Analysis of Biomolecular Condensates in Cardiovascular Diseases

Abnormal forms of biomolecular condensates are associated with many human diseases. Our experts are dedicated to the broad characterization of pathological condensates, opening up exciting new avenues for therapeutic intervention. Here, CD BioSciences offers professional services to analyze biomolecular condensates as therapeutic targets for cardiovascular diseases.

Research Progress of Biomolecular Condensates in Cardiovascular Diseases

Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a group of heart and blood vessel diseases that are the leading cause of death worldwide. Prevention of cardiovascular disease has been a major concern. Due to the breadth of CVD manifestations and the ability of this disease to affect different organs differently, there is no universal treatment for CVD and therapeutic approaches vary widely. Studies have shown that many proteins associated with the pathogenesis of CVD are intrinsically disordered (IDP) or contain long intrinsically disordered regions (IDR) that are capable of liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). In recent years, significant progress has been made in the study of LLPS, especially in the fields of neurodegenerative diseases, cancer and virology, but little is known about the role of LLPS in CVD.

Fig. 1. Potential role of LLPS in the cardiovascular system. (Mo Y, et al., 2022)

Customized Services

In CVD, a significant fraction of proteins may undergo LLPS because protein-RNA interactions are an important form of phase separation. Here, CD BioSciences focuses on the role of IDPs/IDRs in cardiovascular disease. Our laboratory has a proven in vitro experimental platform that enables comprehensive bioinformatics analysis of proteins that undergo phase separation and play an important role in CVD, including but not limited to:

As one of the leading service providers of biomolecular condensates, CD BioSciences offers comprehensive services to analyze the link between abnormally altered condensates and CVD development and progression. We offer the following services to characterize the role of LLPS in the cardiovascular system:

• Analysis of LncRNA Mediated by LLPS in CVD
  Many Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported to be closely associated with CVD. We offer RNase sensitivity screening and transcriptome screening of semi-extractable RNA methods to identify lncRNA phase separation in CVD.
• Analysis of Protein Misfolding in Cardiomyopathy
  There is a close relationship between dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and protein mutations. We can analyze the phase separation phenomenon caused by the abnormal accumulation of RNP particles in DCM caused by genetic mutations.
• Analysis of Autophagy Mediated by LLPS in Atherosclerosis
  Atherosclerosis is a highly prevalent cardiovascular disease in which the accumulation of abnormal proteins promotes the progression of atherosclerosis and heart failure. Our technical team is dedicated to exploring the role of phase separation in atherosclerosis and to developing autophagosomes formed by phase separation to degrade abnormal proteins in atherosclerosis.
• Analysis of Stress Granules Mediated by LLPS in CVD
  Stress granules (a type of biomolecular condensate) are particles formed in response to stress and are involved in the regulation of CVD. We can analyze the phase separation associated with stress granules in CVD.

We have cutting-edge technology to monitor the phase transition of biomolecular condensates from liquid to solid in a variety of CVDs, including coronary artery disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral artery disease, rheumatic heart disease, congenital heart disease, and others. In addition, we provide multicellular or animal models to establish higher order systems in vitro and at the cellular level to analyze the material properties and dynamics of biomolecular condensates that reflect CVD pathophysiology. Our technical team develops two strategies to design LLPS-based CVD therapeutics from a phase transition perspective:

(1) We can develop short peptides that inhibit phase separation in CVD through competitive binding sites for phase separation or other key proteins expressed during phase separation.

(2) We can use drugs to modulate the external environment of droplets containing these drugs, such as salt concentration and pH, or modulate key proteins in CVD to achieve stable phase separation.

Joint exploration with our cancer researchers, cell biologists and biophysicists to unravel the mysteries of CVD phase separation and find more therapeutic strategies for CVD associated with phase separation. 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.