Analysis of LLPS in Plant Light Perception and Signaling

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 light perception and signaling.

Introduction to Biomolecular Condensates in Plant Light Perception and Signaling

Light not only provides energy for photosynthesis, but also serves as an important environmental signal regulating plant growth and development from seed germination to flowering. Therefore, proper detection, coordination, and response to light signals are critical for the overall health and survival of plants. Plants have evolved different classes of photoresponsive proteins (which have also become photoreceptors) to sense light. Upon light exposure, the red and far-red light photoreceptors phyA to E (photopigments A to E), and the blue light photoreceptor cry2 (cryptochrome 2) are activated and move from the cytoplasm to the nucleus, where most signaling functions occur. Nucleosomes containing photoreceptors, called photobodies, have many liquid-like properties, such as spherical shape, rapid light-dependent assembly and disassembly, and the ability to recover fluorescence after fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP). Despite their importance, it remains unclear how the formation of Photobodies contributes to photosensitive pigment signaling, how output specificity is achieved in response to different stimuli, and how this information influences plant developmental decisions.

Fig. 1. Phytochrome photobodies may share features associated with other nuclear biomolecular condensates. (Pardi SA, et al., 2021)

Customized Services

Photobodies have been described as plant-specific biomolecular condensates. Our technical team is focused on studying plant light perception and signaling in the nucleus of LLPS in vivo and in vitro. CD BioSciences offers an integrated approach of high-resolution real-time imaging and biochemistry to study photobodies formation and response to light and temperature.

• Testing Photobodies Biogenesis
  We provide synthetic biology and mathematical modeling to analyze photobodies biogenesis. We fuse the nucleolus tethering system with nucleolus tagging proteins to manually tether proteins of interest to the nucleolus, allowing visual localization and initiation of nucleosome formation components such as pTAC12, hypocotyl 1 (PCH1). In addition, we provide mathematical modeling and statistical physics to understand the mechanism of phyB photobody biogenesis.
• Computational Prediction of Photobodies Intrinsically Disordered Regions (IDR)
  We provide cutting-edge computational tools and protein prediction tools to analyze the N-terminal extension (NTE) of photosensitive pigments, and several proteins that co-localize with the phyB photobody.
• In Vivo and In Vitro Studies of Photobodies LLPS
  We offer cutting-edge optogenetic tools using the Arabidopsis thaliana photoreceptors CRY2 or phyB, through their photoinduced oligomerization, as molecular switches for the induction of LLPS.

Based on high-resolution microscopy, proteomics, genomics, structural, computational, and biophysical approaches, CD BioSciences aims to further explore and characterize photobodies biomolecular condensates through the lens of LLPS. Understanding the molecular, cellular, and biophysical processes that affect light perception in plants will help you engineer improved sunlight capture and adaptation in important crops. If you have any special requirements for our services, please feel free to contact us.