Regulation of Biomolecular Phase Separation by Active Processes

Biomolecular condensates can be viewed as an active species in which energy is expended to physically rearrange and reorganize molecular components to maintain a functional state. As one of a leading provider of biomolecular condensates services, CD BioSciences offers professional services to analyze the material properties and emergent functions of biomolecular condensates that are regulated by active processes.

Introduction

Cells typically use reactive processes to regulate the material properties of the cytoplasm. Specifically, ATP and GTP depletion processes significantly affect the diffusive movement of organelles and other particles by maintaining the cytoplasm in a fluid-like state. How do cells actively modify the cohesive state to meet different demands during liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS)? Furthermore, how do cells ensure that different, functionally distinct cohesions remain discrete and do not fuse? Studies have shown that energy depletion processes play an important role in the regulation of the functional and material properties of biomolecular condensates. Depletion of ATP leads to significant changes in the physical and functional properties of phase separation condensates.

Fig. 1. ATPase-modulated stress granules contain a diverse proteome and substructure. (Jain S, et al., 2016)

Customized Services

Our proteomics analysis service identifies a range of proteins that make up intracellular biomolecular condensates. Our experts have successfully identified ATP-dependent decarboxylases and protein remodeling enzymes as components of stress granules. Here, CD BioSciences focuses on developing customized experiments to analyze the active regulation of biomolecular condensates by chaperones and RNA helicases.

• Analysis of the Regulation of Biomolecular Condensates by Molecular Chaperones
  Molecular chaperones bind multiple proteins and expend energy to reshape protein-protein interactions and assist in protein folding. They are protein quality control and aggregation prevention regulators. CD BioSciences provides in vitro reconstitution and in vivo experiments to analyze the role of chaperone proteins (such as the DDXs family and RVB complex) in regulating the material properties and functions of biomolecular condensates. Our work on the role of chaperones in regulating phase transitions has focused on stress granules, including effects on the porosity of condensates, etc.
• Analysis of the Regulation of Biomolecular Condensates by RNA Helicases
  Helicases are an important class of energy-consuming proteins that actively regulate biomolecular condensates. Among them, the DEAD-box RNA helicase is a key regulator of almost all processes involving RNA. It has been characterized in great detail by our experts at the structural and biochemical level. Here, CD BioSciences provides professional services to analyze the mechanism by which DEAD-box RNA helicases control the state of matter and emergent functions of biomolecular condensates.
  

Molecular chaperones and decapping enzymes facilitate powerful control of phase separation by physically altering molecular structure and intermolecular interactions. We provide comprehensive in vitro reconstitution and in vivo experiments to analyze the regulation of energy-depleting processes on the material properties of biomolecular condensates, focusing on molecular chaperones and DEAD-box RNA decapping enzymes. 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.