Analysis of Biomolecular Condensate Pathological Functions

Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) is ralated to many biological processes, including heterochromatin formation, nucleoplasmic transport, and the formation of membrane-free compartments, etc. Cellular structures formed by LLPS are referred to as biomolecular condensates, reflecting their origin through condensation formation. Recent advances provide a powerful new framework for explaining various biological processes and have encouraged scientists to revisit biological phenomena through the lens of LLPS. The most important finding is that, in addition to physiological functions, biomolecular condensates are also associated with disease pathology, which may contribute to a large number of complex human diseases, including cancer, neurodegeneration and infectious diseases. In conclusion, LLPS holds great promise for understanding and treating some of the most serious human diseases.

Fig. 1. Evidence for disturbed phase separation and condensate formation in neurodegeneration, cancer, and infectious diseases. (Alberti S, et al., 2019)

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Our current mechanistic understanding of many human diseases is often incomplete, and new concepts are urgently needed to describe and understand the complex mechanisms behind human diseases. The formation of condensates from phase separation becomes a new principle to explain living cell tissues. In disease pathological condensates may form ab initio, or normal physiological condensates may become dysregulated or lost. Based on extensive experience studying biomolecular condensates, our experts are committed to analyzing the various ways in which they affect biology and may contribute to disease.

CD BioSciences offers comprehensive services to analyze diseases in which condensates can be used as therapeutic targets, including cancer, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), viral infectious diseases, and cardiac disorders. We aim to help our clients analyze the mechanisms of pathological phase separation, and develop therapeutic targets by analyzing condensates associated with these diseases.

We can analyze LLPS and biomolecular condensates in the following diseases:

• Analysis of Biomolecular Condensates in Neurodegenerative Diseases
  LLPS may contribute to the pathogenesis of age-related neurodegenerative diseases, such as ALS, frontotemporal dementia, and Alzheimer's disease. We provide services to analyze the intrinsic drivers and regulators of LLPS in several key neurodegenerative disease-associated proteins.
• Analysis of Biomolecular Condensates in Cancers
  Cancers are considered to be diseases with mutations or dysregulated gene transcription. Studies have shown that cancer driver mutations dysregulated condensates and/or LLPS mutations affect tumorigenesis. We explore targeting refractory and non-druggable proteins by analyzing LLPS in various cancers with the aim of developing new therapeutic approaches for cancer.
• Analysis of Biomolecular Condensates in Cardiovascular Diseases
  There is no universal treatment for cardiovascular disease (CVD), and therapeutic approaches vary widely. We can analyze many of the proteins associated with CVD pathogenesis that carry LLPS that are intrinsically disordered (IDP) or contain long intrinsically disordered regions (IDR).
• Analysis of Biomolecular Condensates in Infectious Diseases
  In infectious diseases, pathogens often use condensates to maximize their ability to reproduce, but host cells also often use condensates to engage in defense mechanisms to detect and neutralize pathogens. We explore targeting viral factors that promote coagulation formation by analyzing viral compartments (condensates formed by phase separation), and developing promising treatments for viral infections.

CD BioSciences is committed to the broader characterization of pathological condensates, opening up exciting new avenues for therapeutic intervention. Our services will open up more possibilities for future drug discovery. 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.