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4D Imaging of Protein Aggregation in Live Cells

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Microcompartmentation in artificial cells: pH-induced conformational changes alter protein localization.

Lisa M Dominak¹, Erica L Gundermann, Christine D Keating

¹Department of Chemistry, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA.

Langmuir : the ACS Journal of Surfaces and Colloids

|November 26, 2009

Summary

Researchers created artificial cells where pH controls protein location. Proteins shift between compartments within giant lipid vesicles, offering insights into cellular biology and protein localization dynamics.

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Area of Science:

Synthetic biology
Biochemistry
Cell biology

Background:

Artificial cells provide simplified models for studying complex cellular processes.
Protein localization is crucial for cellular function and regulation.
Phase separation in biological systems can create distinct cellular compartments.

Purpose of the Study:

To develop a synthetic model of artificial cells where protein localization is controlled by external stimuli.
To investigate the pH-dependent partitioning of proteins between coexisting aqueous phases within giant vesicles.
To demonstrate the potential of these artificial cells as a platform for studying protein localization in a controlled environment.

Main Methods:

Construction of giant lipid vesicles (GVs) containing phase-separated poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) and dextran solutions.
Utilizing confocal fluorescence microscopy to quantify the concentration of fluorescently labeled human serum albumin (HSA).
Manipulating external pH to induce and observe protein relocalization between PEG-rich and dextran-rich compartments.

Main Results:

Human serum albumin (HSA) exhibited pH-dependent localization, favoring the dextran-rich phase at pH 6.5 and the PEG-rich phase at pH 4.1 or 12.
Protein conformation changes (expansion/hydrophobicity at extreme pH) influenced partitioning behavior.
Successful relocalization of HSA from PEG-rich to dextran-rich phases was achieved by increasing pH, indicating protein renaturation and phase preference change.
Demonstrated generalizability by showing pH-responsive relocalization of various other proteins within the artificial cell model.

Conclusions:

Developed a functional artificial cell model with pH-controlled protein localization through phase separation.
The system allows for stimulus-responsive protein relocalization without significant internal reorganization.
This platform offers a valuable framework for exploring the functional consequences of protein localization in biological systems and synthetic cell design.