Tandem-repeat proteins introduce tuneable properties to engineered biomolecular condensates.
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The cell's ability to rapidly partition biomolecules into biomolecular condensates is linked to a diverse range of cellular functions. Understanding how the structural attributes of biomolecular condensates are linked with their biological roles can be facilitated by the development of synthetic condensate systems that can be manipulated in a controllable and predictable way. Here, we design and characterise a tuneable synthetic biomolecular condensate platform fusing modular consensus-designed tetratricopeptide repeat (CTPR) proteins to intrinsically-disordered domains. Trends between the CTPR structural attributes and condensate propensity were recapitulated across different experimental conditions and by in silico modelling, demonstrating that the CTPR domain can systematically affect the condensates in a predictable manner. Moreover, we show that incorporating short binding motifs into the CTPR domain results in specific target-protein recruitment into the condensates. Our model system can be rationally designed in a versatile manner to both tune condensate propensity and endow the condensates with new functions.
Source: Apollo (University of Cambridge)
DOI: 10.17863/cam.117938
Authors: Ng, Tin Long Chris, Hoare, Mateo P, Maristany, M Julia, Wilde, Ellis J, Sneideris, Tomas, Huertas, Jan, Agbetiameh, Belinda K, Furukawa, Mona, Joseph, Jerelle A, Knowles, Tuomas PJ, Collepardo-Guevara, Rosana, Itzhaki, Laura S, Kumita, Janet R
Language: English
Topic: RNA Research and Splicing
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funder: Royal Society
Award: G7342468323
OpenAlex ID: W6925028949
FWCI:
Cites:
Cited by:
Related to: