Biomacromolecules,
Journal Year:
2025,
Volume and Issue:
unknown
Published: Jan. 26, 2025
This
study
proposes
fluorenylmethoxycarbonyl
(Fmoc)-protected
single
amino
acids
(Fmoc-AAs)
as
a
minimalistic
model
system
to
investigate
liquid-liquid
phase
separation
(LLPS)
and
the
elusive
liquid-to-solid
transition
of
condensates.
We
demonstrated
that
Fmoc-AAs
exhibit
LLPS
depending
on
pH
ionic
strength,
primarily
driven
by
hydrophobic
interactions.
Systematic
examination
conditions
under
which
each
Fmoc-AA
undergoes
revealed
distinct
residue-dependent
trends
in
critical
concentrations
behavior.
Importantly,
we
elucidated
process,
suggesting
it
may
be
molecular
mechanism
different
from
LLPS.
condensates
showed
promise
for
biomolecular
enrichment
catalytic
applications.
work
provides
significant
insights
into
mechanisms
subsequent
transition,
offering
robust
platform
future
studies
related
protocells
protein
aggregation
diseases.
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
Journal Year:
2021,
Volume and Issue:
118(44)
Published: Oct. 29, 2021
Significance
Cells
may
compartmentalize
proteins
via
a
demixing
process
known
as
liquid–liquid
phase
separation
(LLPS),
which
is
often
driven
by
intrinsically
disordered
(IDPs)
and
regions.
Protein
condensates
arising
from
LLPS
develop
into
insoluble
protein
aggregates,
in
neurodegenerative
diseases
cancer.
Understanding
the
of
formation,
dissolution,
aging
requires
models
that
accurately
capture
underpinning
interactions
at
residue
level.
In
this
work,
we
leverage
data
biophysical
experiments
on
IDPs
dilute
solution
to
sequence-dependent
model
predicts
conformational
behavior
diverse
unrelated
sequences
with
good
accuracy.
Using
model,
gain
insight
coupling
between
chain
compaction
propensity.
Chemical Reviews,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
122(6), P. 6719 - 6748
Published: Feb. 18, 2022
Motions
in
biomolecules
are
critical
for
biochemical
reactions.
In
cells,
many
reactions
executed
inside
of
biomolecular
condensates
formed
by
ultradynamic
intrinsically
disordered
proteins.
A
deep
understanding
the
conformational
dynamics
proteins
is
therefore
utmost
importance
but
complicated
diverse
obstacles.
Here
we
review
emerging
data
on
motions
liquidlike
condensates.
We
discuss
how
liquid-liquid
phase
separation
modulates
internal
across
a
wide
range
time
and
length
scales.
further
highlight
intermolecular
interactions
that
not
only
drive
appear
as
key
determinants
changes
aging
human
diseases.
The
provides
framework
future
studies
to
reveal
regulation
condensate
chemistry.
Open Research Europe,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
2, P. 94 - 94
Published: Jan. 17, 2023
The
formation
and
viscoelastic
properties
of
condensates
intrinsically
disordered
proteins
(IDPs)
is
dictated
by
amino
acid
sequence
solution
conditions.
Because
the
involvement
biomolecular
in
cell
physiology
disease,
advancing
our
understanding
relationship
between
protein
phase
separation
(PS)
may
have
important
implications
formulation
new
therapeutic
hypotheses.
Here,
we
present
CALVADOS
2,
a
coarse-grained
model
IDPs
that
accurately
predicts
conformational
propensities
to
undergo
PS
for
diverse
sequences
In
particular,
systematically
study
effect
varying
range
nonionic
interactions
use
findings
improve
temperature
scale
model.
We
further
optimize
residue-specific
parameters
against
experimental
data
on
55
proteins,
while
also
leveraging
70
hydrophobicity
scales
from
literature
avoid
overfitting
training
data.
Extensive
testing
shows
chain
compaction
propensity
length
charge
patterning,
as
well
at
different
temperatures
salt
concentrations.
Nature Chemistry,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
15(10), P. 1340 - 1349
Published: Sept. 25, 2023
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
formation
mediated
by
condensation
low-complexity
domain
hnRNPA1,
a
involved
in
amyotrophic
lateral
sclerosis.
We
show
that
phase
separation
and
fibrillization
are
connected
but
distinct
processes
modulated
different
regions
sequence.
By
monitoring
spatial
temporal
evolution
demonstrate
does
not
occur
homogeneously
inside
droplets
is
promoted
at
interface
condensates.
further
coating
surfactant
molecules
inhibits
fibril
formation.
Our
results
reveal
biomolecular
hnRNPA1
promotes
formation,
therefore
suggesting
interfaces
as
potential
novel
therapeutic
target
against
aberrant
amyloids
condensation.
Science Advances,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
8(48)
Published: Dec. 2, 2022
Biomolecular
condensates
present
in
cells
can
fundamentally
affect
the
aggregation
of
amyloidogenic
proteins
and
play
a
role
regulation
this
process.
While
liquid-liquid
phase
separation
by
themselves
act
as
an
alternative
nucleation
pathway,
interaction
partly
disordered
aggregation-prone
with
preexisting
that
localization
centers
could
be
far
more
general
mechanism
altering
their
behavior.
Here,
we
show
so-called
host
biomolecular
both
accelerate
slow
down
amyloid
formation.
We
study
protein
α-synuclein
two
truncated
variants
presence
three
types
composed
nonaggregating
peptides,
RNA,
or
ATP.
Our
results
demonstrate
markedly
speed
up
formation
when
localize
to
interface.
However,
also
significantly
suppress
sequestering
stabilizing
proteins,
thereby
providing
living
possible
protection
against
Nature Communications,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
13(1)
Published: March 3, 2022
Biomolecular
condensation
via
liquid-liquid
phase
separation
of
proteins
and
nucleic
acids
is
associated
with
a
range
critical
cellular
functions
neurodegenerative
diseases.
Here,
we
demonstrate
that
complex
coacervation
the
prion
protein
α-synuclein
within
narrow
stoichiometry
results
in
formation
highly
dynamic,
reversible,
thermo-responsive
liquid
droplets
domain-specific
electrostatic
interactions
between
positively-charged
intrinsically
disordered
N-terminal
segment
acidic
C-terminal
tail
α-synuclein.
The
addition
RNA
to
these
coacervates
yields
multiphasic,
vesicle-like,
hollow
condensates.
Picosecond
time-resolved
measurements
revealed
presence
transient
nanoclusters
are
stable
on
nanosecond
timescale
can
undergo
breaking-and-making
slower
timescales
giving
rise
liquid-like
behavior
mesoscopic
regime.
liquid-to-solid
transition
drives
rapid
conversion
into
heterotypic
amyloids.
Our
suggest
synergistic
prion-α-synuclein
condensates
provide
mechanistic
underpinnings
their
physiological
role
overlapping
neuropathological
features.
JACS Au,
Journal Year:
2022,
Volume and Issue:
2(3), P. 673 - 686
Published: March 1, 2022
The
paradigmatic
disordered
protein
tau
plays
an
important
role
in
neuronal
function
and
neurodegenerative
diseases.
To
disentangle
the
factors
controlling
balance
between
functional
disease-associated
conformational
states,
we
build
a
structural
ensemble
of
K18
fragment
containing
four
pseudorepeat
domains
involved
both
microtubule
binding
amyloid
fibril
formation.
We
assemble
129-residue-long
chains
with
atomic
detail
from
extensive
library
constructed
molecular
dynamics
simulations.
introduce
reweighted
hierarchical
chain
growth
(RHCG)
algorithm
that
integrates
experimental
data
reporting
on
local
structure
into
assembly
process
systematic
manner.
By
combining
Bayesian
refinement
importance
sampling,
obtain
well-defined
ensembles
overcome
problem
exponentially
varying
weights
integrative
modeling
long-chain
polymeric
molecules.
resulting
capture
nuclear
magnetic
resonance
(NMR)
chemical
shift
J-coupling
measurements.
Without
further
fitting,
achieve
very
good
agreement
measurements
NMR
residual
dipolar
couplings.
measures
global
such
as
single-molecule
Förster
energy
transfer
(FRET)
efficiencies
is
improved
by
refinement.
comparing
wild-type
mutant
ensembles,
show
pathogenic
single-point
P301L,
P301S,
P301T
mutations
population
turn-like
conformations
microtubule-bound
state
to
extended
fibrils.
RHCG
thus
provides
us
atomically
detailed
view
equilibrium
aggregation-prone
states
K18,
demonstrates
characteristics
this
intrinsically
emerge
its
structure.
Journal of the American Chemical Society,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
145(19), P. 10548 - 10563
Published: May 5, 2023
Liquid–liquid
phase
separation
of
flexible
biomolecules
has
been
identified
as
a
ubiquitous
phenomenon
underlying
the
formation
membraneless
organelles
that
harbor
multitude
essential
cellular
processes.
We
use
nuclear
magnetic
resonance
(NMR)
spectroscopy
to
compare
dynamic
properties
an
intrinsically
disordered
protein
(measles
virus
NTAIL)
in
dilute
and
dense
phases
at
atomic
resolution.
By
measuring
15N
NMR
relaxation
different
field
strengths,
we
are
able
characterize
dynamics
crowded
conditions
amplitude
timescale
motional
modes
those
present
organelle.
Although
local
backbone
conformational
sampling
appears
be
largely
retained,
occurring
on
all
detectable
timescales,
including
librational,
dihedral
angle
segmental,
chainlike
motions,
considerably
slowed
down.
Their
relative
amplitudes
also
drastically
modified,
with
slower,
chain-like
motions
dominating
profile.
In
order
provide
additional
mechanistic
insight,
performed
extensive
molecular
simulations
under
self-crowding
concentrations
comparable
found
liquid
phase.
Simulation
broadly
reproduces
impact
condensed
both
free
energy
landscape
kinetic
interconversion
between
states.
particular,
experimentally
observed
reduction
fastest
component
correlates
higher
levels
intermolecular
contacts
or
entanglement
simulations,
reducing
space
available
this
mode
strongly
conditions.