanism whereby phosphorylation by DYRK3 and its reversal by serine-threonine phosphatases regulate the material properties of ERES to create a favorable physicochemical environment for directional membrane traffic in eukaryotic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raffaella Gallo
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, 8046 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Arpan Kumar Rai
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, 8046 Zurich, Switzerland.
| | - Alexa B R McIntyre
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, 8046 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Katrina Meyer
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, 8046 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Lucas Pelkmans
- Department of Molecular Life Sciences, University of Zurich, 8046 Zurich, Switzerland.
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20
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Lauber N, Tichacek O, Narayanankutty K, De Martino D, Ruiz-Mirazo K. Collective catalysis under spatial constraints: Phase separation and size-scaling effects on mass action kinetics. Phys Rev E 2023; 108:044410. [PMID: 37978605 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.108.044410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Chemical reactions are usually studied under the assumption that both substrates and catalysts are well-mixed (WM) throughout the system. Although this is often applicable to test-tube experimental conditions, it is not realistic in cellular environments, where biomolecules can undergo liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) and form condensates, leading to important functional outcomes, including the modulation of catalytic action. Similar processes may also play a role in protocellular systems, like primitive coacervates, or in membrane-assisted prebiotic pathways. Here we explore whether the demixing of catalysts could lead to the formation of microenvironments that influence the kinetics of a linear (multistep) reaction pathway, as compared to a WM system. We implemented a general lattice model to simulate LLPS of a collection of different catalysts and extended it to include diffusion and a sequence of reactions of small substrates. We carried out a quantitative analysis of how the phase separation of the catalysts affects reaction times depending on the affinity between substrates and catalysts, the length of the reaction pathway, the system size, and the degree of homogeneity of the condensate. A key aspect underlying the differences reported between the two scenarios is that the scale invariance observed in the WM system is broken by condensation processes. The main theoretical implications of our results for mean-field chemistry are drawn, extending the mass action kinetics scheme to include substrate initial "hitting times" to reach the catalysts condensate. We finally test this approach by considering open nonlinear conditions, where we successfully predict, through microscopic simulations, that phase separation inhibits chemical oscillatory behavior, providing a possible explanation for the marginal role that this complex dynamic behavior plays in real metabolisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nino Lauber
- Biofisika Institute (CSIC, UPV/EHU), 48940 Leioa, Spain
- Donostia International Physics Center, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
- Department of Philosophy, University of the Basque Country, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
| | - Ondrej Tichacek
- Institute of Organic Chemistry and Biochemistry of the Czech Academy of Sciences, 160 00 Prague, Czech Republic
| | - Krishnadev Narayanankutty
- Biofisika Institute (CSIC, UPV/EHU), 48940 Leioa, Spain
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, University of the Basque Country, 48940 Leioa, Spain
| | - Daniele De Martino
- Biofisika Institute (CSIC, UPV/EHU), 48940 Leioa, Spain
- Ikerbasque Foundation, 48009 Bilbao, Spain
| | - Kepa Ruiz-Mirazo
- Biofisika Institute (CSIC, UPV/EHU), 48940 Leioa, Spain
- Department of Philosophy, University of the Basque Country, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastian, Spain
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21
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Linsenmeier M, Faltova L, Morelli C, Capasso Palmiero U, Seiffert C, Küffner AM, Pinotsi D, Zhou J, Mezzenga R, Arosio P. The interface of condensates of the hnRNPA1 low-complexity domain promotes formation of amyloid fibrils. Nat Chem 2023; 15:1340-1349. [PMID: 37749234 PMCID: PMC10533390 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-023-01289-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 09/27/2023]
Abstract
The maturation of liquid-like protein condensates into amyloid fibrils has been associated with several neurodegenerative diseases. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying this liquid-to-solid transition have remained largely unclear. Here we analyse the amyloid formation mediated by condensation of the low-complexity domain of hnRNPA1, a protein involved in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We show that phase separation and fibrillization are connected but distinct processes that are modulated by different regions of the protein sequence. By monitoring the spatial and temporal evolution of amyloid formation we demonstrate that the formation of fibrils does not occur homogeneously inside the droplets but is promoted at the interface of the condensates. We further show that coating the interface of the droplets with surfactant molecules inhibits fibril formation. Our results reveal that the interface of biomolecular condensates of hnRNPA1 promotes fibril formation, therefore suggesting interfaces as a potential novel therapeutic target against the formation of aberrant amyloids mediated by condensation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miriam Linsenmeier
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Sciences, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Lenka Faltova
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Sciences, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Chiara Morelli
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Sciences, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Umberto Capasso Palmiero
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Sciences, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Charlotte Seiffert
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Sciences, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Andreas M Küffner
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Sciences, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Dorothea Pinotsi
- Scientific Center for Optical and Electron Microscopy, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jiangtao Zhou
- Department for Health Sciences and Technology, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Raffaele Mezzenga
- Department for Health Sciences and Technology, Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Paolo Arosio
- Department of Chemistry and Applied Sciences, Institute for Chemical and Bioengineering, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
- Bringing Materials to Life Initiative, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
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22
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Borodavka A, Acker J. Seeing Biomolecular Condensates Through the Lens of Viruses. Annu Rev Virol 2023; 10:163-182. [PMID: 37040799 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-virology-111821-103226] [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] [Indexed: 04/13/2023]
Abstract
Phase separation of viral biopolymers is a key factor in the formation of cytoplasmic viral inclusions, known as sites of virus replication and assembly. This review describes the mechanisms and factors that affect phase separation in viral replication and identifies potential areas for future research. Drawing inspiration from studies on cellular RNA-rich condensates, we compare the hierarchical coassembly of ribosomal RNAs and proteins in the nucleolus to the coordinated coassembly of viral RNAs and proteins taking place within viral factories in viruses containing segmented RNA genomes. We highlight the common characteristics of biomolecular condensates in viral replication and how this new understanding is reshaping our views of virus assembly mechanisms. Such studies have the potential to uncover unexplored antiviral strategies targeting these phase-separated states.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexander Borodavka
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom;
| | - Julia Acker
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom;
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23
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Rajshekar S, Adame-Arana O, Bajpai G, Lin K, Colmenares S, Safran S, Karpen GH. Affinity hierarchies and amphiphilic proteins underlie the co-assembly of nucleolar and heterochromatin condensates. RESEARCH SQUARE 2023:rs.3.rs-3385692. [PMID: 37841837 PMCID: PMC10571612 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-3385692/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2023]
Abstract
Nucleoli are surrounded by Pericentromeric Heterochromatin (PCH), reflecting a close spatial association between the two largest biomolecular condensates in eukaryotic nuclei. This nuclear organizational feature is highly conserved and is disrupted in diseased states like senescence, however, the mechanisms driving PCH-nucleolar association are unclear. High-resolution live imaging during early Drosophila development revealed a highly dynamic process in which PCH and nucleolar formation is coordinated and interdependent. When nucleolus assembly was eliminated by deleting the ribosomal RNA genes (rDNA), PCH showed increased compaction and subsequent reorganization to a shell-like structure. In addition, in embryos lacking rDNA, some nucleolar proteins were redistributed into new bodies or 'neocondensates,' including enrichment in the core of the PCH shell. These observations, combined with physical modeling and simulations, suggested that nucleolar-PCH associations are mediated by a hierarchy of affinities between PCH, nucleoli, and 'amphiphilic' protein(s) that interact with both nucleolar and PCH components. This result was validated by demonstrating that the depletion of one candidate amphiphile, the nucleolar protein Pitchoune, significantly reduced PCH-nucleolar associations. Together, these results unveil a dynamic program for establishing nucleolar-PCH associations during animal development, demonstrate that nucleoli are required for normal PCH organization, and identify Pitchoune as an amphiphilic molecular link that promotes PCH-nucleolar associations. Finally, we propose that disrupting affinity hierarchies between interacting condensates can liberate molecules to form neocondensates or other aberrant structures that could contribute to cellular disease phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srivarsha Rajshekar
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, USA
| | - Omar Adame-Arana
- Department of Chemical and Biological Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Dresden, Germany
| | - Gaurav Bajpai
- Department of Chemical and Biological Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Kyle Lin
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, USA
| | - Serafin Colmenares
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, USA
| | - Samuel Safran
- Department of Chemical and Biological Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Gary H Karpen
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, USA
- Division of Biological Sciences and the Environment, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, USA
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24
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Rajshekar S, Adame-Arana O, Bajpai G, Lin K, Colmenares S, Safran S, Karpen GH. Affinity hierarchies and amphiphilic proteins underlie the co-assembly of nucleolar and heterochromatin condensates. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.06.547894. [PMID: 37808710 PMCID: PMC10557603 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.06.547894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/10/2023]
Abstract
Nucleoli are surrounded by Pericentromeric Heterochromatin (PCH), reflecting a close spatial association between the two largest biomolecular condensates in eukaryotic nuclei. This nuclear organizational feature is highly conserved and is disrupted in diseased states like senescence, however, the mechanisms driving PCH-nucleolar association are unclear. High-resolution live imaging during early Drosophila development revealed a highly dynamic process in which PCH and nucleolar formation is coordinated and interdependent. When nucleolus assembly was eliminated by deleting the ribosomal RNA genes (rDNA), PCH showed increased compaction and subsequent reorganization to a shell-like structure. In addition, in embryos lacking rDNA, some nucleolar proteins were redistributed into new bodies or 'neocondensates,' including enrichment in the core of the PCH shell. These observations, combined with physical modeling and simulations, suggested that nucleolar-PCH associations are mediated by a hierarchy of affinities between PCH, nucleoli, and 'amphiphilic' protein(s) that interact with both nucleolar and PCH components. This result was validated by demonstrating that the depletion of one candidate amphiphile, the nucleolar protein Pitchoune, significantly reduced PCH-nucleolar associations. Together, these results unveil a dynamic program for establishing nucleolar-PCH associations during animal development, demonstrate that nucleoli are required for normal PCH organization, and identify Pitchoune as an amphiphilic molecular link that promotes PCH-nucleolar associations. Finally, we propose that disrupting affinity hierarchies between interacting condensates can liberate molecules to form neocondensates or other aberrant structures that could contribute to cellular disease phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srivarsha Rajshekar
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, USA
| | - Omar Adame-Arana
- Department of Chemical and Biological Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
- Max Planck Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Dresden, Germany
| | - Gaurav Bajpai
- Department of Chemical and Biological Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Kyle Lin
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, USA
| | - Serafin Colmenares
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, USA
| | - Samuel Safran
- Department of Chemical and Biological Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Gary H Karpen
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, USA
- Division of Biological Sciences and the Environment, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, USA
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25
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Taliansky ME, Love AJ, Kołowerzo-Lubnau A, Smoliński DJ. Cajal bodies: Evolutionarily conserved nuclear biomolecular condensates with properties unique to plants. THE PLANT CELL 2023; 35:3214-3235. [PMID: 37202374 PMCID: PMC10473218 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koad140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Proper orchestration of the thousands of biochemical processes that are essential to the life of every cell requires highly organized cellular compartmentalization of dedicated microenvironments. There are 2 ways to create this intracellular segregation to optimize cellular function. One way is to create specific organelles, enclosed spaces bounded by lipid membranes that regulate macromolecular flux in and out of the compartment. A second way is via membraneless biomolecular condensates that form due to to liquid-liquid phase separation. Although research on these membraneless condensates has historically been performed using animal and fungal systems, recent studies have explored basic principles governing the assembly, properties, and functions of membraneless compartments in plants. In this review, we discuss how phase separation is involved in a variety of key processes occurring in Cajal bodies (CBs), a type of biomolecular condensate found in nuclei. These processes include RNA metabolism, formation of ribonucleoproteins involved in transcription, RNA splicing, ribosome biogenesis, and telomere maintenance. Besides these primary roles of CBs, we discuss unique plant-specific functions of CBs in RNA-based regulatory pathways such as nonsense-mediated mRNA decay, mRNA retention, and RNA silencing. Finally, we summarize recent progress and discuss the functions of CBs in responses to pathogen attacks and abiotic stresses, responses that may be regulated via mechanisms governed by polyADP-ribosylation. Thus, plant CBs are emerging as highly complex and multifunctional biomolecular condensates that are involved in a surprisingly diverse range of molecular mechanisms that we are just beginning to appreciate.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andrew J Love
- The James Hutton Institute, Invergowrie, Dundee DD2 5DA, UK
| | - Agnieszka Kołowerzo-Lubnau
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Lwowska 1, 87-100 Torun, Poland
- Centre for Modern Interdisciplinary Technologies, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Wilenska 4, 87-100 Torun, Poland
| | - Dariusz Jan Smoliński
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Lwowska 1, 87-100 Torun, Poland
- Centre for Modern Interdisciplinary Technologies, Nicolaus Copernicus University, Wilenska 4, 87-100 Torun, Poland
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26
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Hoffmann G, López-González S, Mahboubi A, Hanson J, Hafrén A. Cauliflower mosaic virus protein P6 is a multivalent node for RNA granule proteins and interferes with stress granule responses during plant infection. THE PLANT CELL 2023; 35:3363-3382. [PMID: 37040611 PMCID: PMC10473198 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koad101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Biomolecular condensation is a multipurpose cellular process that viruses use ubiquitously during their multiplication. Cauliflower mosaic virus replication complexes are condensates that differ from those of most viruses, as they are nonmembranous assemblies that consist of RNA and protein, mainly the viral protein P6. Although these viral factories (VFs) were described half a century ago, with many observations that followed since, functional details of the condensation process and the properties and relevance of VFs have remained enigmatic. Here, we studied these issues in Arabidopsis thaliana and Nicotiana benthamiana. We observed a large dynamic mobility range of host proteins within VFs, while the viral matrix protein P6 is immobile, as it represents the central node of these condensates. We identified the stress granule (SG) nucleating factors G3BP7 and UBP1 family members as components of VFs. Similarly, as SG components localize to VFs during infection, ectopic P6 localizes to SGs and reduces their assembly after stress. Intriguingly, it appears that soluble rather than condensed P6 suppresses SG formation and mediates other essential P6 functions, suggesting that the increased condensation over the infection time-course may accompany a progressive shift in selected P6 functions. Together, this study highlights VFs as dynamic condensates and P6 as a complex modulator of SG responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gesa Hoffmann
- Department of Plant Biology, Uppsala BioCenter, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
- Linnean Center for Plant Biology, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Silvia López-González
- Department of Plant Biology, Uppsala BioCenter, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
- Linnean Center for Plant Biology, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Amir Mahboubi
- Department of Plant Physiology, Umeå Plant Science Centre, Umeå University, 90736 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Johannes Hanson
- Department of Plant Physiology, Umeå Plant Science Centre, Umeå University, 90736 Umeå, Sweden
| | - Anders Hafrén
- Department of Plant Biology, Uppsala BioCenter, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
- Linnean Center for Plant Biology, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
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27
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Solis-Miranda J, Chodasiewicz M, Skirycz A, Fernie AR, Moschou PN, Bozhkov PV, Gutierrez-Beltran E. Stress-related biomolecular condensates in plants. THE PLANT CELL 2023; 35:3187-3204. [PMID: 37162152 PMCID: PMC10473214 DOI: 10.1093/plcell/koad127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Biomolecular condensates are membraneless organelle-like structures that can concentrate molecules and often form through liquid-liquid phase separation. Biomolecular condensate assembly is tightly regulated by developmental and environmental cues. Although research on biomolecular condensates has intensified in the past 10 years, our current understanding of the molecular mechanisms and components underlying their formation remains in its infancy, especially in plants. However, recent studies have shown that the formation of biomolecular condensates may be central to plant acclimation to stress conditions. Here, we describe the mechanism, regulation, and properties of stress-related condensates in plants, focusing on stress granules and processing bodies, 2 of the most well-characterized biomolecular condensates. In this regard, we showcase the proteomes of stress granules and processing bodies in an attempt to suggest methods for elucidating the composition and function of biomolecular condensates. Finally, we discuss how biomolecular condensates modulate stress responses and how they might be used as targets for biotechnological efforts to improve stress tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Solis-Miranda
- Institutode Bioquimica Vegetal y Fotosintesis, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC)-Universidad de Sevilla, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
| | - Monika Chodasiewicz
- Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, Center for Desert Agriculture, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Alisdair R Fernie
- Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Plant Physiology, 14476 Potsdam-Golm, Germany
| | - Panagiotis N Moschou
- Department of Plant Biology, Uppsala BioCenter, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Linnean Center for Plant Biology, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
- Department of Biology, University of Crete, Heraklion 71409, Greece
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Heraklion 70013, Greece
| | - Peter V Bozhkov
- Department of Molecular Sciences, Uppsala BioCenter, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences and Linnean Center for Plant Biology, 75007 Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Emilio Gutierrez-Beltran
- Institutode Bioquimica Vegetal y Fotosintesis, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas (CSIC)-Universidad de Sevilla, 41092 Sevilla, Spain
- Departamento de Bioquimica Vegetal y Biologia Molecular, Facultad de Biologia, Universidad de Sevilla, 41012 Sevilla, Spain
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28
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Du Z, Shi K, Brown JS, He T, Wu WS, Zhang Y, Lee HC, Zhang D. Condensate cooperativity underlies transgenerational gene silencing. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112859. [PMID: 37505984 PMCID: PMC10540246 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112859] [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: 02/07/2023] [Revised: 05/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Biomolecular condensates have been shown to interact in vivo, yet it is unclear whether these interactions are functionally meaningful. Here, we demonstrate that cooperativity between two distinct condensates-germ granules and P bodies-is required for transgenerational gene silencing in C. elegans. We find that P bodies form a coating around perinuclear germ granules and that P body components CGH-1/DDX6 and CAR-1/LSM14 are required for germ granules to organize into sub-compartments and concentrate small RNA silencing factors. Functionally, while the P body mutant cgh-1 is competent to initially trigger gene silencing, it is unable to propagate the silencing to subsequent generations. Mechanistically, we trace this loss of transgenerational silencing to defects in amplifying secondary small RNAs and the stability of WAGO-4 Argonaute, both known carriers of gene silencing memories. Together, these data reveal that cooperation between condensates results in an emergent capability of germ cells to establish heritable memory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenzhen Du
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430032, China
| | - Kun Shi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430032, China
| | - Jordan S Brown
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Tao He
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430032, China
| | - Wei-Sheng Wu
- Department of Electrical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan 701, Taiwan
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430032, China.
| | - Heng-Chi Lee
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Cell Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA.
| | - Donglei Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Basic Medicine, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430032, China; Cell Architecture Research Institute, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, China.
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29
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Collins MJ, Tomares DT, Nandana V, Schrader JM, Childers WS. RNase E biomolecular condensates stimulate PNPase activity. Sci Rep 2023; 13:12937. [PMID: 37558691 PMCID: PMC10412687 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-39565-w] [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: 08/11/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Bacterial Ribonucleoprotein bodies (BR-bodies) play an essential role in organizing RNA degradation via phase separation in the cytoplasm of bacteria. BR-bodies mediate multi-step mRNA decay through the concerted activity of the endoribonuclease RNase E coupled with the 3'-5' exoribonuclease Polynucleotide Phosphorylase (PNPase). In vivo, studies indicated that the loss of PNPase recruitment into BR-bodies led to a significant build-up of RNA decay intermediates in Caulobacter crescentus. However, it remained unclear whether this is due to a lack of colocalized PNPase and RNase E within BR-bodies or whether PNPase's activity is stimulated within the BR-body. We reconstituted RNase E's C-terminal domain with PNPase towards a minimal BR-body in vitro to distinguish these possibilities. We found that PNPase's catalytic activity is accelerated when colocalized within the RNase E biomolecular condensates, partly due to scaffolding and mass action effects. In contrast, disruption of the RNase E-PNPase protein-protein interaction led to a loss of PNPase recruitment into the RNase E condensates and a loss of ribonuclease rate enhancement. We also found that RNase E's unique biomolecular condensate environment tuned PNPase's substrate specificity for poly(A) over poly(U). Intriguingly, a critical PNPase reactant, phosphate, reduces RNase E phase separation both in vitro and in vivo. This regulatory feedback ensures that under limited phosphate resources, PNPase activity is enhanced by recruitment into RNase E's biomolecular condensates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Collins
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, 15260, USA
| | - Dylan T Tomares
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, 15260, USA
| | - Vidhyadhar Nandana
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA
| | - Jared M Schrader
- Department of Biological Sciences, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, 48202, USA
| | - W Seth Childers
- Department of Chemistry, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, 15260, USA.
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Guo X, Zhu K, Zhu X, Zhao W, Miao Y. Two-dimensional molecular condensation in cell signaling and mechanosensing. Acta Biochim Biophys Sin (Shanghai) 2023; 55:1064-1074. [PMID: 37475548 PMCID: PMC10423693 DOI: 10.3724/abbs.2023132] [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: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Membraneless organelles (MLO) regulate diverse biological processes in a spatiotemporally controlled manner spanning from inside to outside of the cells. The plasma membrane (PM) at the cell surface serves as a central platform for forming multi-component signaling hubs that sense mechanical and chemical cues during physiological and pathological conditions. During signal transduction, the assembly and formation of membrane-bound MLO are dynamically tunable depending on the physicochemical properties of the surrounding environment and partitioning biomolecules. Biomechanical properties of MLO-associated membrane structures can control the microenvironment for biomolecular interactions and assembly. Lipid-protein complex interactions determine the catalytic region's assembly pattern and assembly rate and, thereby, the amplitude of activities. In this review, we will focus on how cell surface microenvironments, including membrane curvature, surface topology and tension, lipid-phase separation, and adhesion force, guide the assembly of PM-associated MLO for cell signal transductions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangfu Guo
- School of ChemistryChemical Engineering and BiotechnologyNanyang Technological UniversitySingapore637457Singapore
| | - Kexin Zhu
- School of Biological SciencesNanyang Technological UniversitySingapore637551Singapore
| | - Xinlu Zhu
- School of Biological SciencesNanyang Technological UniversitySingapore637551Singapore
| | - Wenting Zhao
- School of ChemistryChemical Engineering and BiotechnologyNanyang Technological UniversitySingapore637457Singapore
- Institute for Digital Molecular Analytics and ScienceNanyang Technological UniversitySingapore636921Singapore
| | - Yansong Miao
- School of Biological SciencesNanyang Technological UniversitySingapore637551Singapore
- Institute for Digital Molecular Analytics and ScienceNanyang Technological UniversitySingapore636921Singapore
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31
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Abstract
Biomolecular condensates constitute a newly recognized form of spatial organization in living cells. Although many condensates are believed to form as a result of phase separation, the physicochemical properties that determine the phase behavior of heterogeneous biomolecular mixtures are only beginning to be explored. Theory and simulation provide invaluable tools for probing the relationship between molecular determinants, such as protein and RNA sequences, and the emergence of phase-separated condensates in such complex environments. This review covers recent advances in the prediction and computational design of biomolecular mixtures that phase-separate into many coexisting phases. First, we review efforts to understand the phase behavior of mixtures with hundreds or thousands of species using theoretical models and statistical approaches. We then describe progress in developing analytical theories and coarse-grained simulation models to predict multiphase condensates with the molecular detail required to make contact with biophysical experiments. We conclude by summarizing the challenges ahead for modeling the inhomogeneous spatial organization of biomolecular mixtures in living cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- William M Jacobs
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States
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32
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Li M, Zhang Y, Zhao J, Wang D. The global landscape and research trend of phase separation in cancer: a bibliometric analysis and visualization. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1170157. [PMID: 37333812 PMCID: PMC10272442 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1170157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Cancer as a deathly disease with high prevalence has impelled researchers to investigate its causative mechanisms in the search for effective therapeutics. Recently, the concept of phase separation has been introduced to biological science and extended to cancer research, which helps reveal various pathogenic processes that have not been identified before. As a process of soluble biomolecules condensed into solid-like and membraneless structures, phase separation is associated with multiple oncogenic processes. However, there are no bibliometric characteristics for these results. To provide future trends and identify new frontiers in this field, a bibliometric analysis was conducted in this study. Methods The Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) was used to search for literature on phase separation in cancer from 1/1/2009 to 31/12/2022. After screening the literature, statistical analysis and visualization were carried out by the VOSviewer software (version 1.6.18) and Citespace software (Version 6.1.R6). Results A total of 264 publications, covering 413 organizations and 32 countries, were published in 137 journals, with an increasing trend in publication and citation numbers per year. The USA and China were the two countries with the largest number of publications, and the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences was the most active institution based on the number of articles and cooperations. Molecular Cell was the most frequent publisher with high citations and H-index. The most productive authors were Fox AH, De Oliveira GAP, and Tompa P. Overlay, whilst few authors had a strong collaboration with each other. The combined analysis of concurrent and burst keywords revealed that the future research hotspots of phase separation in cancer were related to tumor microenvironments, immunotherapy, prognosis, p53, and cell death. Conclusion Phase separation-related cancer research remained in the hot streak period and exhibited a promising outlook. Although inter-agency collaboration existed, cooperation among research groups was rare, and no author dominated this field at the current stage. Investigating the interfaced effects between phase separation and tumor microenvironments on carcinoma behaviors, and constructing relevant prognoses and therapeutics such as immune infiltration-based prognosis and immunotherapy might be the next research trend in the study of phase separation and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengzhu Li
- Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Endocrinology and Lipid Metabolism, Jinan, China
- Shandong Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Jinan, China
- Key Laboratory of Endocrine Glucose & Lipids Metabolism and Brain Aging (Shandong First Medical University), Ministry of Education, Jinan, China
| | - Yizhan Zhang
- Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Endocrinology and Lipid Metabolism, Jinan, China
- Shandong Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Jinan, China
- Key Laboratory of Endocrine Glucose & Lipids Metabolism and Brain Aging (Shandong First Medical University), Ministry of Education, Jinan, China
| | - Jiajun Zhao
- Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Endocrinology and Lipid Metabolism, Jinan, China
- Shandong Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Jinan, China
- Key Laboratory of Endocrine Glucose & Lipids Metabolism and Brain Aging (Shandong First Medical University), Ministry of Education, Jinan, China
| | - Dawei Wang
- Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China
- Department of Endocrinology, Shandong Provincial Hospital Affiliated to Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
- Shandong Key Laboratory of Endocrinology and Lipid Metabolism, Jinan, China
- Shandong Institute of Endocrine and Metabolic Diseases, Jinan, China
- Key Laboratory of Endocrine Glucose & Lipids Metabolism and Brain Aging (Shandong First Medical University), Ministry of Education, Jinan, China
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33
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Schulte T, Panas MD, Han X, Williams L, Kedersha N, Fleck JS, Tan TJC, Dopico XC, Olsson A, Morro AM, Hanke L, Nilvebrant J, Giang KA, Nygren PÅ, Anderson P, Achour A, McInerney GM. Caprin-1 binding to the critical stress granule protein G3BP1 is influenced by pH. Open Biol 2023; 13:220369. [PMID: 37161291 PMCID: PMC10170197 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.220369] [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: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023] Open
Abstract
G3BP is the central node within stress-induced protein-RNA interaction networks known as stress granules (SGs). The SG-associated proteins Caprin-1 and USP10 bind mutually exclusively to the NTF2 domain of G3BP1, promoting and inhibiting SG formation, respectively. Herein, we present the crystal structure of G3BP1-NTF2 in complex with a Caprin-1-derived short linear motif (SLiM). Caprin-1 interacts with His-31 and His-62 within a third NTF2-binding site outside those covered by USP10, as confirmed using biochemical and biophysical-binding assays. Nano-differential scanning fluorimetry revealed reduced thermal stability of G3BP1-NTF2 at acidic pH. This destabilization was counterbalanced significantly better by bound USP10 than Caprin-1. The G3BP1/USP10 complex immunoprecipated from human U2OS cells was more resistant to acidic buffer washes than G3BP1/Caprin-1. Acidification of cellular condensates by approximately 0.5 units relative to the cytosol was detected by ratiometric fluorescence analysis of pHluorin2 fused to G3BP1. Cells expressing a Caprin-1/FGDF chimera with higher G3BP1-binding affinity had reduced Caprin-1 levels and slightly reduced condensate sizes. This unexpected finding may suggest that binding of the USP10-derived SLiM to NTF2 reduces the propensity of G3BP1 to enter condensates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tim Schulte
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, and Division of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, 171 77, Sweden
| | - Marc D. Panas
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, 171 77, Sweden
| | - Xiao Han
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, and Division of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, 171 77, Sweden
| | - Lucy Williams
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, 171 77, Sweden
| | - Nancy Kedersha
- Division of Rheumatology, Immunity, and Inflammation, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Harvard Medical School Initiative for RNA Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jonas Simon Fleck
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, and Division of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, 171 77, Sweden
| | - Timothy J. C. Tan
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, 171 77, Sweden
| | - Xaquin Castro Dopico
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, 171 77, Sweden
| | - Anders Olsson
- Protein Expression and Characterization, AlbaNova University Center, Royal Institute of Technology, 114 21, Stockholm
| | - Ainhoa Moliner Morro
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, 171 77, Sweden
| | - Leo Hanke
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, 171 77, Sweden
| | - Johan Nilvebrant
- Division of Protein Engineering, Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, AlbaNova University Center, Royal Institute of Technology, 114 21, Stockholm
- Science for Life Laboratory, Tomtebodavägen 23A, 171 65, Sweden
| | - Kim Anh Giang
- Division of Protein Engineering, Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, AlbaNova University Center, Royal Institute of Technology, 114 21, Stockholm
- Science for Life Laboratory, Tomtebodavägen 23A, 171 65, Sweden
| | - Per-Åke Nygren
- Division of Protein Engineering, Department of Protein Science, School of Engineering Sciences in Chemistry, Biotechnology and Health, AlbaNova University Center, Royal Institute of Technology, 114 21, Stockholm
- Science for Life Laboratory, Tomtebodavägen 23A, 171 65, Sweden
| | - Paul Anderson
- Division of Rheumatology, Immunity, and Inflammation, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Harvard Medical School Initiative for RNA Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Adnane Achour
- Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medicine Solna, Karolinska Institutet, and Division of Infectious Diseases, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, 171 77, Sweden
| | - Gerald M. McInerney
- Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, 171 77, Sweden
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34
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Farshad M, DelloStritto MJ, Suma A, Carnevale V. Detecting Liquid-Liquid Phase Separations Using Molecular Dynamics Simulations and Spectral Clustering. J Phys Chem B 2023; 127:3682-3689. [PMID: 37053472 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.3c00805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/15/2023]
Abstract
A stringent test of the accuracy of empirical force fields is reproducing the phase diagram of bulk phases and mixtures. Exploring the phase diagram of mixtures requires the detection of phase boundaries and critical points. In contrast to most solid-liquid transitions, in which a global order parameter (average density) can be used to discriminate between two phases, some demixing transitions entail relatively subtle changes in the local environment of each molecule. In such cases, finite sampling errors and finite-size effects make the identification of trends in local order parameters extremely challenging. Here we analyze one such example, namely a methanol/hexane mixture, and compute several local and global structural properties. We simulate the system at various temperatures and study the structural changes associated with demixing. We show that despite a seemingly continuous transformation between mixed and demixed states, the topological properties of the H-bond network change abruptly as the system crosses the demixing line. In particular, by using spectral clustering, we show that the distribution of cluster sizes develops a fat tail (as expected from percolation theory) in the vicinity of the critical point. We illustrate a simple criterion to identify this behavior, which results from the emergence of large system-spanning clusters from a collection of aggregates. We further tested the spectral clustering analysis on a Lennard-Jones system as a standard example of a system with no H-bonds, and also, in this case, we were able to detect the demixing transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohsen Farshad
- Institute for Computational Molecular Science, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, United States
| | - Mark J DelloStritto
- Institute for Computational Molecular Science, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, United States
- Department of Chemistry, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, United States
| | - Antonio Suma
- Institute for Computational Molecular Science, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, United States
- Dipartimento di Fisica, Università di Bari, 70121 Bari, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Carnevale
- Institute for Computational Molecular Science, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, United States
- Institute for Genomics and Evolutionary Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, United States
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19122, United States
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35
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Di Nunzio F, Uversky VN, Mouland AJ. Biomolecular condensates: insights into early and late steps of the HIV-1 replication cycle. Retrovirology 2023; 20:4. [PMID: 37029379 PMCID: PMC10081342 DOI: 10.1186/s12977-023-00619-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 04/09/2023] Open
Abstract
A rapidly evolving understanding of phase separation in the biological and physical sciences has led to the redefining of virus-engineered replication compartments in many viruses with RNA genomes. Condensation of viral, host and genomic and subgenomic RNAs can take place to evade the innate immunity response and to help viral replication. Divergent viruses prompt liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) to invade the host cell. During HIV replication there are several steps involving LLPS. In this review, we characterize the ability of individual viral and host partners that assemble into biomolecular condensates (BMCs). Of note, bioinformatic analyses predict models of phase separation in line with several published observations. Importantly, viral BMCs contribute to function in key steps retroviral replication. For example, reverse transcription takes place within nuclear BMCs, called HIV-MLOs while during late replication steps, retroviral nucleocapsid acts as a driver or scaffold to recruit client viral components to aid the assembly of progeny virions. Overall, LLPS during viral infections represents a newly described biological event now appreciated in the virology field, that can also be considered as an alternative pharmacological target to current drug therapies especially when viruses become resistant to antiviral treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Di Nunzio
- Advanced Molecular Virology Unit, Department of Virology, Institut Pasteur, Université Paris Cité, 75015, Paris, France
| | - Vladimir N Uversky
- Department of Molecular Medicine and USF Health Byrd Alzheimer's Research Institute, Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA
| | - Andrew J Mouland
- Lady Davis Institute at the Jewish General Hospital, Montréal, QC, H3T 1E2, Canada.
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H3A 2B4, Canada.
- Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada.
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36
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Monterroso B, Robles-Ramos MÁ, Sobrinos-Sanguino M, Luque-Ortega JR, Alfonso C, Margolin W, Rivas G, Zorrilla S. Bacterial division ring stabilizing ZapA versus destabilizing SlmA modulate FtsZ switching between biomolecular condensates and polymers. Open Biol 2023; 13:220324. [PMID: 36854378 PMCID: PMC9974302 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.220324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Cytokinesis is a fundamental process for bacterial survival and proliferation, involving the formation of a ring by filaments of the GTPase FtsZ, spatio-temporally regulated through the coordinated action of several factors. The mechanisms of this regulation remain largely unsolved, but the inhibition of FtsZ polymerization by the nucleoid occlusion factor SlmA and filament stabilization by the widely conserved cross-linking protein ZapA are known to play key roles. It was recently described that FtsZ, SlmA and its target DNA sequences (SlmA-binding sequence (SBS)) form phase-separated biomolecular condensates, a type of structure associated with cellular compartmentalization and resistance to stress. Using biochemical reconstitution and orthogonal biophysical approaches, we show that FtsZ-SlmA-SBS condensates captured ZapA in crowding conditions and when encapsulated inside cell-like microfluidics microdroplets. We found that, through non-competitive binding, the nucleotide-dependent FtsZ condensate/polymer interconversion was regulated by the ZapA/SlmA ratio. This suggests a highly concentration-responsive tuning of the interconversion that favours FtsZ polymer stabilization by ZapA under conditions mimicking intracellular crowding. These results highlight the importance of biomolecular condensates as concentration hubs for bacterial division factors, which can provide clues to their role in cell function and bacterial survival of stress conditions, such as those generated by antibiotic treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Begoña Monterroso
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Miguel Ángel Robles-Ramos
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Sobrinos-Sanguino
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 28040 Madrid, Spain
- Molecular Interactions Facility, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan Román Luque-Ortega
- Molecular Interactions Facility, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Carlos Alfonso
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - William Margolin
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, McGovern Medical School, UTHealth-Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Germán Rivas
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 28040 Madrid, Spain
| | - Silvia Zorrilla
- Department of Structural and Chemical Biology, Centro de Investigaciones Biológicas Margarita Salas, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), 28040 Madrid, Spain
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Boeynaems S, Chong S, Gsponer J, Holt L, Milovanovic D, Mitrea DM, Mueller-Cajar O, Portz B, Reilly JF, Reinkemeier CD, Sabari BR, Sanulli S, Shorter J, Sontag E, Strader L, Stachowiak J, Weber SC, White M, Zhang H, Zweckstetter M, Elbaum-Garfinkle S, Kriwacki R. Phase Separation in Biology and Disease; Current Perspectives and Open Questions. J Mol Biol 2023; 435:167971. [PMID: 36690068 PMCID: PMC9970028 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2023.167971] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
In the past almost 15 years, we witnessed the birth of a new scientific field focused on the existence, formation, biological functions, and disease associations of membraneless bodies in cells, now referred to as biomolecular condensates. Pioneering studies from several laboratories [reviewed in1-3] supported a model wherein biomolecular condensates associated with diverse biological processes form through the process of phase separation. These and other findings that followed have revolutionized our understanding of how biomolecules are organized in space and time within cells to perform myriad biological functions, including cell fate determination, signal transduction, endocytosis, regulation of gene expression and protein translation, and regulation of RNA metabolism. Further, condensates formed through aberrant phase transitions have been associated with numerous human diseases, prominently including neurodegeneration and cancer. While in some cases, rigorous evidence supports links between formation of biomolecular condensates through phase separation and biological functions, in many others such links are less robustly supported, which has led to rightful scrutiny of the generality of the roles of phase separation in biology and disease.4-7 During a week-long workshop in March 2022 at the Telluride Science Research Center (TSRC) in Telluride, Colorado, ∼25 scientists addressed key questions surrounding the biomolecular condensates field. Herein, we present insights gained through these discussions, addressing topics including, roles of condensates in diverse biological processes and systems, and normal and disease cell states, their applications to synthetic biology, and the potential for therapeutically targeting biomolecular condensates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Boeynaems
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Therapeutic Innovation Center (THINC), Center for Alzheimer’s and Neurodegenerative Diseases (CAND), Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center (DLDCCC), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA and Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Shasha Chong
- Division of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125
| | - Jörg Gsponer
- Michael Smith Laboratories, Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Liam Holt
- New York University School of Medicine, Institute for Systems Genetics, New York, NY 10016
| | - Drago Milovanovic
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuroscience, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 10117 Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Oliver Mueller-Cajar
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 637551
| | | | | | | | - Benjamin R. Sabari
- Laboratory of Nuclear Organization, Cecil H. and Ida Green Center for Reproductive Biology Sciences, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Serena Sanulli
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA 94304
| | - James Shorter
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Emily Sontag
- Department of Biological Sciences, Marquette University, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
| | - Lucia Strader
- Department of Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708 USA
| | - Jeanne Stachowiak
- University of Texas at Austin, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Austin, TX, USA
| | | | | | - Huaiying Zhang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Mellon College of Science, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15213
| | - Markus Zweckstetter
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Von-Siebold-Str. 3a, 37075 Göttingen, Germany; Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, Department of NMR-based Structural Biology, Am Fassberg 11, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Shana Elbaum-Garfinkle
- Department of Biochemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York, New York, NY and Structural Biology Initiative, Advanced Science Research Center, City University of New York, New York, NY
| | - Richard Kriwacki
- Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee and Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Biochemistry, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, Tennessee
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Escudero-Pérez B, Lalande A, Mathieu C, Lawrence P. Host–Pathogen Interactions Influencing Zoonotic Spillover Potential and Transmission in Humans. Viruses 2023; 15:v15030599. [PMID: 36992308 PMCID: PMC10060007 DOI: 10.3390/v15030599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Revised: 02/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Emerging infectious diseases of zoonotic origin are an ever-increasing public health risk and economic burden. The factors that determine if and when an animal virus is able to spill over into the human population with sufficient success to achieve ongoing transmission in humans are complex and dynamic. We are currently unable to fully predict which pathogens may appear in humans, where and with what impact. In this review, we highlight current knowledge of the key host–pathogen interactions known to influence zoonotic spillover potential and transmission in humans, with a particular focus on two important human viruses of zoonotic origin, the Nipah virus and the Ebola virus. Namely, key factors determining spillover potential include cellular and tissue tropism, as well as the virulence and pathogenic characteristics of the pathogen and the capacity of the pathogen to adapt and evolve within a novel host environment. We also detail our emerging understanding of the importance of steric hindrance of host cell factors by viral proteins using a “flytrap”-type mechanism of protein amyloidogenesis that could be crucial in developing future antiviral therapies against emerging pathogens. Finally, we discuss strategies to prepare for and to reduce the frequency of zoonotic spillover occurrences in order to minimize the risk of new outbreaks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Escudero-Pérez
- WHO Collaborating Centre for Arbovirus and Haemorrhagic Fever Reference and Research, Bernhard Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, 20359 Hamburg, Germany
- German Center for Infection Research (DZIF), Partner Site Hamburg-Luebeck-Borstel-Reims, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Alexandre Lalande
- CIRI (Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie), Team Neuro-Invasion, TROpism and VIRal Encephalitis, INSERM U1111, CNRS UMR5308, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, 69007 Lyon, France
| | - Cyrille Mathieu
- CIRI (Centre International de Recherche en Infectiologie), Team Neuro-Invasion, TROpism and VIRal Encephalitis, INSERM U1111, CNRS UMR5308, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Ecole Normale Supérieure de Lyon, 69007 Lyon, France
| | - Philip Lawrence
- CONFLUENCE: Sciences et Humanités (EA 1598), Université Catholique de Lyon (UCLy), 69002 Lyon, France
- Correspondence:
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Fare CM, Rhine K, Lam A, Myong S, Shorter J. A minimal construct of nuclear-import receptor Karyopherin-β2 defines the regions critical for chaperone and disaggregation activity. J Biol Chem 2023; 299:102806. [PMID: 36529289 PMCID: PMC9860449 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Karyopherin-β2 (Kapβ2) is a nuclear-import receptor that recognizes proline-tyrosine nuclear localization signals of diverse cytoplasmic cargo for transport to the nucleus. Kapβ2 cargo includes several disease-linked RNA-binding proteins with prion-like domains, such as FUS, TAF15, EWSR1, hnRNPA1, and hnRNPA2. These RNA-binding proteins with prion-like domains are linked via pathology and genetics to debilitating degenerative disorders, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, frontotemporal dementia, and multisystem proteinopathy. Remarkably, Kapβ2 prevents and reverses aberrant phase transitions of these cargoes, which is cytoprotective. However, the molecular determinants of Kapβ2 that enable these activities remain poorly understood, particularly from the standpoint of nuclear-import receptor architecture. Kapβ2 is a super-helical protein comprised of 20 HEAT repeats. Here, we design truncated variants of Kapβ2 and assess their ability to antagonize FUS aggregation and toxicity in yeast and FUS condensation at the pure protein level and in human cells. We find that HEAT repeats 8 to 20 of Kapβ2 recapitulate all salient features of Kapβ2 activity. By contrast, Kapβ2 truncations lacking even a single cargo-binding HEAT repeat display reduced activity. Thus, we define a minimal Kapβ2 construct for delivery in adeno-associated viruses as a potential therapeutic for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis/frontotemporal dementia, multisystem proteinopathy, and related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charlotte M Fare
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics Graduate Group, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Kevin Rhine
- Program in Cell, Molecular, Developmental Biology, and Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Andrew Lam
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Sua Myong
- Program in Cell, Molecular, Developmental Biology, and Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Department of Biophysics, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - James Shorter
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics Graduate Group, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
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40
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From the Catastrophic Objective Irreproducibility of Cancer Research and Unavoidable Failures of Molecular Targeted Therapies to the Sparkling Hope of Supramolecular Targeted Strategies. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24032796. [PMID: 36769134 PMCID: PMC9917659 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24032796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 01/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The unprecedented non-reproducibility of the results published in the field of cancer research has recently come under the spotlight. In this short review, we try to highlight some general principles in the organization and evolution of cancerous tumors, which objectively lead to their enormous variability and, consequently, the irreproducibility of the results of their investigation. This heterogeneity is also extremely unfavorable for the effective use of molecularly targeted medicine. Against the seemingly comprehensive background of this heterogeneity, we single out two supramolecular characteristics common to all tumors: the clustered nature of tumor interactions with their microenvironment and the formation of biomolecular condensates with tumor-specific distinctive features. We suggest that these features can form the basis of strategies for tumor-specific supramolecular targeted therapies.
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Zhorabek F, Abesekara MS, Liu J, Dai X, Huang J, Chau Y. Construction of multiphasic membraneless organelles towards spontaneous spatial segregation and directional flow of biochemical reactions. Chem Sci 2023; 14:801-811. [PMID: 36755726 PMCID: PMC9890938 DOI: 10.1039/d2sc05438h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Many intracellular membraneless organelles (MLOs) appear to adapt a hierarchical multicompartment organization for efficient coordination of highly complex reaction networks. Recapitulating such an internal architecture in biomimetic platforms is, therefore, an important step to facilitate the functional understanding of MLOs and to enable the design of advanced microreactors. Herein, we present a modular bottom-up approach for building synthetic multiphasic condensates using a set of engineered multivalent polymer-oligopeptide hybrids. These hybrid constructs exhibit dynamic phase separation behaviour generating membraneless droplets with a subdivided interior featuring distinct chemical and physical properties, whereby a range of functional biomolecules can be spontaneously enriched and spatially segregated. The platform also attains separated confinement of transcription and translation reactions in proximal compartments, while allowing inter-compartment communication via a directional flow of reactants. With advanced structural and functional features attained, this system can be of great value as a MLO model and as a cell-free system for multiplex chemical biosynthesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fariza Zhorabek
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Clear Water Bay, Kowloon Hong Kong SAR China
| | - Manisha Sandupama Abesekara
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Clear Water Bay, Kowloon Hong Kong SAR China
| | - Jianhui Liu
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Clear Water Bay, Kowloon Hong Kong SAR China
| | - Xin Dai
- Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong University of Science and TechnologyClear Water Bay, KowloonHong Kong SARChina
| | - Jinqing Huang
- Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong University of Science and TechnologyClear Water Bay, KowloonHong Kong SARChina
| | - Ying Chau
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Clear Water Bay, Kowloon Hong Kong SAR China
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Thomas L, Putnam A, Folkmann A. Germ granules in development. Development 2023; 150:286764. [PMID: 36715566 PMCID: PMC10165536 DOI: 10.1242/dev.201037] [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] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
A hallmark of all germ cells is the presence of germ granules: assemblies of proteins and RNA that lack a delineating membrane and are proposed to form via condensation. Germ granules across organisms share several conserved components, including factors required for germ cell fate determination and maintenance, and are thought to be linked to germ cell development. The molecular functions of germ granules, however, remain incompletely understood. In this Development at a Glance article, we survey germ granules across organisms and developmental stages, and highlight emerging themes regarding granule regulation, dynamics and proposed functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Thomas
- HHMI and Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Andrea Putnam
- HHMI and Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Andrew Folkmann
- HHMI and Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
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43
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Heterotypic electrostatic interactions control complex phase separation of tau and prion into multiphasic condensates and co-aggregates. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2216338120. [PMID: 36595668 PMCID: PMC9986828 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2216338120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Biomolecular condensates formed via phase separation of proteins and nucleic acids are thought to perform a wide range of critical cellular functions by maintaining spatiotemporal regulation and organizing intracellular biochemistry. However, aberrant phase transitions are implicated in a multitude of human diseases. Here, we demonstrate that two neuronal proteins, namely tau and prion, undergo complex coacervation driven by domain-specific electrostatic interactions to yield highly dynamic, mesoscopic liquid-like droplets. The acidic N-terminal segment of tau interacts electrostatically with the polybasic N-terminal intrinsically disordered segment of the prion protein (PrP). We employed a unique combination of time-resolved tools that encompass several orders of magnitude of timescales ranging from nanoseconds to seconds. These studies unveil an intriguing symphony of molecular events associated with the formation of heterotypic condensates comprising ephemeral, domain-specific, short-range electrostatic nanoclusters. Our results reveal that these heterotypic condensates can be tuned by RNA in a stoichiometry-dependent manner resulting in reversible, multiphasic, immiscible, and ternary condensates of different morphologies ranging from core-shell to nested droplets. This ternary system exhibits a typical three-regime phase behavior reminiscent of other membraneless organelles including nucleolar condensates. We also show that upon aging, tau:PrP droplets gradually convert into solid-like co-assemblies by sequestration of persistent intermolecular interactions. Our vibrational Raman results in conjunction with atomic force microscopy and multi-color fluorescence imaging reveal the presence of amorphous and amyloid-like co-aggregates upon maturation. Our findings provide mechanistic underpinnings of overlapping neuropathology involving tau and PrP and highlight a broader biological role of complex phase transitions in physiology and disease.
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44
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Girard M. On kinetics and extreme values in systems with random interactions. Phys Biol 2022; 20. [PMID: 36537016 DOI: 10.1088/1478-3975/aca9b2] [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: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Biological environments such as the cytoplasm are comprised of many different molecules, which makes explicit modeling intractable. In the spirit of Wigner, one may be tempted to assume interactions to derive from a random distribution. Via this approximation, the system can be efficiently treated in the mean-field, and general statements about expected behavior of such systems can be made. Here, I study systems of particles interacting via random potentials, outside of mean-field approximations. These systems exhibit a phase transition temperature, under which part of the components precipitate. The nature of this transition appears to be non-universal, and to depend intimately on the underlying distribution of interactions. Above the phase transition temperature, the system can be efficiently treated using a Bethe approximation, which shows a dependence on extreme value statistics. Relaxation timescales of this system tend to be slow, but can be made arbitrarily fast by increasing the number of neighbors of each particle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Girard
- Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research, Ackermannweg 10, Mainz 55128, Germany
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45
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Functional benefit of structural disorder for the replication of measles, Nipah and Hendra viruses. Essays Biochem 2022; 66:915-934. [PMID: 36148633 DOI: 10.1042/ebc20220045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Measles, Nipah and Hendra viruses are severe human pathogens within the Paramyxoviridae family. Their non-segmented, single-stranded, negative-sense RNA genome is encapsidated by the nucleoprotein (N) within a helical nucleocapsid that is the substrate used by the viral RNA-dependent-RNA-polymerase (RpRd) for transcription and replication. The RpRd is a complex made of the large protein (L) and of the phosphoprotein (P), the latter serving as an obligate polymerase cofactor and as a chaperon for N. Both the N and P proteins are enriched in intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs), i.e. regions devoid of stable secondary and tertiary structure. N possesses a C-terminal IDR (NTAIL), while P consists of a large, intrinsically disordered N-terminal domain (NTD) and a C-terminal domain (CTD) encompassing alternating disordered and ordered regions. The V and W proteins, two non-structural proteins that are encoded by the P gene via a mechanism of co-transcriptional edition of the P mRNA, are prevalently disordered too, sharing with P the disordered NTD. They are key players in the evasion of the host antiviral response and were shown to phase separate and to form amyloid-like fibrils in vitro. In this review, we summarize the available information on IDRs within the N, P, V and W proteins from these three model paramyxoviruses and describe their molecular partnership. We discuss the functional benefit of disorder to virus replication in light of the critical role of IDRs in affording promiscuity, multifunctionality, fine regulation of interaction strength, scaffolding functions and in promoting liquid-liquid phase separation and fibrillation.
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46
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Latham AP, Zhang B. Molecular Determinants for the Layering and Coarsening of Biological Condensates. AGGREGATE (HOBOKEN, N.J.) 2022; 3:e306. [PMID: 37065433 PMCID: PMC10101022 DOI: 10.1002/agt2.306] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/18/2023]
Abstract
Many membraneless organelles, or biological condensates, form through phase separation, and play key roles in signal sensing and transcriptional regulation. While the functional importance of these condensates has inspired many studies to characterize their stability and spatial organization, the underlying principles that dictate these emergent properties are still being uncovered. In this review, we examine recent work on biological condensates, especially multicomponent systems. We focus on connecting molecular factors such as binding energy, valency, and stoichiometry with the interfacial tension, explaining the nontrivial interior organization in many condensates. We further discuss mechanisms that arrest condensate coalescence by lowering the surface tension or introducing kinetic barriers to stabilize the multidroplet state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew P Latham
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Chemistry, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 02139
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Donau C, Späth F, Stasi M, Bergmann AM, Boekhoven J. Phase Transitions in Chemically Fueled, Multiphase Complex Coacervate Droplets. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2022; 61:e202211905. [PMID: 36067054 PMCID: PMC9828839 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202211905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Membraneless organelles are droplets in the cytosol that are regulated by chemical reactions. Increasing studies suggest that they are internally organized. However, how these subcompartments are regulated remains elusive. Herein, we describe a complex coacervate-based model composed of two polyanions and a short peptide. With a chemical reaction cycle, we control the affinity of the peptide for the polyelectrolytes leading to distinct regimes inside the phase diagram. We study the transitions from one regime to another and identify new transitions that can only occur under kinetic control. Finally, we show that the chemical reaction cycle controls the liquidity of the droplets offering insights into how active processes inside cells play an important role in tuning the liquid state of membraneless organelles. Our work demonstrates that not only thermodynamic properties but also kinetics should be considered in the organization of multiple phases in droplets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carsten Donau
- Department of ChemistryTechnical University of MunichLichtenbergstrasse 485748GarchingGermany
| | - Fabian Späth
- Department of ChemistryTechnical University of MunichLichtenbergstrasse 485748GarchingGermany
| | - Michele Stasi
- Department of ChemistryTechnical University of MunichLichtenbergstrasse 485748GarchingGermany
| | - Alexander M. Bergmann
- Department of ChemistryTechnical University of MunichLichtenbergstrasse 485748GarchingGermany
| | - Job Boekhoven
- Department of ChemistryTechnical University of MunichLichtenbergstrasse 485748GarchingGermany
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48
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Wen Y, Ma J. Phase separation drives the formation of biomolecular condensates in the immune system. Front Immunol 2022; 13:986589. [PMID: 36439121 PMCID: PMC9685520 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.986589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 08/12/2023] Open
Abstract
When the external conditions change, such as the temperature or the pressure, the multi-component system sometimes separates into several phases with different components and structures, which is called phase separation. Increasing studies have shown that cells condense related biomolecules into independent compartments in order to carry out orderly and efficient biological reactions with the help of phase separation. Biomolecular condensates formed by phase separation play a significant role in a variety of cellular processes, including the control of signal transduction, the regulation of gene expression, and the stress response. In recent years, many phase separation events have been discovered in the immune response process. In this review, we provided a comprehensive and detailed overview of the role and mechanism of phase separation in the innate and adaptive immune responses, which will help the readers to appreciate the advance and importance of this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqing Wen
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Hunan Cancer Hospital and The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Cancer Research Institute and School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Hunan Key Laboratory of Nonresolving Inflammation and Cancer, Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism, Changsha, China
| | - Jian Ma
- NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis, Hunan Cancer Hospital and The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Cancer Research Institute and School of Basic Medical Science, Central South University, Changsha, China
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Hunan Key Laboratory of Nonresolving Inflammation and Cancer, Hunan Key Laboratory of Cancer Metabolism, Changsha, China
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Mitrea DM, Mittasch M, Gomes BF, Klein IA, Murcko MA. Modulating biomolecular condensates: a novel approach to drug discovery. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2022; 21:841-862. [PMID: 35974095 PMCID: PMC9380678 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-022-00505-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
In the past decade, membraneless assemblies known as biomolecular condensates have been reported to play key roles in many cellular functions by compartmentalizing specific proteins and nucleic acids in subcellular environments with distinct properties. Furthermore, growing evidence supports the view that biomolecular condensates often form by phase separation, in which a single-phase system demixes into a two-phase system consisting of a condensed phase and a dilute phase of particular biomolecules. Emerging understanding of condensate function in normal and aberrant cellular states, and of the mechanisms of condensate formation, is providing new insights into human disease and revealing novel therapeutic opportunities. In this Perspective, we propose that such insights could enable a previously unexplored drug discovery approach based on identifying condensate-modifying therapeutics (c-mods), and we discuss the strategies, techniques and challenges involved.
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Alemasova EE, Lavrik OI. A sePARate phase? Poly(ADP-ribose) versus RNA in the organization of biomolecular condensates. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:10817-10838. [PMID: 36243979 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 09/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Condensates are biomolecular assemblies that concentrate biomolecules without the help of membranes. They are morphologically highly versatile and may emerge via distinct mechanisms. Nucleic acids-DNA, RNA and poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR) play special roles in the process of condensate organization. These polymeric scaffolds provide multiple specific and nonspecific interactions during nucleation and 'development' of macromolecular assemblages. In this review, we focus on condensates formed with PAR. We discuss to what extent the literature supports the phase separation origin of these structures. Special attention is paid to similarities and differences between PAR and RNA in the process of dynamic restructuring of condensates during their functioning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elizaveta E Alemasova
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
| | - Olga I Lavrik
- Institute of Chemical Biology and Fundamental Medicine, SB RAS, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia.,Novosibirsk State University, Novosibirsk 630090, Russia
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