Regulation of Biomolecular Condensates by Interfacial Protein Clusters

Overview

Journal Science

Specialty Science

Date 2021 Sep 13

PMID 34516789

Citations 87

Authors

Andrew W Folkmann

Andrea Putnam

Chiu Fan Lee

Geraldine Seydoux

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Biomolecular condensates are cellular compartments that can form by phase separation in the absence of limiting membranes. Studying the P granules of , we find that condensate dynamics are regulated by protein clusters that adsorb to the condensate interface. Using in vitro reconstitution, live observations, and theory, we demonstrate that localized assembly of P granules is controlled by MEG-3, an intrinsically disordered protein that forms low dynamic assemblies on P granules. Following classic Pickering emulsion theory, MEG-3 clusters lower surface tension and slow down coarsening. During zygote polarization, MEG-3 recruits the DYRK family kinase MBK-2 to accelerate spatially regulated growth of the P granule emulsion. By tuning condensate-cytoplasm exchange, interfacial clusters regulate the structural integrity of biomolecular condensates, reminiscent of the role of lipid bilayers in membrane-bound organelles.

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