Analysis of Biomolecular Condensate Functions
Biomolecular condensates have multiple functions. Early work in the field focused on identifying condensates, understanding their physical properties and regulation, and how they arise from their molecular composition. Here, we focus our attention on understanding the function of condensates. As an ideal partner for biomolecular condensates, CD BioSciences provides customized functional analysis services for biomolecular condensates to understand the role of condensates in different biological processes for clients worldwide.
Introduction to Biomolecular Condensate Functions
As more and more liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) condensates are discovered, there has been considerable interest in exploring the function of biomolecular condensates. However, we are still in the early stages of understanding the precise regulatory and biochemical processes within condensates and lack a global view of the interactions within/between compartments. Biomolecular condensates are widely present throughout the nucleus, cytoplasm and various membranes of eukaryotic cells, and even throughout the biological spectrum. They are molecules that play a role in processes ranging from RNA metabolism to signaling to gene regulation. Emerging studies suggest that LLPS are involved in a variety of processes, such as adaptive and innate immune signaling, stress granule assembly, heterochromatin formation, transcription, miRISC assembly, and autophagy. LLPS also play a role in the development of cancer, neurodegenerative and inflammatory diseases.
Fig. 1. Overview of biomolecular condensate functions across scales. (Lyon A S, et al, 2021)
Customized Services
Understanding the fundamentals of biomolecular condensates function is essential for the in-depth study of biological processes. We offer state-of-the-art imaging, structural and computational methods allowing the characterization of LLPS in vitro and in vivo. Biomolecular condensates have multiple functions within cells and act on multiple length scales. We commonly use LLPS to explain the molecular mechanisms of formation, regulation and solubilization of biomolecular condensates.
CD BioSciences is committed to developing new technologies and experimental systems to analyze the function of biomolecular condensates from the molecular to the cellular level. We focus on identifying mechanistic commonalities between condensates that function in different biological processes, including but not limited to:
- Enhancement or inhibition of biochemical reactions
- Enhancement of activity by concentrating enzymes and substrates
- Inhibition of activity by chelation
- Modulation of activity by exclusion factors
- Regulation of enzyme activity by factors other than concentration
- Vector organization of biochemistry
- Facilitates specific cellular localization
- Buffering random cellular noise
- Sensing and switching
Here, we focus on the role of biomolecular condensates in different biological processes and systems. We can provide the following services:
With years of experience in biomolecular condensates, CD BioSciences offers professional and cost-effective functional analysis services for biomolecular condensates. We integrate complementary approaches to analyze the function of biomolecular condensates in different biological processes and systems. Each project will be individually designed to meet the client's requirements and described in a detailed project report. If you are interested in our services, please contact us.
Reference
- Lyon A S, et al. (2021) A framework for understanding the functions of biomolecular condensates across scales[J]. Nature Reviews Molecular Cell Biology. 22(3): 215-235.
For research use only, not intended for any clinical use.
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