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Norrild RK, Mason TO, Boyens-Thiele L, Ray S, Mortensen JB, Fritsch AW, Iglesias-Artola JM, Klausen LK, Stender EGP, Jensen H, Buell AK. Taylor Dispersion-Induced Phase Separation for the Efficient Characterisation of Protein Condensate Formation. Angew Chem Int Ed Engl 2024:e202404018. [PMID: 38593269 DOI: 10.1002/anie.202404018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2024] [Revised: 04/08/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
Biomolecular condensates have emerged as important structures in cellular function and disease, and are thought to form through liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). Thorough and efficient in vitro experiments are therefore needed to elucidate the driving forces of protein LLPS and the possibility to modulate it with drugs. Here we present Taylor dispersion-induced phase separation (TDIPS), a method to robustly measure condensation phenomena using a commercially available microfluidic platform. It uses only nanoliters of sample, does not require extrinsic fluorescent labels, and is straightforward to implement. We demonstrate TDIPS by screening the phase behaviour of two proteins that form biomolecular condensates in vivo, PGL-3 and Ddx4. Uniquely accessible to this method, we find an unexpected re-entrant behaviour at very low ionic strength, where LLPS is inhibited for both proteins. TDIPS can also probe the reversibility of assemblies, which was shown for both α-synuclein and for lysozyme, relevant for health and biotechnology, respectively. Finally, we highlight how effective inhibition concentrations and partitioning of LLPS-modifying compounds can be screened highly efficiently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rasmus K Norrild
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Søltofts Plads, Building 227, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Thomas O Mason
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Søltofts Plads, Building 227, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Lars Boyens-Thiele
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Søltofts Plads, Building 227, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Soumik Ray
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Søltofts Plads, Building 227, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Joachim B Mortensen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Søltofts Plads, Building 227, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Anatol W Fritsch
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstraße 108, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Juan M Iglesias-Artola
- Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Pfotenhauerstraße 108, 01307, Dresden, Germany
| | - Louise K Klausen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Søltofts Plads, Building 227, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | - Henrik Jensen
- FIDA Biosystems Aps, Generatorvej 6 A+B, 2860, Søborg, Denmark
| | - Alexander K Buell
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Søltofts Plads, Building 227, 2800, Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
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Ray S, Mason TO, Boyens-Thiele L, Farzadfard A, Larsen JA, Norrild RK, Jahnke N, Buell AK. Mass photometric detection and quantification of nanoscale α-synuclein phase separation. Nat Chem 2023; 15:1306-1316. [PMID: 37337111 DOI: 10.1038/s41557-023-01244-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/19/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Protein liquid-liquid phase separation can lead to disease-related amyloid fibril formation. The mechanisms of conversion of monomeric protein into condensate droplets and of the latter into fibrils remain elusive. Here, using mass photometry, we demonstrate that the Parkinson's disease-related protein, α-synuclein, can form dynamic nanoscale clusters at physiologically relevant, sub-saturated concentrations. Nanoclusters nucleate in bulk solution and promote amyloid fibril formation of the dilute-phase monomers upon ageing. Their formation is instantaneous, even under conditions where macroscopic assemblies appear only after several days. The slow growth of the nanoclusters can be attributed to a kinetic barrier, probably due to an interfacial penalty from the charged C terminus of α-synuclein. Our findings reveal that α-synuclein phase separation occurs at much wider ranges of solution conditions than reported so far. Importantly, we establish mass photometry as a promising methodology to detect and quantify nanoscale precursors of phase separation. We also demonstrate its general applicability by probing the existence of nanoclusters of a non-amyloidogenic protein, Ddx4n1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soumik Ray
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Thomas O Mason
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Lars Boyens-Thiele
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Azad Farzadfard
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jacob Aunstrup Larsen
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Rasmus K Norrild
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Nadin Jahnke
- Novo Nordisk A/S, Novo Nordisk Park, Måløv, Denmark
| | - Alexander K Buell
- Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark.
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Sternke-Hoffmann R, Pauly T, Norrild RK, Hansen J, Tucholski F, Høie MH, Marcatili P, Dupré M, Duchateau M, Rey M, Malosse C, Metzger S, Boquoi A, Platten F, Egelhaaf SU, Chamot-Rooke J, Fenk R, Nagel-Steger L, Haas R, Buell AK. Widespread amyloidogenicity potential of multiple myeloma patient-derived immunoglobulin light chains. BMC Biol 2023; 21:21. [PMID: 36737754 PMCID: PMC9898917 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-022-01506-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2022] [Accepted: 12/15/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In a range of human disorders such as multiple myeloma (MM), immunoglobulin light chains (IgLCs) can be produced at very high concentrations. This can lead to pathological aggregation and deposition of IgLCs in different tissues, which in turn leads to severe and potentially fatal organ damage. However, IgLCs can also be highly soluble and non-toxic. It is generally thought that the cause for this differential solubility behaviour is solely found within the IgLC amino acid sequences, and a variety of individual sequence-related biophysical properties (e.g. thermal stability, dimerisation) have been proposed in different studies as major determinants of the aggregation in vivo. Here, we investigate biophysical properties underlying IgLC amyloidogenicity. RESULTS We introduce a novel and systematic workflow, Thermodynamic and Aggregation Fingerprinting (ThAgg-Fip), for detailed biophysical characterisation, and apply it to nine different MM patient-derived IgLCs. Our set of pathogenic IgLCs spans the entire range of values in those parameters previously proposed to define in vivo amyloidogenicity; however, none actually forms amyloid in patients. Even more surprisingly, we were able to show that all our IgLCs are able to form amyloid fibrils readily in vitro under the influence of proteolytic cleavage by co-purified cathepsins. CONCLUSIONS We show that (I) in vivo aggregation behaviour is unlikely to be mechanistically linked to any single biophysical or biochemical parameter and (II) amyloidogenic potential is widespread in IgLC sequences and is not confined to those sequences that form amyloid fibrils in patients. Our findings suggest that protein sequence, environmental conditions and presence and action of proteases all determine the ability of light chains to form amyloid fibrils in patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Sternke-Hoffmann
- grid.411327.20000 0001 2176 9917Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany ,grid.5991.40000 0001 1090 7501Department of Biology and Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institute, Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Thomas Pauly
- grid.411327.20000 0001 2176 9917Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany ,grid.8385.60000 0001 2297 375XForschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, IBI-7, Jülich, Germany
| | - Rasmus K. Norrild
- grid.5170.30000 0001 2181 8870Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jan Hansen
- grid.411327.20000 0001 2176 9917Condensed Matter Physics Laboratory, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Florian Tucholski
- grid.411327.20000 0001 2176 9917Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Magnus Haraldson Høie
- grid.5170.30000 0001 2181 8870Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Paolo Marcatili
- grid.5170.30000 0001 2181 8870Department of Health Technology, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Mathieu Dupré
- grid.428999.70000 0001 2353 6535Mass Spectrometry for Biology Unit, CNRS USR2000, Institut Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Magalie Duchateau
- grid.428999.70000 0001 2353 6535Mass Spectrometry for Biology Unit, CNRS USR2000, Institut Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Martial Rey
- grid.428999.70000 0001 2353 6535Mass Spectrometry for Biology Unit, CNRS USR2000, Institut Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Christian Malosse
- grid.428999.70000 0001 2353 6535Mass Spectrometry for Biology Unit, CNRS USR2000, Institut Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Sabine Metzger
- grid.6190.e0000 0000 8580 3777Cologne Biocenter, Cluster of Excellence on Plant Sciences, Mass Spectrometry Platform, University of Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - Amelie Boquoi
- grid.411327.20000 0001 2176 9917Department of Hematology, Oncology and Clinical Oncology, Heinrich-Heine Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Florian Platten
- grid.411327.20000 0001 2176 9917Condensed Matter Physics Laboratory, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany ,grid.8385.60000 0001 2297 375XForschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, IBI-4, Jülich, Germany
| | - Stefan U. Egelhaaf
- grid.411327.20000 0001 2176 9917Condensed Matter Physics Laboratory, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Julia Chamot-Rooke
- grid.428999.70000 0001 2353 6535Mass Spectrometry for Biology Unit, CNRS USR2000, Institut Pasteur, 75015 Paris, France
| | - Roland Fenk
- grid.411327.20000 0001 2176 9917Department of Hematology, Oncology and Clinical Oncology, Heinrich-Heine Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Luitgard Nagel-Steger
- grid.411327.20000 0001 2176 9917Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany ,grid.8385.60000 0001 2297 375XForschungszentrum Jülich GmbH, IBI-7, Jülich, Germany
| | - Rainer Haas
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Clinical Oncology, Heinrich-Heine Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany.
| | - Alexander K. Buell
- grid.411327.20000 0001 2176 9917Institut für Physikalische Biologie, Heinrich-Heine-Universität Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany ,grid.5170.30000 0001 2181 8870Department of Biotechnology and Biomedicine, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
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Norrild RK, Vettore N, Coden A, Xue WF, Buell AK. Corrigendum to “Thermodynamics of amyloid fibril formation from non-equilibrium experiments of growth and dissociation” [Biophysical Chemistry 271 (2021) 106549]. Biophys Chem 2022; 283:106764. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bpc.2022.106764] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Bjerre B, Nissen J, Madsen M, Fahrig-Kamarauskaitė J, Norrild RK, Holm PC, Nordentoft MK, O'Shea C, Willemoës M, Johansson KE, Winther JR. Improving folding properties of computationally designed proteins. Protein Eng Des Sel 2019; 32:145-151. [PMID: 31553452 DOI: 10.1093/protein/gzz025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2019] [Revised: 06/28/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
While the field of computational protein design has witnessed amazing progression in recent years, folding properties still constitute a significant barrier towards designing new and larger proteins. In order to assess and improve folding properties of designed proteins, we have developed a genetics-based folding assay and selection system based on the essential enzyme, orotate phosphoribosyl transferase from Escherichia coli. This system allows for both screening of candidate designs with good folding properties and genetic selection of improved designs. Thus, we identified single amino acid substitutions in two failed designs that rescued poorly folding and unstable proteins. Furthermore, when these substitutions were transferred into a well-structured design featuring a complex folding profile, the resulting protein exhibited native-like cooperative folding with significantly improved stability. In protein design, a single amino acid can make the difference between folding and misfolding, and this approach provides a useful new platform to identify and improve candidate designs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Bjerre
- The Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Section for Biomolecular Sciences, Department of Biology, University for Copenhagen, Ole Maaloes Vej 5, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Jakob Nissen
- The Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Section for Biomolecular Sciences, Department of Biology, University for Copenhagen, Ole Maaloes Vej 5, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Mikkel Madsen
- The Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Section for Biomolecular Sciences, Department of Biology, University for Copenhagen, Ole Maaloes Vej 5, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Jūratė Fahrig-Kamarauskaitė
- The Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Section for Biomolecular Sciences, Department of Biology, University for Copenhagen, Ole Maaloes Vej 5, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Rasmus K Norrild
- The Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Section for Biomolecular Sciences, Department of Biology, University for Copenhagen, Ole Maaloes Vej 5, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Peter C Holm
- The Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Section for Biomolecular Sciences, Department of Biology, University for Copenhagen, Ole Maaloes Vej 5, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Mathilde K Nordentoft
- The Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Section for Biomolecular Sciences, Department of Biology, University for Copenhagen, Ole Maaloes Vej 5, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Charlotte O'Shea
- The Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Section for Biomolecular Sciences, Department of Biology, University for Copenhagen, Ole Maaloes Vej 5, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Martin Willemoës
- The Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Section for Biomolecular Sciences, Department of Biology, University for Copenhagen, Ole Maaloes Vej 5, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Kristoffer E Johansson
- The Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Section for Biomolecular Sciences, Department of Biology, University for Copenhagen, Ole Maaloes Vej 5, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Jakob R Winther
- The Linderstrøm-Lang Centre for Protein Science, Section for Biomolecular Sciences, Department of Biology, University for Copenhagen, Ole Maaloes Vej 5, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
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