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Membrane Remodeling of Giant Vesicles in Response to Localized Calcium Ion Gradients
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Biomolecular Condensates can Induce Local Membrane Potentials.

Anthony Gurunian1, Keren Lasker1, Ashok A Deniz1

  • 1Department of Integrative Structural and Computational Biology, The Scripps Research Institute, 10550 N. Torrey Pines Rd., La Jolla, CA 92037.

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Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Biomolecular condensates can alter the electrical potential of nearby cell membranes. This study shows how charged condensates induce local membrane potential changes, impacting cellular processes.

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Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Biophysics
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Biomolecular condensates are membrane-less cellular compartments crucial for biological processes.
  • Condensates can interact with lipid membranes, influencing cellular functions like autophagy and T-cell activation.
  • The surface charge of condensates suggests a potential to influence membrane electrical properties.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate whether charged biomolecular condensates can induce a local membrane potential.
  • To explore the biophysical mechanisms underlying condensate-membrane electrical interactions.
  • To assess the implications for cellular signaling, particularly in neuronal contexts.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized poly-lysine/ATP condensates and Giant Unilamellar Vesicles (GUVs) as a model system.
  • Employed an electrochromic dye to detect and quantify localized membrane potential changes.
  • Performed numerical modeling using an electro-thermodynamic framework to simulate condensate-membrane interactions.

Main Results:

  • Demonstrated that poly-lysine/ATP condensates induce a localized membrane potential in GUVs.
  • Found that the induced membrane potential is dependent on salt concentration and the ratio of ATP to poly-lysine.
  • Experimental findings were supported by numerical modeling, identifying key influencing parameters.

Conclusions:

  • Charged biomolecular condensates can directly alter the electrical potential of lipid membranes.
  • Condensate-membrane electrical interactions are modulated by ionic strength and condensate composition.
  • These findings suggest a novel regulatory mechanism in biological processes involving membrane potential, such as neuronal signaling.