Minimalist design of polymer-oligopeptide hybrid as intrinsically disordered protein-mimicking scaffold for artificial membraneless organelle

TL;DR

This study presents a minimalist polymer-oligopeptide hybrid that mimics natural membraneless organelles by undergoing liquid-liquid phase separation, forming functional compartments that recruit biomolecules and enhance biochemical reactions.

Contribution

The paper introduces a novel, simple hybrid system that mimics natural phase-separated organelles, advancing understanding of MO formation and enabling new biomimetic material development.

Findings

Hybrids undergo LLPS and form micron-sized compartments

Formed droplets recruit proteins and RNAs

Droplets enhance biochemical reactions

Abstract

Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) is an emerging and universal mechanism for intracellular biomolecule organization, particularly, via the formation of membraneless organelles (MOs). Intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) are the main constituents of MOs, wherein multivalent interactions and low-complexity domains (LCDs) drive LLPS. Using short oligopeptide derived from LCDs as 'stickers' and dextran backbones as 'spacers', we designed polymer-oligopeptide hybrids to mimic the multivalent FUS protein as represented by the 'stickers-and-spacers' model. We demonstrated that hybrids underwent LLPS and self-assembled into micron-sized (mostly 1-10 micron, resembling LLPS in vitro and in living cells) compartments displaying liquid-like properties. Furthermore, the droplets formed were capable of recruiting proteins and RNAs, whilst providing a favorable environment for enhanced biochemical reaction, thereby mimicking the function of natural MOs. We envision this simple yet versatile model system will help elucidate the molecular interactions implicated in MO formation and pave ways to a new type of biomimetic materials.