Regulation of Biomolecular Phase Separation by Membrane Surfaces

Membrane surfaces can modulate the concentration required for biomolecular phase separation, as well as nucleation events. As one of a leading provider of biomolecular condensates services, CD BioSciences offers professional services to analyze the regulation of biomolecular phase separation by membrane surfaces, including the control of nucleation, size and concentration of condensates.

Introduction

Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of biomolecules has become an important mechanism that contributes to cellular organization. Biomolecular condensates are compartments composed of specific proteins, nucleic acids, and small molecules without surrounding membranes. The entry of biomolecules into mesoscale structures of LLPS readily occurs in the three-dimensional space of the nucleus and cytoplasm and can be confined to two-dimensional membranes. Membranes are ubiquitous throughout the cell, and membrane surfaces regulate the assembly of biomolecular condensates. Specifically, membrane surfaces confine protein diffusion to two dimensions, thereby reducing the threshold concentration required for phase separation. Phase separation of biomolecules confined to two-dimensional membrane surfaces has received attention as an important mechanism for organizing cell membranes.

Fig. 1. Membrane surfaces regulate biomolecular phase separation in time and space. (Snead WT, et al., 2019)

Customized Services

The formation of many biomolecular condensates is mediated by the presence of membranes, and membrane surfaces play an important role in regulating phase separation. We can analyze condensates aggregated on plasma membranes to study the phase separation of biomolecules on membrane surfaces. We offer a variety of experimental techniques capable of evaluating LLPS on membranes to analyze the assembly of condensates confined to two-dimensional membranes, including:

✓Supported Lipid Bilayer (SLB). We offer SLB analysis of membrane-associated condensates, with the main advantage of being able to observe condensates and their functional consequences on two-dimensional surfaces in real time by total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy.

✓Giant vesicles. We use two commonly used giant vesicles (giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) and giant plasma membrane vesicles (GPMVs)) to analyze two-dimensional biomolecular phase separation. This useful platform largely preserves cell membrane components and allows studying the physiological density of protein and lipid membrane components of LLPS in a controlled biophysical experimental setting.

✓"Dual" supported lipid bilayers (DSLB). This method allows the lipid composition of the experimental bilayer to be unrestricted by suspending the experimental bilayer above the supporting bilayer and allows the merging of transmembrane structural domains. We also use DSLB to assess LLPS-driven membrane deformation.

Starting with endosomes, endocytosis and lipid aspects, our service is designed to analyze how membrane surfaces control the assembly of biomolecular cohesions throughout the cell. CD BioSciences develops elaborate experiments to analyze the regulation of biomolecular phase separation by membrane surfaces.

• The effect of membranes on the concentration required for condensates formation.
• The effect of membranes on the different material properties of nucleated condensates.
• The effect of the membrane on the size of condensates.

Considerable efforts have been made by our experts to analyze the regulation of the membrane surface on the phase separation of biomolecular condensates. Uncovering these interactions and understanding how they affect the properties of condensates will be important for understanding the cellular function and regulation of condensates. As new technologies develop and our understanding of biomolecular phase separation continues to advance, it is exciting to consider future studies of membrane-associated phase separation of condensates. 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.