Hydrogel formation by multivalent IDPs: A reincarnation of the microtrabecular lattice?

Intrinsically Disordered Proteins
Peter Tompa

Abstract

Based on high-voltage electron microscopic (HVEM) data of fixed cultured cells, an elaborate three-dimensional network of filaments, including and interconnecting other elements of the cytoskeleton, was observed in cells some half a century ago. Despite many attempts and comparative studies, this "microtrabecular lattice" (MTL) of the cytoplasmic ground substance could not be established as a genuine component of the eukaryotic cell, and is mostly considered today as a sample-preparation artifact of protein adherence and cross-linking to the cytoskeleton. Here we elaborate on the provocative idea that recent observations of hydrogel-forming phase transitions of repetitive regions of intrinsically disordered proteins (IDPs) bear resemblance in creation, organization and physical appearance to the MTL. We review this phenomenon in detail, and suggest that phase transitions of actin regulatory proteins, neurofilament side-arms and other proteins could generate non-uniform spatial distribution of cytoplasmic material in the vicinity of the cytoskeleton that might even give rise to fixation phenomena resembling the MTL. Whether such hydrogel formation by IDPs is a general physical phenomenon, will remain to be seen, nevertheless, th...Continue Reading

References

Jul 1, 1979·The Journal of Cell Biology·J J Wolosewick, K R Porter
Nov 1, 1976·The American Journal of Anatomy·J J Wolosewick, K R Porter
Jul 1, 1980·The Journal of Cell Biology·J E Heuser, M W Kirschner
Jul 1, 1981·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·M SchliwaK R Porter
Dec 20, 1999·International Review of Cytology·J Ovádi, P A Srere
Nov 28, 2000·Proteins·P RomeroA K Dunker
Jan 10, 2002·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Samuel KarlinAndrew J Gentles
May 7, 2003·Biology of the Cell·John Heuser
Aug 26, 2003·BioEssays : News and Reviews in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology·Peter Tompa
Jan 10, 2006·Biomacromolecules·Lixin MiJames L Harden
Jun 8, 2006·Annual Review of Biochemistry·Fabrizio Chiti, Christopher M Dobson
Nov 30, 2007·Nature·Frank AlberMichael P Rout
Nov 27, 2008·Chembiochem : a European Journal of Chemical Biology·Cristina SisuW Bruce Turnbull
Sep 12, 2009·Trends in Biochemical Sciences·Toby J Gibson
Feb 2, 2010·Nature Methods·John J Sakon, Keith R Weninger
Apr 28, 2010·Annual Review of Biomedical Engineering·Scott BantaMark Blenner
Oct 12, 2011·Protein Science : a Publication of the Protein Society·Peter Tompa, George D Rose
Oct 22, 2011·Nature Protocols·David C AppleyardPatrick S Doyle
Jan 11, 2012·Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews. Nanomedicine and Nanobiotechnology·Nithya Srinivasan, Sanjay Kumar
Apr 13, 2012·PloS One·Rita Pancsa, Peter Tompa
Aug 29, 2012·Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·Helen R SaibilAchilleas S Frangakis
Nov 30, 2012·The Journal of Physical Chemistry. B·Sean C DobbinsMatthew T Bernards

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Sep 3, 2014·The Journal of Cell Biology·Jeffrey A Toretsky, Peter E Wright
Jun 15, 2017·Cellular and Molecular Life Sciences : CMLS·Kris PauwelsPeter Tompa
Feb 19, 2015·Nature Reviews. Molecular Cell Biology·Benjamin L Allen, Dylan J Taatjes
Apr 18, 2014·Chemical Reviews·Johnny HabchiVladimir N Uversky
Apr 30, 2014·Chemical Reviews·Robin van der LeeM Madan Babu

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Methods Mentioned

BETA
X-ray
AFM
fluorescence resonance

Software Mentioned

IUPred

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Actin-binding Proteins

Actin-binding proteins are a component of the actin cytoskeleton that play essential roles in cellular functions such as regulation of actin polymerization, maintenance of cell polarity, gene expression regulation, cell motility and many more functions. Discover the latest research on actin-binding proteins here.