RNA-Based Coacervates as a Model for Membraneless Organelles: Formation, Properties, and Interfacial Liposome Assembly

Aumiller, William; Cakmak, Fatma Pir; Davis, Barbara L.; Keating, Christine D.

doi:10.1021/acs.langmuir.6b02499

Cited by 280 publications

(417 citation statements)

References 79 publications

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“…To demonstrate that we can mimic these phase transitions, we conducted the dynamic dissolution and re‐assembly of coacervates in liposomes (Figure 2 a). As reported previously, complex coacervation can be well tuned through charge ratios,16 pH,2c temperature,17 and light 18. Herein, we show the dynamics by using complex coacervates composed of low‐complexity RNAs and short polyamines, which show reversible coacervation in response to temperature changes (higher or lower than the lower critical solution temperature (LCST)) 17.…”

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confidence: 58%

“…As reported previously, complex coacervation can be well tuned through charge ratios,16 pH,2c temperature,17 and light 18. Herein, we show the dynamics by using complex coacervates composed of low‐complexity RNAs and short polyamines, which show reversible coacervation in response to temperature changes (higher or lower than the lower critical solution temperature (LCST)) 17. We encapsulated polyU and spermine coacervates (LCST≈20 °C)17 into liposomes and observed them as the temperature changes (Figure 2 a).…”

mentioning

confidence: 64%

“…Herein, we show the dynamics by using complex coacervates composed of low‐complexity RNAs and short polyamines, which show reversible coacervation in response to temperature changes (higher or lower than the lower critical solution temperature (LCST)) 17. We encapsulated polyU and spermine coacervates (LCST≈20 °C)17 into liposomes and observed them as the temperature changes (Figure 2 a). As Figure 2 b,c shows, when the temperature was lower than the LCST, the coacervates gradually dissolved.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Microfluidic Formation of Monodisperse Coacervate Organelles in Liposomes

Deng¹,

Huck²

2017

Angew Chem Int Ed

211

236

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Coacervates have been widely studied as model compartments in protocell research. Complex coacervates composed of disordered proteins and RNA have also been shown to play an important role in cellular processes. Herein, we report on a microfluidic strategy for constructing monodisperse coacervate droplets encapsulated within uniform unilamellar liposomes. These structures represent a bottom‐up approach to hierarchically structured protocells, as demonstrated by storage and release of DNA from the encapsulated coacervates as well as localized transcription.

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confidence: 64%

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confidence: 99%

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Microfluidic Formation of Monodisperse Coacervate Organelles in Liposomes

Deng¹,

Huck²

2017

Angew Chem Int Ed

211

236

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“…As an alternative route, the necessary enzymes can be confined in membraneless compartments by complex coacervation (34,35). Under specific conditions of temperature, pH, and ionic strength, polyelectrolytes can undergo phase separation and form coacervate droplets that are enriched in protein molecules (34).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Synthetic quorum sensing in model microcapsule colonies

Shum

Balazs

2017

Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A.

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Biological quorum sensing refers to the ability of cells to gauge their population density and collectively initiate a new behavior once a critical density is reached. Designing synthetic materials systems that exhibit quorum sensing-like behavior could enable the fabrication of devices with both self-recognition and selfregulating functionality. Herein, we develop models for a colony of synthetic microcapsules that communicate by producing and releasing signaling molecules. Production of the chemicals is regulated by a biomimetic negative feedback loop, the "repressilator" network. Through theory and simulation, we show that the chemical behavior of such capsules is sensitive to both the density and number of capsules in the colony. For example, decreasing the spacing between a fixed number of capsules can trigger a transition in chemical activity from the steady, repressed state to largeamplitude oscillations in chemical production. Alternatively, for a fixed density, an increase in the number of capsules in the colony can also promote a transition into the oscillatory state. This configuration-dependent behavior of the capsule colony exemplifies quorum-sensing behavior. Using our theoretical model, we predict the transitions from the steady state to oscillatory behavior as a function of the colony size and capsule density.quorum sensing | repressilator | microcapsules Q uorum sensing (QS) refers to the ability of organisms in a population to assess the number and density of individuals present, allowing a specific behavior to be initiated only when a critical threshold in the population size and density is reached. QS plays a vital role in the life cycle of bacteria (1, 2), yeast (3, 4), and slime molds (5, 6), as well as social insects (7). In microorganisms, QS is based on chemical signaling among individuals in a colony. Bacteria (1, 8), for example, produce and secrete signaling molecules, which diffuse into the surrounding medium where they can be detected by other cells in the population. Through regulatory networks, the signaling molecule acts as an autoinducer; the rate of production of the autoinducer increases with its concentration. When the cell density is low, the concentration of the signaling molecule is low, and production is maintained at a low, basal rate. The cells are considered to be in the "off" QS state. When the population density is high, each cell detects a high concentration of the signaling molecule resulting from the collective production of many nearby neighbors. The cells are switched "on," increasing production of the signaling molecule and activating further metabolic pathways that are triggered by QS. Hence, spatially separated cells interact through regulatory networks, which coordinate the collective behavior of the colony.An intriguing challenge in both synthetic biology and materials science is to design man-made systems that exhibit behavior analogous to QS, i.e., sensing and responding to the system size and density. Such synthetic QS abilities could provide a route to ...

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“…These “on demand” materials are typically formed from metastable complex fluids by bioprocessing that resembles spinning, extrusion, or reaction injection molding. Given the tremendous importance of controlled multi-scale condensation of solution state macromolecules to soft materials 8 and the parallels between, say spinning synthetic polymer hot melts and silk formation, it behooves investigators to look at the range of properties and functions of complex fluids used to make rapidly available load-bearing structures.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Simple peptide coacervates adapted for rapid pressure-sensitive wet adhesion

et al. 2017

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We report here that a dense liquid formed by spontaneous condensation, also known as simple coacervation, of a single-component mussel foot protein-3S-mimicking peptide exhibits properties critical for underwater adhesion. A structurally homogeneous coacervate is deposited on underwater surfaces as micrometer-thick layers, and, after compression, displays orders of magnitude higher underwater adhesion at 2 N/m than that reported from thin films of the most adhesive mussel-foot-derived peptides or their synthetic mimics. The increase in adhesion efficiency does not require nor rely on post-deposition curing or chemical processing, but rather represents an intrinsic physical property of the coacervate. Its wet adhesive and rheological properties correlate with significant dehydration, tight peptide packing and restriction in peptide mobility. We suggest that such dense coacervate liquids represent an essential adaptation for the initial priming stages of mussel adhesive deposition, and provide a hitherto untapped design principle for synthetic underwater adhesives.

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RNA-Based Coacervates as a Model for Membraneless Organelles: Formation, Properties, and Interfacial Liposome Assembly

Cited by 280 publications

References 79 publications

Microfluidic Formation of Monodisperse Coacervate Organelles in Liposomes

Microfluidic Formation of Monodisperse Coacervate Organelles in Liposomes

Synthetic quorum sensing in model microcapsule colonies

Simple peptide coacervates adapted for rapid pressure-sensitive wet adhesion

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