Phase separation provides a mechanism to reduce noise in cells

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • A Klosin - , Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (Author)
  • F Oltsch - , Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics, Center for Systems Biology Dresden (CSBD) (Author)
  • T Harmon - , Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (Author)
  • A Honigmann - , Clusters of Excellence PoL: Physics of Life, Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (Author)
  • F Jülicher - , Center for Systems Biology Dresden (CSBD) (Author)
  • A A Hyman - , Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (Author)
  • C Zechner - , Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (Author)

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

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)464-468
Number of pages5
JournalScience
Volume367
Issue number6476
Publication statusPublished - 24 Jan 2020
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

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

Keywords

Keywords

  • 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