Analysis of Biomolecular Condensates in Neuronal Synaptic Signaling

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 neuronal synaptic signaling for the development of drug targets.

Introduction

The synapse is the most basic unit of the brain network, located at the site where two neurons physically connect and communicate with each other. Each synapse is composed of thousands of proteins that can alter its composition, signal processing, and ability to respond to various stimuli. Scientists have identified several proteins or protein-RNA complexes located at synapses and neuronal processes as neuron-specific condensates that display fluid-like properties. Since their composition and functional modifications play a crucial role in the context of neurodegeneration, further studies are needed to fully understand the role of neuronal biomolecular condensates.

Fig. 1. Phase Separation at the Synapse. (Wu X, et al., 2020)

Customized Services

Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) can mediate the formation of pre- and post-synaptic density signaling components. Because research on neuronal condensates is still in its early stages, there is still much to learn. Our experts focus on synaptic assembly in developing neurons and LLPS in tissues. As one of the leading providers of biomolecular condensates, CD BioSciences is committed to exploring the role of LLPS and condensates in neuronal synaptic signaling, including the formation of postsynaptic density (PSD) and presynaptic density assemblies.

We offer customized solutions to analyze phase separation-mediated synaptic condensates.

• Analysis of LLPS in PSD formation
  Excitatory PSD (ePSD) is assembled from a highly abundant set of multi-structural domain scaffold proteins including PSD-95, Synaptic-associated protein 90/Post-synaptic density 95-associated protein (SAPAP), Shank, and Home. We can analyze phase separation to form condensates co-localized with these four scaffold proteins at a 1:1:1:1 molar ratio or provide PSD-based quantitative mass spectrometry or quantitative imaging services. In addition, we provide cutting-edge methods to measure the absolute concentration or density of each component of the PSD condensate in solution or on the lipid membrane bilayer.
  Our experimental data not only provide strong evidence supporting a model of LLPS-mediated PSD formation, but also serve as an experimental platform for understanding the molecular mechanisms of synapse formation and regulation in vitro.
• Analysis of synaptic protein condensates
  Synaptic proteins are abundant in presynaptic neurons. We provide in vitro and in vivo experiments to analyze the role of synaptic protein IDR-driven LLPS in the clustering of synaptic vesicles (SV) in vitro and in vivo.
• Analysis of LLPS in presynaptic density signaling assemblies
  We can analyze a diverse set of multi-structural domain scaffolding proteins, including Rab3 interaction molecule (RIM), RIM-binding protein (RIM-BP) that coalesce to form the presynaptic active zone of a tissue via LLPS.

The small size of neuronal synapses makes it difficult to characterize them with many existing in vivo resolution-limited imaging techniques. We provide well-established in vitro methods to analyze phase separation-mediated formation of synaptic biomolecular condensates. In addition, our experts develop new methods, including the introduction of mutations, or the replacement of key regions with another typical sequence capable of driving phase separation, to test the role of LLPS in synapses. 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.