Analysis of LLPS in Plant Abiotic Stresses Responses

Plant communities can regulate plant growth and developmental processes through liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). CD BioSciences is committed to studying the emerging role of plant phase separation with the aim to provide comprehensive analytical services to explore LLPS in plant response to temperature and circadian rhythm.

Introduction to LLPS in Plant Abiotic Stresses Responses

In addition to light, temperature response and regulation affect plant growth and development, and temperature can also regulate plant circadian rhythms. Sensing temperature fluctuations helps wild plants and crops adapt to these changes. Plants are exposed to many biotic and abiotic stresses, and heat stress is the main plant stress. When plants are exposed to heat stress, plants activate the heat shock response. However, the precise mechanisms by which plants sense and respond to heat stress remain largely unknown. Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) is an attractive mechanism by which plants can perceive temperature fluctuations because it is an inherent temperature response process. It was found that the prion-based heat sensor EARLY FLOWERING3 (ELF3) undergoes LLPS to form nuclear condensates in a reversible and temperature-dependent manner.

Fig. 1. Examples of condensates formed in Arabidopsis thaliana under heat. (Vélez V L, et al., 2022)

Customized Services

Our experts can analyze temperature-sensitive regulation of ELF3 gene targets mediated by protein phase separation in the model plant Arabidopsis thaliana, aiming to link gene expression to temperature sensing.

CD BioSciences offers an integrated approach of high-resolution real-time imaging and biophysics to analyze the role of LLPS in plant heat stress. Our ultimate goal is to help our customers ensure crop production and overcome the limitations caused by heat stress. Our strategists are as follows:

• We provide cutting-edge bioinformatics tools to predict heat-induced plant-specific biomolecular condensates.
• We focus on the prion-like structural domains (PrD) of ELF3 and use a yeast-based expression system that allows them to decouple ELF3 from extraneous clock cues and directly assess the impact of ELF3 PLDs on protein behavior.
• We offer a range of biochemical, biophysical, and cell biological tests to analyze molecular changes in ELF3 temperature responsiveness. In addition, we can subject PrD-containing Arabidopsis ELF3 fragments to in vitro experiments to test whether ELF3 PrD forms condensates.
• We can also test the inhibition of ELF3 temperature responsiveness by ELF3 by engineering plants expressing higher than normal levels of ELF4.

Based on advanced microscopy, computational, and biochemical technology platforms, CD BioSciences offers professional services to analyze prion-based heat sensors in plants that respond directly to temperature elevation via LLPS. Our experts are also working to explore other biological switches based on phase separation. If you have any special requirements for our services, please feel free to contact us.