Uncharged Components of Single-Stranded DNA Modulate Liquid–Liquid Phase Separation With Cationic Linker Histone H1

• DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.710729
• Publication Date: 2021-08-04T06:13:16Z
• Authors: Masahiro Mimura; Shunsuke Tomita; Hiroka Sugai; Yoichi Shinkai; Sayaka Ishihara; Ryoji Kurita
• Keywords: Linker; Deoxyribose; Cationic polymerization; Nucleobase; Linker DNA; DNA condensation; Biomolecule

Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) of proteins and DNAs has been recognized as a fundamental mechanism for the formation intracellular biomolecular condensates. Here, we show role constituent DNA components, i.e., phosphate groups, deoxyribose sugars, nucleobases, in LLPS with polycationic peptide, linker histone H1, known key regulator chromatin condensation. A comparison behavior mixtures H1 single-stranded DNA-based oligomers which one or more moieties were removed demonstrated that not only electrostatic interactions between anionic groups cationic residues but also involving nucleobases deoxyriboses (i) promoted generation spherical liquid droplets via well (ii) increased density decreased its fluidity within under low-salt conditions. Furthermore, found non-spherical assemblies both mobile immobile fractions at relatively higher concentrations all oligomers. The roles components promote modulate droplet characteristics revealed this study will facilitate our understanding processes various condensates containing nucleic acids, such organization.