Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Studies suggest that protein condensation regulates cellular metabolism. The overproduction of extracellular glutamate in Corynebacterium glutamicum causes a global increase in metabolic flux toward glutamate synthesis without increasing metabolic enzyme levels. This suggests a post-translational mechanism of metabolic regulation. In this study, we determined that citrate synthase (CgCS) formed droplet-like condensates in C. glutamicum cells. CgCS condensation was observed in growing cells containing catalytically active CgCS. In vivo and in vitro studies revealed that oxaloacetate, a substrate of CS, regulated condensate formation and suggested that substrate-assisted conformational change in CgCS was important for condensation, i.e. catalysis-dependent condensation. Notably, the impairment of CgCS condensation was correlated with defective extracellular glutamate production. In glutamate production-deficient strains, intracellular amino acid profiles fluctuated, although the metabolism to supply 2-oxoglutarate was active. Our results suggest that CgCS condensation plays a distinct role in glutamate overproduction-related metabolism. These findings support the development of engineered condensate-based regulatory modules.
Source: Nature Communications
Authors: Makoto Nagaoka, Tomoshi Kameda, Kaito Kobayashi, Ayako Yoshida, Makoto Nishiyama, Saori Kosono
Language: English
Subfield: Molecular Biology
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $6,990
OpenAlex ID: W7203736979
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