Fig. 2: PopZ phase separates in vitro and in human U2OS cells. | Nature Communications

Fig. 2: PopZ phase separates in vitro and in human U2OS cells.

From: The material properties of a bacterial-derived biomolecular condensate tune biological function in natural and synthetic systems

Fig. 2

a The PopZ protein forms droplets in vitro in the presence of magnesium. Differential interference contrast microscopy images of PopZ at physiological concentration of 5 µM30 in 5 mM sodium phosphate at pH 6.0 with either 2 mM MgCl2 (left) or 5 mM MgCl2 (right). b Caulobacter PopZ expressed in human U2OS cells forms phase-separated condensates (black) in the cytoplasm but not the nucleus (N). c In vivo fusion and growth of PopZ condensates in human U2OS cells. 80 s time-lapse images of a small PopZ condensate (green) merging with a large PopZ condensate. Scale bar, 5 μm. d PopZ expressed in human U20S cells retains selectivity. (Top) EGFP-PopZ (green) and stress granule protein mCherry-G3BP1 (purple) form separate condensates. (Bottom) EGFP-PopZ (green) recruits the Caulobacter phosphotransfer protein mCherry-ChpT (magenta) when co-expressed in human U2OS cells. Scale bar, 10 μm.

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