scholarly journals High fidelity reconstitution of stress granules and nucleoli in mammalian cellular lysate

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian D. Freibaum ◽  
James Messing ◽  
Peiguo Yang ◽  
Hong Joo Kim ◽  
J. Paul Taylor

AbstractLiquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) is an important mechanism of intracellular organization that underlies the assembly of a variety of distinct RNP granules. Fundamental biophysical principles governing LLPS during RNP granule assembly have been revealed by simple in vitro systems consisting of several components, but these systems have limitations when studying the biology of complex, multicomponent RNP granules. Visualization of RNP granules in live cells has validated key principles revealed by simple in vitro systems, but this approach presents difficulties for interrogating biophysical features of RNP granules and provides limited ability to manipulate protein, nucleic acid, or small molecule concentrations. Here we introduce a system that builds upon recent insights into the mechanisms underlying RNP granule assembly and permits high fidelity reconstitution of stress granules and the granular component of nucleoli in mammalian cellular lysate. This system fills the gap between simple in vitro systems and live cells, and allows for a wide variety of studies of membraneless organelles.

2021 ◽  
Vol 220 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Brian D. Freibaum ◽  
James Messing ◽  
Peiguo Yang ◽  
Hong Joo Kim ◽  
J. Paul Taylor

Liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) is a mechanism of intracellular organization that underlies the assembly of a variety of RNP granules. Fundamental biophysical principles governing LLPS during granule assembly have been revealed by simple in vitro systems, but these systems have limitations when studying the biology of complex, multicomponent RNP granules. Visualization of RNP granules in cells has validated key principles revealed by simple in vitro systems, but this approach presents difficulties for interrogating biophysical features of RNP granules and provides limited ability to manipulate protein, nucleic acid, or small molecule concentrations. Here, we introduce a system that builds upon recent insights into the mechanisms underlying RNP granule assembly and permits high-fidelity reconstitution of stress granules and the granular component of nucleoli in mammalian cellular lysate. This system fills the gap between simple in vitro systems and live cells and allows for a variety of studies of membraneless organelles, including the development of therapeutics that modify properties of specific condensates.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard J. Wheeler ◽  
Hyun O. Lee ◽  
Ina Poser ◽  
Arun Pal ◽  
Thom Doeleman ◽  
...  

AbstractAmyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease with few avenues for treatment. Many proteins implicated in ALS associate with stress granules, which are examples of liquid-like compartments formed by phase separation. Aberrant phase transition of stress granules has been implicated in disease, suggesting that modulation of phase transitions could be a possible therapeutic route. Here, we combine cell-based and protein-based screens to show that lipoamide, and its related compound lipoic acid, reduce the propensity of stress granule proteins to aggregate in vitro. More significantly, they also prevented aggregation of proteins over the life time of Caenorhabditis elegans. Observations that they prevent dieback of ALS patient-derived (FUS mutant) motor neuron axons in culture and recover motor defects in Drosophila melanogaster expressing FUS mutants suggest plausibility as effective therapeutics. Our results suggest that altering phase behaviour of stress granule proteins in the cytoplasm could be a novel route to treat ALS.


2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marina Garcia-Jove Navarro ◽  
Shunnichi Kashida ◽  
Racha Chouaib ◽  
Sylvie Souquere ◽  
Gerard Pierron ◽  
...  

SummaryLiquid-liquid phase separation is thought to be a key organizing principle in eukaryotic cells to generate highly concentrated dynamic assemblies, such as the RNP granules. Numerous in vitro approaches have validated this model, yet a missing aspect is to take into consideration the complex molecular mixture and promiscuous interactions found in vivo. Here we report the versatile scaffold “ArtiG” to generate concentration-dependent RNA-protein condensates within living cells, as a bottom-up approach to study the impact of co-segregated endogenous components on phase separation. We demonstrate that intracellular RNA seeds the nucleation of the condensates, as it provides molecular cues to locally coordinate the formation of endogenous high order RNP assemblies. Interestingly, the co-segregation of intracellular components ultimately impacts the size of the phase-separated condensates. Thus, RNA arises as an architectural element that can influence the composition and the morphological outcome of the condensate phases in an intracellular context.


RNA ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. rna.079008.121
Author(s):  
Simon L Currie ◽  
Michael K Rosen

Many biomolecular condensates are thought to form via liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of multivalent macromolecules. For those that form through this mechanism, our understanding has benefitted significantly from biochemical reconstitutions of key components and activities. Reconstitutions of RNA-based condensates to date have mostly been based on relatively simple collections of molecules. However, proteomics and sequencing data indicate that natural RNA-based condensates are enriched in hundreds to thousands of different components, and genetic data suggest multiple interactions can contribute to condensate formation to varying degrees. In this perspective we describe recent progress in understanding RNA-based condensates through different levels of biochemical reconstitutions, as a means to bridge the gap between simple in vitro reconstitution and cellular analyses. Complex reconstitutions provide insight into the formation, regulation, and functions of multi-component condensates. We focus on two RNA-protein condensate case studies: stress granules and RNA processing bodies (P bodies), and examine the evidence for cooperative interactions among multiple components promoting LLPS. An important concept emerging from these studies is that composition and stoichiometry regulate biochemical activities within condensates. Based on the lessons learned from stress granules and P bodies we discuss forward-looking approaches to understand the thermodynamic relationships between condensate components, with the goal of developing predictive models of composition and material properties, and their effects on biochemical activities. We anticipate that quantitative reconstitutions will facilitate understanding of the complex thermodynamics and functions of diverse RNA-protein condensates.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica F. Williams ◽  
Ivan V. Surovtsev ◽  
Sarah M. Schreiner ◽  
Hang Nguyen ◽  
Yan Hu ◽  
...  

SummaryLiquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) has emerged as a major driver of cellular organization. However, it remains unexplored whether the mechanical properties of LLPS domains are functionally important. The heterochromatin protein HP1-α (and the orthologous Swi6 in S. pombe) is capable of LLPS in vitro and promotes formation of LLPS heterochromatin domains in vivo. Here, we demonstrate that LLPS of Swi6 contributes to the emergent mechanical properties of nuclei. Using nuclear fluctuation analysis in live cells and force spectroscopy of isolated nuclei, we find that disrupting histone H3K9 methylation or depleting Swi6 compromises nuclear stiffness, while heterochromatin spreading through loss of the H3K9 demethylase, Epe1, increases nuclear stiffness. Leveraging a separation-of-function allele, we demonstrate that phase separation of Swi6—but not its histone binding or dimerization—is essential for Swi6’s mechanical role. These findings demonstrate that altering chromatin state has mechanical consequences and highlights that phase-separated domains can do mechanical work.


Author(s):  
E. D. Salmon ◽  
J. C. Waters ◽  
C. Waterman-Storer

We have developed a multi-mode digital imaging system which acquires images with a cooled CCD camera (Figure 1). A multiple band pass dichromatic mirror and robotically controlled filter wheels provide wavelength selection for epi-fluorescence. Shutters select illumination either by epi-fluorescence or by transmitted light for phase contrast or DIC. Many of our experiments involve investigations of spindle assembly dynamics and chromosome movements in live cells or unfixed reconstituted preparations in vitro in which photodamage and phototoxicity are major concerns. As a consequence, a major factor in the design was optical efficiency: achieving the highest image quality with the least number of illumination photons. This principle applies to both epi-fluorescence and transmitted light imaging modes. In living cells and extracts, microtubules are visualized using X-rhodamine labeled tubulin. Photoactivation of C2CF-fluorescein labeled tubulin is used to locally mark microtubules in studies of microtubule dynamics and translocation. Chromosomes are labeled with DAPI or Hoechst DNA intercalating dyes.


1999 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 85-89 ◽  
Author(s):  
L L Otis ◽  
B W Colston ◽  
M J Everett ◽  
H Nathel

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jing Liu ◽  
Ying Xie ◽  
Jing Guo ◽  
Xin Li ◽  
Jingjing Wang ◽  
...  

AbstractDevelopment of chemoresistance is the main reason for failure of clinical management of multiple myeloma (MM), but the genetic and epigenetic aberrations that interact to confer such chemoresistance remains unknown. In the present study, we find that high steroid receptor coactivator-3 (SRC-3) expression is correlated with relapse/refractory and poor outcomes in MM patients treated with bortezomib (BTZ)-based regimens. Furthermore, in immortalized cell lines, high SRC-3 enhances resistance to proteasome inhibitor (PI)-induced apoptosis. Overexpressed histone methyltransferase NSD2 in patients bearing a t(4;14) translocation or in BTZ-resistant MM cells coordinates elevated SRC-3 by enhancing its liquid–liquid phase separation to supranormally modify histone H3 lysine 36 dimethylation (H3K36me2) modifications on promoters of anti-apoptotic genes. Targeting SRC-3 or interference of its interactions with NSD2 using a newly developed inhibitor, SI-2, sensitizes BTZ treatment and overcomes drug resistance both in vitro and in vivo. Taken together, our findings elucidate a previously unrecognized orchestration of SRC-3 and NSD2 in acquired drug resistance of MM and suggest that SI-2 may be efficacious for overcoming drug resistance in MM patients.


1993 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-80
Author(s):  
Matteo Valentino ◽  
Francesca Monaco ◽  
Maria Antonietta Pizzichini ◽  
Mario Governa

The acute cytotoxicity of the first ten MEIC chemicals has been estimated by others in various cell lines. In the present investigation, isolated human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) from ten healthy non-smoking laboratory personnel were used to assess in vitro toxicity of the same chemicals. The cells were treated with different concentrations of the respective chemicals for three hours and their vitality and chemotaxis were tested. Vitality was measured by fluorescence microscopy after the addition of fluorescein diacetate and ethidium bromide. Living cells which took up and hydrolysed fluorescein diacetate, and dead cells, stained by ethidium bromide, were counted and the percentage of live cells was calculated. Locomotion stimulated by the chemotactic peptide formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (F-MLP), was measured in blind-well Boyden chambers and a chemotactic index was calculated. The results were mathematically transformed to produce a linear curve, and then fitted by the linear least squares procedure, from which LC50 and IC50 values were obtained by interpolation. All the chemicals decreased the vitality and inhibited the chemotaxis of the PMN. Obviously the chemotactic test was more sensitive than the vitality one. A correlation (r = 0.933) was found between vitality and chemotaxis inhibition. Spearman rank correlation analysis revealed significant correlations between our results and those from in vitro experiments conducted in other laboratories, as well as with data concerning mouse, rat and human lethal doses.


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