Back to Search Start Over

Sequence-dependent material properties of biomolecular condensates and their relation to dilute phase conformations.

Authors :
Sundaravadivelu Devarajan, Dinesh
Wang, Jiahui
Szała-Mendyk, Beata
Rekhi, Shiv
Nikoubashman, Arash
Kim, Young C.
Mittal, Jeetain
Source :
Nature Communications; 3/4/2024, Vol. 15 Issue 1, p1-14, 14p
Publication Year :
2024

Abstract

Material properties of phase-separated biomolecular condensates, enriched with disordered proteins, dictate many cellular functions. Contrary to the progress made in understanding the sequence-dependent phase separation of proteins, little is known about the sequence determinants of condensate material properties. Using the hydropathy scale and Martini models, we computationally decipher these relationships for charge-rich disordered protein condensates. Our computations yield dynamical, rheological, and interfacial properties of condensates that are quantitatively comparable with experimentally characterized condensates. Interestingly, we find that the material properties of model and natural proteins respond similarly to charge segregation, despite different sequence compositions. Molecular interactions within the condensates closely resemble those within the single-chain ensembles. Consequently, the material properties strongly correlate with molecular contact dynamics and single-chain structural properties. We demonstrate the potential to harness the sequence characteristics of disordered proteins for predicting and engineering the material properties of functional condensates, with insights from the dilute phase properties. How material properties affect the functional state of biocondensates is a long-standing question. Here the authors demonstrate how such properties are encoded in a disordered protein sequence and can be predicted from dilute phase conformations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
20411723
Volume :
15
Issue :
1
Database :
Complementary Index
Journal :
Nature Communications
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
175847157
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-024-46223-w