Intracellular wetting mediates contacts between liquid compartments and membrane-bound organelles

Kusumaatmaja, Halim; May, Alexander I.; Knorr, Roland L.

Abstract

Protein-rich droplets, such as stress granules, P-bodies, and the nucleolus, perform diverse and specialized cellular functions. Recent evidence has shown the droplets, which are also known as biomolecular condensates or membrane-less compartments, form by phase separation. Many droplets also contact membrane-bound organelles, thereby functioning in development, intracellular degradation, and organization. These underappreciated interactions have major implications for our fundamental understanding of cells. Starting with a brief introduction to wetting phenomena, we summarize recent progress in the emerging field of droplet–membrane contact. We describe the physical mechanism of droplet–membrane interactions, discuss how these interactions remodel droplets and membranes, and introduce "membrane scaffolding" by liquids as a novel reshaping mechanism, thereby demonstrating that droplet–membrane interactions are elastic wetting phenomena. “Membrane-less” and “membrane-bound” condensates likely represent distinct wetting states that together link phase separation with mechanosensitivity and explain key structures observed during embryogenesis, during autophagy, and at synapses. We therefore contend that droplet wetting on membranes provides a robust and intricate means of intracellular organization.

Citation

Kusumaatmaja, H., May, A. I., & Knorr, R. L. (2021). Intracellular wetting mediates contacts between liquid compartments and membrane-bound organelles. Journal of Cell Biology, 220(10), Article e202103175. https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.202103175

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 5, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Aug 24, 2021
• Publication Date: Oct 4, 2021
• Deposit Date: Oct 18, 2021
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 18, 2021
• Journal: Journal of Cell Biology
• Print ISSN: 0021-9525
• Electronic ISSN: 1540-8140
• Publisher: Rockefeller University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 220
• Issue: 10
• Article Number: e202103175
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.202103175
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1229663