Analysis of LLPS in Seed Germination

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 seed germination.

Introduction to LLPS in Plant Seed Germination

Seeds are specialized vegetative propagation vehicles that can mature to a quiescent, dry state, allowing them to remain viable under harsh conditions anywhere from a few years to several thousand years. They can survive extreme desiccation by accumulating protective molecules that profoundly alter their cellular biophysical properties. However, once seed germination begins, seedlings are highly susceptible to a variety of environmental stresses. Therefore, proper germination timing is critical for plant survival. Hydration is a key trigger for initiating germination, but the mechanism by which seeds sense moisture remains unresolved. A recent study identified a prion-like protein, FLOE1, which undergoes hydration-dependent phase separation and may act as a water potential sensor to regulate seed germination.

Fig. 1. A prion-like protein regulator of seed germination undergoes hydration-dependent phase separation. (Dorone Y, et al., 2021)

Customized Services

CD BioSciences offers an integrated approach of high-resolution real-time imaging and biophysics to analyze the role of LLPS in seed germination. Our ultimate goal is to provide a set of guiding principles for designing novel biomolecular condensates that can stimulate the development of designer crops to withstand the effects of climate change.

Given the complex biophysical changes that proteins must undergo under extreme conditions, our technical team uses transcriptomic data to identify the Arabidopsis seed enrichment proteome to further explore seed proteins associated with phase separation.

We are also committed to identifying the prion-like protein FLOE1, which specifically phase segregates during seed uptake. We create a set of mutants that span the matter state spectrum by dissecting the molecular syntax of FLOE1. We provide phenotypic and transcriptomic experiments on mutant strains to analyze the role of FLOE1 in undergoing phase segregation and exerting regulation of germination under water stress conditions.

In addition, we can analyze the role of FLOE1 material properties in ecological and evolutionary contexts, providing evidence for the functional importance of FLOE1 material properties of biomolecular condensates in vivo in multicellular organisms. We also perform phylogenetic analyses of a large number of FLOE homolog families across all green plant lineages.

CD BioSciences offers professional services to analyze FLOE1 for reversible hydration-dependent phase separation and to regulate seed germination. The discovery of FLOE1 LLPS not only reveals how seeds sense water potential to initiate germination but also provides direct insight into the drought resistance of engineered crops. If you have any special requirements for our services, please feel free to contact us.