Phase separation provides a mechanism to reduce noise in cells

Publikation: Beitrag in FachzeitschriftForschungsartikelBeigetragenBegutachtung

Beitragende

  • A Klosin - , Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (Autor:in)
  • F Oltsch - , Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Zentrum für Systembiologie Dresden (CSBD) (Autor:in)
  • T Harmon - , Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (Autor:in)
  • A Honigmann - , Exzellenzcluster PoL: Physik des Lebens, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (Autor:in)
  • F Jülicher - , Zentrum für Systembiologie Dresden (CSBD) (Autor:in)
  • A A Hyman - , Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (Autor:in)
  • C Zechner - , Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (Autor:in)

Abstract

Expression of proteins inside cells is noisy, causing variability in protein concentration among identical cells. A central problem in cellular control is how cells cope with this inherent noise. Compartmentalization of proteins through phase separation has been suggested as a potential mechanism to reduce noise, but systematic studies to support this idea have been missing. In this study, we used a physical model that links noise in protein concentration to theory of phase separation to show that liquid droplets can effectively reduce noise. We provide experimental support for noise reduction by phase separation using engineered proteins that form liquid-like compartments in mammalian cells. Thus, phase separation can play an important role in biological signal processing and control.

Details

OriginalspracheEnglisch
Seiten (von - bis)464-468
Seitenumfang5
FachzeitschriftScience
Jahrgang367
Ausgabenummer6476
PublikationsstatusVeröffentlicht - 24 Jan. 2020
Peer-Review-StatusJa

Externe IDs

Scopus 85078088183
ORCID /0000-0003-0475-3790/work/155291304

Schlagworte

Schlagwörter

  • Bacterial Proteins/biosynthesis, Cell Nucleus/metabolism, Cells/metabolism, DEAD-box RNA Helicases/biosynthesis, Gene Expression, HCT116 Cells, HeLa Cells, Humans, Luminescent Proteins/biosynthesis, Phase Transition, Protein Engineering, Recombinant Proteins/biosynthesis