scholarly journals Hyperactivation of L-lactate oxidase by liquid-liquid phase separation

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomoto Ura ◽  
Ako Kagawa ◽  
Hiromasa Yagi ◽  
Naoya Tochio ◽  
Takanori Kigawa ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTLiquid droplets formed by liquid-liquid phase separation are attracting attention as functional states of proteins in living cells. Liquid droplets are thought to activate enzymatic reactions by assembling the required molecules. Thus, liquid droplets usually increase the affinity of an enzyme to its substrates, leading to decreased KM values. In this study, we demonstrate a new mechanism of enzyme activation in the droplets using Llactate oxidase (LOX). In the presence of poly-L-lysine (PLL), LOX formed droplets with diameters of hundreds of nanometers to tens of micrometers, stabilized by electro-static interaction. The enzyme activity of LOX in the droplets was significantly enhanced by a fourfold decrease in KM and a tenfold increase in kcat. To our knowledge, this represents the first report for increasing kcat by the formation of the liquid droplet. Interestingly, the conformation of LOX changed in the liquid droplet, probably leading to increased kcat value. Understanding enzyme activation in the droplets provides essential information about enzyme function in living cells in addition to biotechnology applications.

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomoto Ura ◽  
Shunsuke Tomita ◽  
Kentaro Shiraki

<p>A model system was developed that dynamically generates two different liquid droplets via liquid–liquid phase separation coupled with a sequential glycolytic reaction. The sequential two-enzyme reaction triggers the formation/dissolution of the liquid droplets. The droplets, in turn, compartmentalize each enzymatic step and generate feedback to accelerate the overall reaction.</p>


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manzar Abbas ◽  
Wojciech P. Lipiński ◽  
Karina K. Nakashima ◽  
Wilhelm T.S. Huck ◽  
Evan Spruijt

Liquid-liquid phase separation of disordered proteins has emerged as a ubiquitous route to membraneless compartments in living cells, and similar coacervates may have played a role when the first cells formed. However, existing coacervates are typically made of multiple macromolecular components, and designing short peptide analogues capable of self-coacervation has proven difficult. Here, we present a short peptide synthon for phase separation, made of only two dipeptide stickers linked via a flexible, hydrophilic spacer. These small-molecule compounds self-coacervate into micrometre-sized liquid droplets at sub-mM concentrations, which retain up to 75 weight-% water. The design is general and we derive guidelines for the required sticker hydrophobicity and spacer polarity. To illustrate their potential as protocells, we create a disulphide-linked derivative that undergoes reversible compartmentalisation controlled by redox chemistry. The resulting coacervates sequester and melt nucleic acids, and act as microreactors that catalyse two different anabolic reactions yielding molecules of increasing complexity. This provides a stepping stone for new protocells made of single peptide species.<br>


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Manzar Abbas ◽  
Wojciech P. Lipiński ◽  
Karina K. Nakashima ◽  
Wilhelm T.S. Huck ◽  
Evan Spruijt

Liquid-liquid phase separation of disordered proteins has emerged as a ubiquitous route to membraneless compartments in living cells, and similar coacervates may have played a role when the first cells formed. However, existing coacervates are typically made of multiple macromolecular components, and designing short peptide analogues capable of self-coacervation has proven difficult. Here, we present a short peptide synthon for phase separation, made of only two dipeptide stickers linked via a flexible, hydrophilic spacer. These small-molecule compounds self-coacervate into micrometre-sized liquid droplets at sub-mM concentrations, which retain up to 75 weight-% water. The design is general and we derive guidelines for the required sticker hydrophobicity and spacer polarity. To illustrate their potential as protocells, we create a disulphide-linked derivative that undergoes reversible compartmentalisation controlled by redox chemistry. The resulting coacervates sequester and melt nucleic acids, and act as microreactors that catalyse two different anabolic reactions yielding molecules of increasing complexity. This provides a stepping stone for new protocells made of single peptide species.<br>


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomoto Ura ◽  
Shunsuke Tomita ◽  
Kentaro Shiraki

<p>A model system was developed that dynamically generates two different liquid droplets via liquid–liquid phase separation coupled with a sequential glycolytic reaction. The sequential two-enzyme reaction triggers the formation/dissolution of the liquid droplets. The droplets, in turn, compartmentalize each enzymatic step and generate feedback to accelerate the overall reaction.</p>


2020 ◽  
Vol 56 (78) ◽  
pp. 11577-11580
Author(s):  
Rosario Oliva ◽  
Sanjib K. Mukherjee ◽  
Zamira Fetahaj ◽  
Simone Möbitz ◽  
Roland Winter

Protein/RNA droplet formation by liquid–liquid phase separation has emerged as a key mechanism for cellular organization. We show that binding of antimicrobial peptides such as LL-III can lead to loss of droplet function.


2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (23) ◽  
pp. eaba3471 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yusuke Sato ◽  
Tetsuro Sakamoto ◽  
Masahiro Takinoue

DNA has the potential to achieve a controllable macromolecular structure, such as hydrogels or droplets formed through liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), as the design of its base sequence can result in programmable interactions. Here, we constructed “DNA droplets” via LLPS of sequence-designed DNA nanostructures and controlled their dynamic functions by designing their sequences. Specifically, we were able to adjust the temperature required for the formation of DNA droplets by designing the sequences. In addition, the fusion, fission, and formation of Janus-shaped droplets were controlled by sequence design and enzymatic reactions. Furthermore, modifications of proteins with sequence-designed DNAs allowed for their capture into specific droplets. Overall, our results provide a platform for designing and controlling macromolecular droplets via the information encoded in component molecules and pave the way for various applications of sequence-designed DNA such as cell mimics, synthetic membraneless organelles, and artificial molecular systems.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Soumik Ray ◽  
Nitu Singh ◽  
Satyaprakash Pandey ◽  
Rakesh Kumar ◽  
Laxmikant Gadhe ◽  
...  

SUMMARYα-Synuclein (α-Syn) aggregation and amyloid formation is directly linked with Parkinson’s disease (PD) pathogenesis. However, the early events involved in this process remain unclear. Here, using in vitro reconstitution and cellular model, we show that liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of α-Syn precedes its aggregation. In particular, in vitro generated α-Syn liquid-like droplets eventually undergo a liquid-to-solid transition and form amyloid-hydrogel containing oligomers and fibrillar species. Factors known to aggravate α-Syn aggregation such as low pH, phosphomimic substitution, and familial PD mutation also promote α-Syn LLPS and its subsequent maturation. We further demonstrate α-Syn liquid droplet formation in cells, under oxidative stress. These cellular α-Syn droplets eventually transform into perinuclear aggresomes, the process regulated by microtubules. The present work provides detailed insights into the phase separation behavior of natively unstructured α-Syn and its conversion to a disease-associated aggregated state, which is highly relevant in PD pathogenesis.


2020 ◽  
Vol 219 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xuemei Zhang ◽  
Michael Vigers ◽  
James McCarty ◽  
Jennifer N. Rauch ◽  
Glenn H. Fredrickson ◽  
...  

Tau protein in vitro can undergo liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS); however, observations of this phase transition in living cells are limited. To investigate protein state transitions in living cells, we attached Cry2 to Tau and studied the contribution of each domain that drives the Tau cluster in living cells. Surprisingly, the proline-rich domain (PRD), not the microtubule binding domain (MTBD), drives LLPS and does so under the control of its phosphorylation state. Readily observable, PRD-derived cytoplasmic condensates underwent fusion and fluorescence recovery after photobleaching consistent with the PRD LLPS in vitro. Simulations demonstrated that the charge properties of the PRD predicted phase separation. Tau PRD formed heterotypic condensates with EB1, a regulator of plus-end microtubule dynamic instability. The specific domain properties of the MTBD and PRD serve distinct but mutually complementary roles that use LLPS in a cellular context to implement emergent functionalities that scale their relationship from binding α-beta tubulin heterodimers to the larger proportions of microtubules.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomoto Ura ◽  
Shunsuke Tomita ◽  
Kentaro Shiraki

Dynamic droplet formation via liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) is believed to be involved in the regulation of various biological processes. Here, a model LLPS system coupled with a sequential glycolytic...


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