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Molecular structure in biomolecular condensates.

Ivan Peran¹, Tanja Mittag¹

¹Department of Structural Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.

Current Opinion in Structural Biology

|December 3, 2019

Summary

Biomolecular condensates form via liquid-liquid phase separation. Their function depends on constituent structures, with ongoing debate about whether disordered low-complexity domains remain disordered or form amyloid-like cross-β structures.

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Atomic Scale Structural Studies of Macromolecular Assemblies by Solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Atomic Scale Structural Studies of Macromolecular Assemblies by Solid-state Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Published on: September 17, 2017

Area of Science:

Cell Biology
Biochemistry
Structural Biology

Background:

Biomolecular condensates form through liquid-liquid phase separation.
These condensates are crucial for cellular processes like transcription and translation.
Understanding condensate structure is key to their function.

Purpose of the Study:

To review current understanding of biomolecular condensate constituent structures.
To explore contrasting viewpoints on the structure of disordered low-complexity domains within condensates.
To identify key questions for future research on condensate structure-function relationships.

Main Methods:

Literature review of existing evidence on biomolecular condensate structures.
Analysis of proposed models for low-complexity domain organization within condensates.
Synthesis of current knowledge and identification of research gaps.

Main Results:

Multivalent domain-motif interactions appear stable within condensates.
Two main hypotheses exist for disordered low-complexity domains: remaining disordered with "sticker" motifs or forming cross-β/amyloid-like structures.
The precise structural state of these domains within condensates is still debated.

Conclusions:

The structural organization of biomolecular condensate constituents is critical for their function.
Further research is needed to resolve the structural nature of disordered low-complexity domains.
Clarifying these structures will advance our understanding of cellular organization and regulation.