Protein phase separation: physical models and phase-separation- mediated cancer signaling

Membraneless organelles are liquid-like domains that form inside living cells by phase-separation. While standard physical models of their formation assume their surroundings to be a simple liquid, the cytoplasm is an active viscoelastic environment. To investigate potential coupling of phase separation with the cytoskeleton, we quantify structural correlations of stress granules and microtubules in a human-derived epithelial cell line. We find that microtubule networks are significantly perturbed in the vicinity of stress granules, and that large stress granules conform to the local pore-structure of the microtubule network. When microtubules are depolymerized by nocodazole, tubulin enrichment is localized near the surface of stress granules. We interpret these data using a thermodynamic model of partitioning of particles to the surface and bulk of droplets. This analysis shows that proteins generically have a non-specific affinity for droplet interfaces, which becomes most apparent when they weakly partition to the bulk of droplets and have a large molecular weight. In this framework, our data is consistent with a weak (lower than kbT) affinity of tubulin sub-units for stress granule interfaces. As microtubules polymerize their affinity for interfaces increases, providing sufficient adhesion to deform droplets and/or the network. We validate this basic physical phenomena in vitro through the interaction of a simple protein-RNA condensate with tubulin and microtubules.

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Recent Radiative and Collisional Atomic Data of Astrophysical Interest

International Astronomical Union Colloquium ◽

10.1017/s0252921100107596 ◽

1988 ◽

Vol 102 ◽

pp. 129-132

Author(s):

K.L. Baluja ◽

K. Butler ◽

J. Le Bourlot ◽

C.J. Zeippen

Keyword(s):

Mass Production ◽

Bound States ◽

Physical Models ◽

Impact Excitation ◽

Electron Impact Excitation ◽

Atomic Data ◽

Isoelectronic Sequence ◽

Astrophysical Interest ◽

Radiative Transitions ◽

Forbidden Transitions

SummaryUsing sophisticated computer programs and elaborate physical models, accurate radiative and collisional atomic data of astrophysical interest have been or are being calculated. The cases treated include radiative transitions between bound states in the 2p4and 2s2p5configurations of many ions in the oxygen isoelectronic sequence, the photoionisation of the ground state of neutral iron, the electron impact excitation of the fine-structure forbidden transitions within the 3p3ground configuration of CℓIII, Ar IV and K V, and the mass-production of radiative data for ions in the oxygen and fluorine isoelectronic sequences, as part of the international Opacity Project.

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Bulk standards for low-temperature biological x-ray microanalysis

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100111525 ◽

1984 ◽

Vol 42 ◽

pp. 282-283

Author(s):

P. Echlin ◽

M. McKoon ◽

E.S. Taylor ◽

C.E. Thomas ◽

K.L. Maloney ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Phase Separation ◽

Low Temperature ◽

Analytical Method ◽

Salt Solutions ◽

Absolute Concentration ◽

Cooling Process ◽

X Ray ◽

The Absolute ◽

Analytical Procedures ◽

Electrical Conductors

Although sections of frozen salt solutions have been used as standards for x-ray microanalysis, such solutions are less useful when analysed in the bulk form. They are poor thermal and electrical conductors and severe phase separation occurs during the cooling process. Following a suggestion by Whitecross et al we have made up a series of salt solutions containing a small amount of graphite to improve the sample conductivity. In addition, we have incorporated a polymer to ensure the formation of microcrystalline ice and a consequent homogenity of salt dispersion within the frozen matrix. The mixtures have been used to standardize the analytical procedures applied to frozen hydrated bulk specimens based on the peak/background analytical method and to measure the absolute concentration of elements in developing roots.

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Phase separation in sol gel-derived ceramic films of silica-zirconia, alumina-zirconia, and titania-zirconia system

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100170967 ◽

1994 ◽

Vol 52 ◽

pp. 646-647

Author(s):

J. Tong ◽

L. Eyring

Keyword(s):

Fracture Toughness ◽

Phase Separation ◽

Sol Gel ◽

Great Influence ◽

High Strength ◽

Chemical Durability ◽

Separation Method ◽

Toughening Mechanism ◽

Ceramic Films ◽

Zirconia Toughened Alumina

There is increasing interest in composites containing zirconia because of their high strength, fracture toughness, and its great influence on the chemical durability in glass. For the zirconia-silica system, monolithic glasses, fibers and coatings have been obtained. There is currently a great interest in designing zirconia-toughened alumina including exploration of the processing methods and the toughening mechanism.The possibility of forming nanocrystal composites by a phase separation method has been investigated in three systems: zirconia-alumina, zirconia-silica and zirconia-titania using HREM. The morphological observations initially suggest that the formation of nanocrystal composites by a phase separation method is possible in the zirconia-alumina and zirconia-silica systems, but impossible in the zirconia-titania system. The separation-produced grain size in silica-zirconia system is around 5 nm and is more uniform than that in the alumina-zirconia system in which the sizes of the small polyhedron grains are around 10 nm. In the titania-zirconia system, there is no obvious separation as was observed in die alumina-zirconia and silica-zirconia system.

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Cryo-TEM of amphiphilic polymer and amphiphile/polymer solutions

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100150216 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 51 ◽

pp. 876-877

Author(s):

Yeshayahu Talmon

Keyword(s):

Microstructural Characterization ◽

Building Blocks ◽

Quantitative Information ◽

Physical Models ◽

Specimen Preparation ◽

Time Resolved ◽

Temperature Changes ◽

Temperature And Humidity ◽

Microstructured Fluids ◽

Air Streams

To achieve complete microstructural characterization of self-aggregating systems, one needs direct images in addition to quantitative information from non-imaging, e.g., scattering or Theological measurements, techniques. Cryo-TEM enables us to image fluid microstructures at better than one nanometer resolution, with minimal specimen preparation artifacts. Direct images are used to determine the “building blocks” of the fluid microstructure; these are used to build reliable physical models with which quantitative information from techniques such as small-angle x-ray or neutron scattering can be analyzed.To prepare vitrified specimens of microstructured fluids, we have developed the Controlled Environment Vitrification System (CEVS), that enables us to prepare samples under controlled temperature and humidity conditions, thus minimizing microstructural rearrangement due to volatile evaporation or temperature changes. The CEVS may be used to trigger on-the-grid processes to induce formation of new phases, or to study intermediate, transient structures during change of phase (“time-resolved cryo-TEM”). Recently we have developed a new CEVS, where temperature and humidity are controlled by continuous flow of a mixture of humidified and dry air streams.

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Phase separation in fluid additive hard sphere mixtures?

Molecular Physics ◽

10.1080/002689798167034 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 95 (2) ◽

pp. 131-135 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

DOUGLAS HENDERSON DEZSO BODA KWONG-YU CHAN

Keyword(s):

Phase Separation ◽

Hard Sphere

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The plant response to heat requires phase separation

Nature ◽

10.1038/d41586-020-02442-x ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 585 (7824) ◽

pp. 191-192 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Simon Alberti

Keyword(s):

Phase Separation ◽

Plant Response

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Smectic a1 ↔ a2 transition of n_c-60.8 : a two-dimensional phase separation of the molecular endgroups

Journal de Physique ◽

10.1051/jphys:01989005003037500 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 50 (3) ◽

pp. 375-385 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

H. Fadel ◽

D. Guillon ◽

A. Skoulios ◽

F. Barbarin ◽

M. Dugay

Keyword(s):

Phase Separation ◽

Two Dimensional

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3D Data Viewing of Centrifuge Physical Models

GeoCongress 2006 ◽

10.1061/40803(187)283 ◽

2006 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Hassan Radwan ◽

Tarek Abdoun

Keyword(s):

Physical Models ◽

3D Data

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Influence of Polymer Charge, Temperature, and Surfactants on Surface Sizing of Liner and Greaseproof Paper With Hydrophobically Modified Starch

TAPPI Journal ◽

10.32964/tj8.2.33 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 8 (2) ◽

pp. 33-38 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

ANNA JONHED ◽

LARS JÄRNSTRÖM

Keyword(s):

Phase Separation ◽

Contact Angles ◽

Low Ph ◽

Hydrophobically Modified ◽

Paper Sizing ◽

Surface Sizing ◽

Separation Temperature ◽

Hydrophobic Nature ◽

Sizing Agents ◽

Charge Temperature

The aim of this study was to investigate the properties of hydrophobically modified (HM) quaterna-ry ammonium starch ethers for paper sizing. These starches possess temperature-responsive properties; that is, gelation or phase separation occurs at a certain temperature upon cooling. This insolubility of the HM starches in water at room temperature improved their performance as sizing agents. The contact angles for water on sized liner were substantially larger than on unsized liner. When the application temperature was well above the critical phase-separation temperature, larger contact angles were obtained for liner independently of pH compared with those at the lower application temperature. Cobb60 values for liner decreased upon surface sizing, with a low pH and high application temperature giving lower water penetration. Contact angles on greaseproof paper decreased upon sur-face sizing as compared to unsized greaseproof paper, independently of pH and temperature. Greaseproof paper showed no great difference between unsized substrates and substrates sized with HM starch at different pH. This is probably due to the already hydrophobic nature of greaseproof paper. However, the Cobb60 values increased at low pH and low application temperature. Surfactants were added to investigate how they affect the sized surface. Addition of surfactant reduces the contact angles, in spite of indications of complex formation.

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