Novel LOTUS-domain proteins are organizational hubs that recruit C. elegans Vasa to germ granules

We describe MIP-1 and MIP-2, novel paralogous C. elegans germ granule components that interact with the intrinsically disordered MEG-3 protein. These proteins promote P granule condensation, form granules independently of MEG-3 in the postembryonic germ line, and balance each other in regulating P granule growth and localization. MIP-1 and MIP-2 each contain two LOTUS domains and intrinsically disordered regions and form homo- and heterodimers. They bind and anchor the Vasa homolog GLH-1 within P granules and are jointly required for coalescence of MEG-3, GLH-1, and PGL proteins. Animals lacking MIP-1 and MIP-2 show temperature-sensitive embryonic lethality, sterility, and mortal germ lines. Germline phenotypes include defects in stem cell self-renewal, meiotic progression, and gamete differentiation. We propose that these proteins serve as scaffolds and organizing centers for ribonucleoprotein networks within P granules that help recruit and balance essential RNA processing machinery to regulate key developmental transitions in the germ line.

A novel function for Rab1 and Rab11 during secretory granule maturation

Regulated exocytosis is an essential process whereby specific cargo proteins are secreted in a stimulus-dependent manner. Cargo-containing secretory granules are synthesized in the trans-Golgi Network (TGN); after budding from the TGN, granules undergo modifications, including an increase in size. These changes occur during a poorly understood process called secretory granule maturation. Here we leverage the Drosophila larval salivary glands as a model to characterize a novel role for Rab GTPases during granule maturation. We find that secretory granules increase in size ∼300-fold between biogenesis and release, and loss of Rab1 or Rab11 reduces granule size. Surprisingly, we find that Rab1 and Rab11 localize to secretory granule membranes. Rab11 associates with granule membranes throughout maturation, and Rab11 recruits Rab1. In turn, Rab1 associates specifically with immature granules and drives granule growth. In addition to roles in granule growth, both Rab1 and Rab11 appear to have additional functions during exocytosis; Rab11 function is necessary for exocytosis, while the presence of Rab1 on immature granules may prevent precocious exocytosis. Overall, these results highlight a new role for Rab GTPases in secretory granule maturation.

Novel LOTUS-domain proteins are organizational hubs that recruit C. elegans Vasa to germ granules

We describe MIP-1 and MIP-2, novel paralogous C. elegans germ granule components that interact with the intrinsically disordered MEG-3 protein. These proteins promote P granule condensation, form granules independently of MEG-3 in the postembryonic germ line and balance each other in regulating P granule growth and localization. MIP-1 and MIP-2 each contain two LOTUS domains and intrinsically disordered regions and form homo- and heterodimers. They bind and anchor the Vasa homolog GLH-1 within P granules and are jointly required for coalescence of MEG-3, GLH-1, and PGL proteins. Animals lacking MIP-1 and MIP-2 show temperature-sensitive embryonic lethality, sterility, and mortal germ lines. Germline phenotypes include defects in stem cell self-renewal, meiotic progression, and gamete differentiation. We propose that these proteins serve as scaffolds and organizing centers for ribonucleoprotein networks within P granules that help recruit and balance essential RNA processing machinery to regulate key developmental transitions in the germ line.

Identification of Granule Growth Regimes in High Shear Wet Granulation Processes Using a Physics-Constrained Neural Network

The digitization of manufacturing processes has led to an increase in the availability of process data, which has enabled the use of data-driven models to predict the outcomes of these manufacturing processes. Data-driven models are instantaneous in simulate and can provide real-time predictions but lack any governing physics within their framework. When process data deviates from original conditions, the predictions from these models may not agree with physical boundaries. In such cases, the use of first-principle-based models to predict process outcomes have proven to be effective but computationally inefficient and cannot be solved in real time. Thus, there remains a need to develop efficient data-driven models with a physical understanding about the process. In this work, we have demonstrate the addition of physics-based boundary conditions constraints to a neural network to improve its predictability for granule density and granule size distribution (GSD) for a high shear granulation process. The physics-constrained neural network (PCNN) was better at predicting granule growth regimes when compared to other neural networks with no physical constraints. When input data that violated physics-based boundaries was provided, the PCNN identified these points more accurately compared to other non-physics constrained neural networks, with an error of <1%. A sensitivity analysis of the PCNN to the input variables was also performed to understand individual effects on the final outputs.

A novel function for Rab proteins during maturation of secretory granules

Regulated exocytosis is an essential process whereby professional secretory cells synthesize and secrete specific cargo proteins in a stimulus-dependent manner. Cargo-containing secretory granules are synthesized in the trans-Golgi Network (TGN); after budding from the TGN, granules undergo many modifications, including a dramatic increase in size. These changes occur during a poorly understood process called secretory granule maturation. Here we leverage the professional secretory cells of the Drosophila larval salivary glands as a model system to characterize a novel and unexpected role for Rab GTPases during secretory granule maturation. We find that secretory granules in the larval salivary glands increase in size ~300-fold between biogenesis and release, and loss of Rab1 or Rab11 dramatically reduces granule size. Surprisingly, we find that Rab1 and Rab11 protein localize to secretory granule membranes. Rab11 associates with granule membranes throughout the maturation process, and Rab11 is required for recruitment of Rab1. In turn, Rab1 associates specifically with immature secretory granules and drives granule growth. In addition to their roles in granule growth, both Rab1 and Rab11 appear to have additional roles during exocytosis; Rab11 function is necessary for exocytosis, while the presence of Rab1 on immature granules may prevent precocious exocytosis. Overall, these results highlight a new and unexpected role for Rab GTPases in secretory granule maturation.