Analysis of Biomolecular Condensates in Autophagy

CD BioSciences is dedicated to the broad functional characterization of biomolecular condensates to develop a range of regulatory targets and approaches to provide new opportunities for drug development and clinical treatment of disease. Here, CD BioSciences offers professional services to analyze the function of biomolecular condensates in autophagy regulation for the development of drug targets.

Introduction

Autophagy is an intracellular degradation system that contributes to cellular homeostasis and can degrade a variety of substances, including proteins, membrane-free/membrane-bound organelles, and even invasive microorganisms. Autophagosome formation is the hallmark event in the autophagic process, which isolates cytoplasmic components and delivers them to lysosomes for degradation. Recent studies have revealed the close relationship between autophagy and biomolecular condensates, which can be targeted by autophagy to lysosomes for degradation or other purposes, which we refer to as biocondensophagy. In addition, biomolecular condensates are also major regulators of bulk autophagy and selective autophagy, and they are important for participating in autophagy regulation.

Fig. 1. Model of the PAS organization by phase separation of the Atg1 complex. (Fujioka Y, et al., 2021)

Customized Services

Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) separates and concentrates biomolecules into different condensates. Liquid condensates can be transformed into gels and solids, which are essential for achieving their different functions. LLPS plays an important role in several steps of autophagy. CD BioSciences is committed to exploring the role of LLPS and condensates involved in autophagy regulation to enable biomolecular condensates to target the autophagy pathway.

• Analysis of condensates in the assembly of autophagosome formation sites
  Autophagy is maintained at a low level under normal conditions, but it is dramatically and strongly induced under nutritional starvation and other stress conditions. We offer in vivo and in vitro research services to analyze the role of LLPS and condensates in the organization of pre-autophagosome structures (PAS) and activation of autophagy-associated 1 (Atg1) proteins.
• Analysis of condensates that regulate TORC1 activity in autophagy
  TOR complex 1 (TORC1) integrates the availability of energy and nutrients to control autophagic activity at multiple steps. We can analyze the role of LLPS in the regulation of TORC1 activity in bulk autophagy.
• Analysis of condensates that regulate selective autophagy
  In yeast and Cryptobacterium hidradi model systems, we identify various biomolecular condensates as cargoes of selective autophagy, including aminopeptidase I (Ape1) concentrates, p62 bodies, and stress granule PGL particles. We can help you analyze the role of these cargo condensates in the regulation of selective autophagy.

Our services are widely applicable to biomolecular condensates acting at different steps of autophagy, including mediating the assembly of autophagosome formation sites, acting as unconventional regulators of TORC1-mediated autophagy regulation, and classifying protein cargoes for degradation. In addition, our experts attempt to analyze membrane dynamics during the regulation of autophagy by condensates. If you have any special requirements for our services, please feel free to contact us. We are looking forward to working together with your attractive projects.