scholarly journals Phase separation of Nur77 mediates celastrol-induced mitophagy by promoting the liquidity of p62/SQSTM1 condensates

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuang-zhou Peng ◽  
Xiao-hui Chen ◽  
Si-jie Chen ◽  
Jie Zhang ◽  
Chuan-ying Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phase Separation ◽  
Cellular Functions ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered ◽  
Mechanistic Insight ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered Region ◽  
Uba Domain ◽  
Pb1 Domain ◽  
Additional Interaction ◽  
Insight Into ◽  
Liquid Liquid Phase Separation

AbstractLiquid-liquid phase separation promotes the formation of membraneless condensates that mediate diverse cellular functions, including autophagy of misfolded proteins. However, how phase separation participates in autophagy of dysfunctional mitochondria (mitophagy) remains obscure. We previously discovered that nuclear receptor Nur77 (also called TR3, NGFI-B, or NR4A1) translocates from the nucleus to mitochondria to mediate celastrol-induced mitophagy through interaction with p62/SQSTM1. Here, we show that the ubiquitinated mitochondrial Nur77 forms membraneless condensates capable of sequestrating damaged mitochondria by interacting with the UBA domain of p62/SQSTM1. However, tethering clustered mitochondria to the autophagy machinery requires an additional interaction mediated by the N-terminal intrinsically disordered region (IDR) of Nur77 and the N-terminal PB1 domain of p62/SQSTM1, which confers Nur77-p62/SQSTM1 condensates with the magnitude and liquidity. Our results demonstrate how composite multivalent interaction between Nur77 and p62/SQSTM1 coordinates to sequester damaged mitochondria and to connect targeted cargo mitochondria for autophagy, providing mechanistic insight into mitophagy.

scholarly journals JRAB/MICAL-L2 undergoes liquid–liquid phase separation to form tubular recycling endosomes

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ayuko Sakane ◽  
Taka-aki Yano ◽  
Takayuki Uchihashi ◽  
Kazuki Horikawa ◽  
Yusuke Hara ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phase Separation ◽  
Liquid Phase ◽  
Closed Form ◽  
Liquid Phase Separation ◽  
Cellular Functions ◽  
Recycling Endosomes ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered Region ◽  
Multiple Molecules ◽  
Liquid Liquid Phase Separation

AbstractElongated tubular endosomes play essential roles in diverse cellular functions. Multiple molecules have been implicated in tubulation of recycling endosomes, but the mechanism of endosomal tubule biogenesis has remained unclear. In this study, we found that JRAB/MICAL-L2 induces endosomal tubulation via activated Rab8A. In association with Rab8A, JRAB/MICAL-L2 adopts its closed form, which functions in the tubulation of recycling endosomes. Moreover, JRAB/MICAL-L2 induces liquid–liquid phase separation, initiating the formation of tubular recycling endosomes upon overexpression. Between its N-terminal and C-terminal globular domains, JRAB/MICAL-L2 contains an intrinsically disordered region, which contributes to the formation of JRAB/MICAL-L2 condensates. Based on our findings, we propose that JRAB/MICAL-L2 plays two sequential roles in the biogenesis of tubular recycling endosomes: first, JRAB/MICAL-L2 organizes phase separation, and then the closed form of JRAB/MICAL-L2 formed by interaction with Rab8A promotes endosomal tubulation.

scholarly journals Previously uncharacterized interactions between the folded and intrinsically disordered domains impart asymmetric effects on UBQLN2 phase separation

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tongyin Zheng ◽  
Carlos A. Castañeda
Keyword(s):  
Quality Control ◽  
Phase Separation ◽  
Liquid Phase ◽  
Protein Quality ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered Regions ◽  
Uba Domain ◽  
Phase Separation Behavior ◽  
Separation Behavior ◽  
Liquid Liquid Phase Separation

AbstractShuttle protein UBQLN2 functions in protein quality control (PQC) by binding to proteasomal receptors and ubiquitinated substrates via its N-terminal ubiquitin-like (UBL) and C-terminal ubiquitin-associated (UBA) domains, respectively. Between these two folded domains are intrinsically disordered STI1-I and STI1-II regions, connected by disordered linkers. The STI1 regions bind other components, such as HSP70, that are important to the PQC functions of UBQLN2. We recently determined that the STI1-II region enables UBQLN2 to undergo liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) to form liquid dropletsin vitroand biomolecular condensates in cells. However, how the interplay between the folded (UBL/UBA) domains and the intrinsically-disordered regions mediates phase separation is largely unknown. Using engineered domain deletion constructs, we found that removing the UBA domain inhibits UBQLN2 LLPS while removing the UBL domain enhances LLPS, suggesting that UBA and UBL domains contribute asymmetrically in modulating UBQLN2 LLPS. To explain these differential effects, we interrogated the interactions that involve the UBA and UBL domains across the entire UBQLN2 molecule using NMR spectroscopy. To our surprise, aside from well-studied canonical UBL:UBA interactions, there also exist moderate and weak interactions between the UBL and STI1-I/STI1-II domains, and between the UBA domain and the linker connecting the two STI1 regions, respectively. Our findings are essential for the understanding of both the molecular driving forces of UBQLN2 LLPS and the effects of ligand binding to UBL, UBA, or STI1 domains on the phase behavior and physiological functions of UBQLN2.Impact of Work StatementZheng and Castañeda show that interplay between the folded domains and intrinsically disordered regions regulates liquid-liquid phase separation behavior of UBQLN2, a protein quality control (PQC) shuttle protein. Despite their similar size, the folded UBL and UBA domains inhibit and promote phase separation, respectively, due to their previously uncharacterized, asymmetric interactions with the middle intrinsically-disordered region. These results strongly suggest that PQC components, including proteasomal receptors, are likely to modulate UBQLN2 phase separation behavior in cells.

scholarly journals Phase separation of Axin organizes the β-catenin destruction complex

2021 ◽  
Vol 220 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
Junxiu Nong ◽  
Kexin Kang ◽  
Qiaoni Shi ◽  
Xuechen Zhu ◽  
Qinghua Tao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phase Separation ◽  
Glycogen Synthase ◽  
Adenomatous Polyposis ◽  
Compelling Evidence ◽  
Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3Β ◽  
Polyposis Coli ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered Region ◽  
Liquid Liquid Phase Separation

In Wnt/β-catenin signaling, the β-catenin protein level is deliberately controlled by the assembly of the multiprotein β-catenin destruction complex composed of Axin, adenomatous polyposis coli (APC), glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β), casein kinase 1α (CK1α), and others. Here we provide compelling evidence that formation of the destruction complex is driven by protein liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) of Axin. An intrinsically disordered region in Axin plays an important role in driving its LLPS. Phase-separated Axin provides a scaffold for recruiting GSK3β, CK1α, and β-catenin. APC also undergoes LLPS in vitro and enhances the size and dynamics of Axin phase droplets. The LLPS-driven assembly of the destruction complex facilitates β-catenin phosphorylation by GSK3β and is critical for the regulation of β-catenin protein stability and thus Wnt/β-catenin signaling.

scholarly journals The Ligand of Ate1 is intrinsically disordered and participates in nucleolar phase separation regulated by Jumonji Domain Containing 6

2020 ◽  
Vol 118 (1) ◽  
pp. e2015887118
Author(s):  
Akshaya Arva ◽  
Yasar Arfat T. Kasu ◽  
Jennifer Duncan ◽  
Mosleh A. Alkhatatbeh ◽  
Christopher S. Brower
Keyword(s):  
Phase Separation ◽  
Liquid Phase ◽  
Protein Degradation ◽  
Unknown Function ◽  
Low Complexity ◽  
Bimolecular Fluorescence Complementation ◽  
Hydroxylase Activity ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered Region ◽  
Liquid Liquid Phase Separation

The Ligand of Ate1 (Liat1) is a protein of unknown function that was originally discovered through its interaction with arginyl-tRNA protein transferase 1 (Ate1), a component of the Arg/N-degron pathway of protein degradation. Here, we characterized the functional domains of mouse Liat1 and found that its N-terminal half comprises an intrinsically disordered region (IDR) that facilitates its liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) in the nucleolus. Using bimolecular fluorescence complementation and immunocytochemistry, we found that Liat1 is targeted to the nucleolus by a low-complexity poly-K region within its IDR. We also found that the lysyl-hydroxylase activity of Jumonji Domain Containing 6 (Jmjd6) modifies Liat1, in a manner that requires the Liat1 poly-K region, and inhibits its nucleolar targeting and potential functions. In sum, this study reveals that Liat1 participates in nucleolar LLPS regulated by Jmjd6.

scholarly journals Does liquid–liquid phase separation drive peptide folding?

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dean N. Edun ◽  
Meredith R. Flanagan ◽  
Arnaldo L. Serrano
Keyword(s):  
Infrared Spectroscopy ◽  
Phase Separation ◽  
Liquid Phase ◽  
Model Membrane ◽  
Peptide Folding ◽  
Two Dimensional ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered Peptide ◽  
Two Dimensional Infrared Spectroscopy ◽  
Liquid Liquid Phase Separation

Two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy reveals folding of an intrinsically disordered peptide when sequestered into a model “membrane-less” organelle.

scholarly journals G-quadruplex DNA inhibits unwinding activity but promotes liquid–liquid phase separation by the DEAD-box helicase Ded1p

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jun Gao ◽  
Zhaofeng Gao ◽  
Andrea A. Putnam ◽  
Alicia K. Byrd ◽  
Sarah L. Venus ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Phase Separation ◽  
Liquid Phase ◽  
Liquid Phase Separation ◽  
Intrinsically Disordered ◽  
Dead Box ◽  
G4 Dna ◽  
G Quadruplex ◽  
The Dead ◽  
Liquid Liquid Phase Separation

G-quadruplex (G4) DNA inhibits RNA unwinding activity but promotes liquid–liquid phase separation of the DEAD-box helicase Ded1p in vitro and in cells. This highlights multifaceted effects of G4DNA on an enzyme with intrinsically disordered domains.

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