Fig. 7: Design features, LLPS properties and functionality of the CC-LLPS platform.
From: Programmable de novo designed coiled coil-mediated phase separation in mammalian cells
Designed orthogonal attenuated-affinity coiled-coil dimer modules can drive polypeptide liquid phase separation and condensate formation in mammalian cells. The condensate formation is modulated through the properties of coiled-coil modules such as the length, helical propensity, and sequence, defining the pairwise affinity and condensate orthogonality as well as the number of modules in each chain (valency), linker type and the arrangement (mismatch) of modules. Those parameters can influence the dynamics, size, density, and fluidity of the resulting condensates, from soluble to liquid and immobile condensates. By exploiting the adjustable parameters of the CC-LLPS system, different features, such as chemical regulation of condensate formation and dissolution, client protein incorporation, and orthogonal coexistence of multiple condensates can be introduced.
