Triblock Proteins with Weakly Dimerizing Terminal Blocks and an Intrinsically Disordered Region for Rational Design
Dmitrii Fedorov1,2, Nelmary Roas-Escalona1,2, Dmitry Tolmachev2,3
1Department of Bioproducts and Biosystems, Aalto University, P.O. Box 16100, Aalto, FI-00076, Finland.
Researchers engineered protein triblocks to control liquid-liquid phase separation for creating functional condensates. Weak interactions in terminal blocks predictably tune condensate formation, enabling applications in synthetic biology and materials science.
Area of Science:
- Biochemistry
- Materials Science
- Synthetic Biology
Background:
- Molecular condensates form via liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) and are crucial for biological processes.
- Designing and controlling condensate properties is key for applications in synthetic biology and biomaterials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To engineer protein structures for predictable control over condensate formation.
- To investigate the relationship between protein terminal block dimerization and LLPS propensity.
Main Methods:
- Constructed protein triblocks with folded terminal domains flanking an intrinsically disordered region.
- Quantified dissociation constants of terminal block dimers (micromolar to millimolar range).
- Assessed the impact of varying terminal block dimerization on LLPS behavior.
Main Results:
- Adjustable condensate formation achieved by tuning weak dimerization of terminal blocks.
- Dissociation constants of terminal domains directly correlated with LLPS tendency.
- Physical properties like diffusion rates were independent of dimerization strength but influenced by block interplay.
Conclusions:
- Weak interactions are critical for controlling condensate formation.
- Demonstrated a rational design principle for fabricating functional protein condensates.
- Findings facilitate predictable engineering of biomolecular condensates for diverse applications.
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