1. Biophysical characterization of the phase separation of TDP-43 devoid of the C-terminal domain
- Author
-
Tommaso Staderini, Alessandra Bigi, Clément Lagrève, Isabella Marzi, Francesco Bemporad, and Fabrizio Chiti
- Subjects
Liquid–liquid phase separation ,LLPS ,Liquid–solid phase separation ,Self-assembly ,Motor neuron diseases ,Electrostatics ,Cytology ,QH573-671 - Abstract
Abstract Background Frontotemporal lobar degeneration with ubiquitin-positive inclusions (FTLD-TDP), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and limbic-predominant age-related TDP-43 encephalopathy (LATE) are associated with deposition of cytoplasmic inclusions of TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) in neurons. One complexity of this process lies in the ability of TDP-43 to form liquid-phase membraneless organelles in cells. Previous work has shown that the recombinant, purified, prion-like domain (PrLD) forms liquid droplets in vitro, but the behaviour of the complementary fragment is uncertain. Methods We have purified such a construct without the PrLD (PrLD-less TDP-43) and have induced its phase separation using a solution-jump method and an array of biophysical techniques to study the morphology, state of matter and structure of the TDP-43 assemblies. Results The fluorescent TMR-labelled protein construct, imaged using confocal fluorescence, formed rapidly (
- Published
- 2024
- Full Text
- View/download PDF