Berlin 2024 – scientific programme
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BP: Fachverband Biologische Physik
BP 2: Membranes and Vesicles I
BP 2.9: Talk
Monday, March 18, 2024, 12:00–12:15, H 2032
Membranes interacting with biomolecular condensates: wetting, remodeling, and damage stabilization — •Agustin Mangiarotti1, Macarena Siri1, Claudio Bussi2, Nicky Tam1, Leonel Malacrida3,4, Maximiliano Gutierrez2, Reinhard Lipowsky1, and Rumiana Dimova1 — 1Max Planck Institute of Colloids and Interfaces, Potsdam, Germany — 2The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK — 3Departamento de Fisiopatología, Hospital de Clínicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay — 4Advanced Bioimaging Unit, Institut Pasteur of Montevideo and Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
Membrane wetting by biomolecular condensates recently emerged as an important phenomenon in cell biology, playing a key role in diverse processes across different organisms. By performing a systematic analysis of the interaction of protein and polymer condensates with giant unilamellar vesicles as model membranes, we have demonstrated that these interactions can lead to remodeling processes, which are governed by the interplay of adhesion, membrane elasticity, and interfacial tension. Moreover, we showed that condensate wetting can promote the stabilization of damaged membranes, uncovering a new mechanism for biomolecular condensates in cell physiology. Finally, we explored the interaction mechanism between condensates and membranes at a molecular scale, using nano-environmental sensors and state-of-the-art microscopy techniques combined with phasor analysis. With this approach, we found that biomolecular condensates can modulate membrane lipid packing and hydration by wetting.
Keywords: Wetting; Membrane order; Biomolecular condensates; Membrane damage; Advanced microscopy