Promiscuous interactions and protein disaggregases determine the material state of stress-inducible RNP granules

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Sonja Kroschwald - , Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (Author)
  • Shovamayee Maharana - , Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (Author)
  • Daniel Mateju - , Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (Author)
  • Liliana Malinovska - , Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (Author)
  • Elisabeth Nüske - , Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (Author)
  • Ina Poser - , Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (Author)
  • Doris Richter - , Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (Author)
  • Simon Alberti - , Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics (Author)

Abstract

RNA-protein (RNP) granules have been proposed to assemble by forming solid RNA/ protein aggregates or through phase separation into a liquid RNA/protein phase. Which model describes RNP granules in living cells is still unclear. In this study, we analyze P bodies in budding yeast and find that they have liquid-like properties. Surprisingly, yeast stress granules adopt a different material state, which is reminiscent of solid protein aggregates and controlled by protein disaggregases. By using an assay to ectopically nucleate RNP granules, we further establish that RNP granule formation does not depend on amyloid-like aggregation but rather involves many promiscuous interactions. Finally, we show that stress granules have different properties in mammalian cells, where they show liquid-like behavior. Thus, we propose that the material state of RNP granules is flexible and that the solid state of yeast stress granules is an adaptation to extreme environments, made possible by the presence of a powerful disaggregation machine.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere06807
JournaleLife
Volume4
Issue numberAUGUST2015
Publication statusPublished - 4 Aug 2015
Peer-reviewedYes
Externally publishedYes

External IDs

PubMed 26238190
ORCID /0000-0003-4017-6505/work/142253876