ATP-responsive biomolecular condensates tune bacterial kinase signaling

Saumya Saurabh, Trisha N. Chong, Camille Bayas, Peter D. Dahlberg, Heather N. Cartwright, W. E. Moerner, Lucy Shapiro

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Biomolecular condensates formed via liquid-liquid phase separation enable spatial and temporal organization of enzyme activity. Phase separation in many eukaryotic condensates has been shown to be responsive to intracellular adenosine triphosphate (ATP) levels, although the consequences of these mechanisms for enzymes sequestered within the condensates are unknown. Here, we show that ATP depletion promotes phase separation in bacterial condensates composed of intrinsically disordered proteins. Enhanced phase separation promotes the sequestration and activity of a client kinase enabling robust signaling and maintenance of viability under the stress posed by nutrient scarcity. We propose that a diverse repertoire of condensates can serve as control knobs to tune enzyme sequestration and reactivity in response to the metabolic state of bacterial cells.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article numbereabm6570
JournalScience Advances
Volume8
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2022

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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