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Controlling synthetic membraneless organelles by a red-light-dependent singlet oxygen-generating protein

Author

Listed:
  • Manjia Li

    (The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology)

  • Byung Min Park

    (The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology)

  • Xin Dai

    (The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Laboratory for Synthetic Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Health@InnoHK, Hong Kong Science Park)

  • Yingjie Xu

    (The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Shenzhen Bay Laboratory)

  • Jinqing Huang

    (The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology)

  • Fei Sun

    (The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
    Shenzhen Bay Laboratory
    Shenzhen Peking University–The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology Medical Center
    HKUST Shenzhen Research Institute)

Abstract

Membraneless organelles (MLOs) formed via protein phase separation have great implications for both physiological and pathological processes. However, the inability to precisely control the bioactivities of MLOs has hindered our understanding of their roles in biology, not to mention their translational applications. Here, by combining intrinsically disordered domains such as RGG and mussel-foot proteins, we create an in cellulo protein phase separation system, of which various biological activities can be introduced via metal-mediated protein immobilization and further controlled by the water-soluble chlorophyll protein (WSCP)—a remarkably stable, red-light-responsive singlet oxygen generator. The WSCP-laden protein condensates undergo a liquid-to-solid phase transition on light exposure, due to oxidative crosslinking, providing a means to control catalysis within synthetic MLOs. Moreover, these photoresponsive condensates, which retain the light-induced phase-transition behavior in living cells, exhibit marked membrane localization, reminiscent of the semi-membrane-bound compartments like postsynaptic densities in nervous systems. Together, this engineered system provides an approach toward controllable synthetic MLOs and, alongside its light-induced phase transition, may well serve to emulate and explore the aging process at the subcellular or even molecular level.

Suggested Citation

  • Manjia Li & Byung Min Park & Xin Dai & Yingjie Xu & Jinqing Huang & Fei Sun, 2022. "Controlling synthetic membraneless organelles by a red-light-dependent singlet oxygen-generating protein," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-30933-0
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30933-0
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Benjamin S. Schuster & Ellen H. Reed & Ranganath Parthasarathy & Craig N. Jahnke & Reese M. Caldwell & Jessica G. Bermudez & Holly Ramage & Matthew C. Good & Daniel A. Hammer, 2018. "Controllable protein phase separation and modular recruitment to form responsive membraneless organelles," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-12, December.
    2. Xin Dai & Wenhao Fu & Huanyu Chi & Vince St. Dollente Mesias & Hongni Zhu & Cheuk Wai Leung & Wei Liu & Jinqing Huang, 2021. "Optical tweezers-controlled hotspot for sensitive and reproducible surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy characterization of native protein structures," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-9, December.
    3. Qiuyan Wang & Iain A. Sawyer & Myong-Hee Sung & David Sturgill & Sergey P. Shevtsov & Gianluca Pegoraro & Ofir Hakim & Songjoon Baek & Gordon L. Hager & Miroslav Dundr, 2016. "Cajal bodies are linked to genome conformation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-17, April.
    4. Kibeom Hong & Daesun Song & Yongwon Jung, 2020. "Behavior control of membrane-less protein liquid condensates with metal ion-induced phase separation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-12, December.
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