Dilute Phase Oligomerization Can Oppose Phase Separation and Modulate Material Properties of a Ribonucleoprotein Condensate

Overview

Journal Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A

Specialty Science

Date 2022 Mar 25

PMID 35333653

Authors

Ian Seim

Ammon E Posey

Wilton T Snead

Benjamin M Stormo

Daphne Klotsa

Rohit V Pappu

Amy S Gladfelter

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

SignificanceA large subclass of biomolecular condensates are linked to RNA regulation and are known as ribonucleoprotein (RNP) bodies. While extensive work has identified driving forces for biomolecular condensate formation, relatively little is known about forces that oppose assembly. Here, using a fungal RNP protein, Whi3, we show that a portion of its intrinsically disordered, glutamine-rich region modulates phase separation by forming transient alpha helical structures that promote the assembly of dilute phase oligomers. These oligomers detour Whi3 proteins from condensates, thereby impacting the driving forces for phase separation, the protein-to-RNA ratio in condensates, and the material properties of condensates. Our findings show how nanoscale conformational and oligomerization equilibria can influence mesoscale phase equilibria.

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