Skip to main content

Coexisting Liquid Phases Underlie Nucleolar Subcompartments

Author(s): Feric, Marina; Vaidya, Nilesh; Harmon, Tyler S.; Mitrea, Diana M.; Zhu, Lian; et al

Download
To refer to this page use: http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/pr13j2n
Abstract: The nucleolus and other ribonucleoprotein (RNP) bodies are membrane-less organelles that appear to assemble through phase separation of their molecular components. However, many such RNP bodies contain internal subcompartments, and the mechanism of their formation remains unclear. Here, we combine in vivo and in vitro studies, together with computational modeling, to show that subcompartments within the nucleolus represent distinct, coexisting liquid phases. Consistent with their in vivo immiscibility, purified nucleolar proteins phase separate into droplets containing distinct non-coalescing phases that are remarkably similar to nucleoli in vivo. This layered droplet organization is caused by differences in the biophysical properties of the phases - particularly droplet surface tension - which arises from sequence-encoded features of their macromolecular components. These results suggest that phase separation can give rise to multilayered liquids that may facilitate sequential RNA processing reactions in a variety of RNP bodies.
Publication Date: 16-Jun-2016
Electronic Publication Date: 2016
Citation: Feric, M, Vaidya, N, Harmon, TS, Mitrea, DM, Zhu, L, Richardson, TM, Kriwacki, RW, Pappu, RV, Brangwynne, CP. (2016). Coexisting Liquid Phases Underlie Nucleolar Subcompartments. Cell, 165 (1686 - 1697). doi:10.1016/j.cell.2016.04.047
DOI: doi:10.1016/j.cell.2016.04.047
Pages: 1686 - 1697
Type of Material: Journal Article
Journal/Proceeding Title: Cell
Version: Author's manuscript



Items in OAR@Princeton are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.