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Updated: Sep 19, 2025
08:10
In Vitro Reconstitution of Self-Organizing Protein Patterns on Supported Lipid Bilayers
Published on: July 28, 2018
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Controlling Multiphase Coacervate Wetting and Self-Organization by Interfacial Proteins.
Tiemei Lu1,2, Susanne Liese3, Brent S Visser1
1Institute for Molecules and Materials, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, Nijmegen 6525 AJ, The Netherlands.
Journal of the American Chemical Society
|June 17, 2025
Summary
Surface-active proteins like alpha-synuclein (αSyn) control the organization of multiphase biomolecular condensates. Introducing αSyn transforms nested droplets into connected networks, forming dynamic "coacervate polymers" with implications for cellular organization.
Area of Science:
- Cellular biology
- Biophysics
- Materials science
Background:
- Biomolecular condensates organize cellular processes and often exhibit multiphase architectures.
- Regulation of transformations between multiphase architectures in cells is poorly understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate how surface-active proteins influence wetting and self-organization in multiphase coacervates.
- To understand the role of interfacial proteins in regulating condensate architecture and interactions.
Main Methods:
- Utilized multiphase coacervates (UTP/pLL/R10) as model systems.
- Introduced surface-active protein alpha-synuclein (αSyn) to study its effect on coacervate interfaces.
- Developed a theoretical model to explain the observed wetting transitions.
Main Results:
- αSyn induced a transition from nested to partially wetted droplets in multiphase coacervates.
- Partially wetted droplets formed dynamic, stable networks resembling polymers ("coacervate polymers").
- Diverse proteins (BSA, mCherry, FtsZ) demonstrated similar surface activity and organizational effects.
Conclusions:
- Interfacial proteins can control multiphase condensate organization and inter-condensate interactions.
- This mechanism may be crucial for cellular regulation of condensate stability and network formation.
- Findings suggest a general principle for protein-mediated control over condensate architecture.
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