SignificanceA large subclass of biomolecular condensates are linked to RNA regulation and known as ribonucleoprotein (RNP) bodies. While extensive work has identified driving forces for condensate formation, relatively little is about that oppose assembly. Here, using a fungal RNP protein, Whi3, we show portion its intrinsically disordered, glutamine-rich region modulates phase separation by forming transient alpha helical structures promote the assembly dilute oligomers. These oligomers...

Duplicating chromosomes once each cell cycle produces sister chromatid pairs, which separate accurately at anaphase. In contrast, reduplicating without separation frequently polytene chromosomes, a barrier to accurate mitosis. Chromosome reduplication occurs in many contexts, including: tissue development, tumors, and following treatment with mitosis-blocking chemotherapeutics. However, mechanisms responding or resolving polyteny during mitosis are poorly understood. Here, using Drosophila,...

Abstract Most amino acids are encoded by multiple codons, making the genetic code degenerate. Synonymous mutations affect protein translation and folding, but their impact on RNA itself is often neglected. We developed a algorithm that introduces synonymous to control diversity of structures sampled an mRNA. The behavior designed mRNAs reveals physical layered in code. find mRNA conformational heterogeneity directs properties functional outputs RNA-protein complexes biomolecular condensates....

To ensure faithful genome propagation, mitotic cells alternate one round of chromosome duplication with separation. Chromosome separation failure thus causes reduplication, which alters structure. Such structural alterations are well documented to impair fidelity following aberrant including in diseased states. In contrast, we recently showed that naturally occurring reduplication does not alter structure Drosophila papillar cells. Our discovery raised the question how a cell undergoing...

Multiple nuclei sharing a common cytoplasm are found in diverse tissues, organisms, and diseases. Yet, multinucleation remains poorly understood biological property. Cytoplasm invariably involves plasma membrane breaches. In contrast, we discovered without breaching highly resorptive Drosophila rectal papillae. During six-hour developmental window, 100 individual papillar cells assemble multinucleate cytoplasm, allowing passage of proteins at least 62 kDa throughout tissue. Papillar does not...

Plant-derived phenolic compounds such as those found in red wine, tea, and certain fruit juices may protect against cardiovascular disease by detoxifying (scavenging) superoxide other unstable reactive oxygen species. We present a laboratory exercise that can be used to assess the superoxide-scavenging capacity of beverages. Among beverages examined, only known rich (red green blueberry juice, stout beer) exhibited appreciable scavenging. White wine 10% ethanol solution served controls did...

Abstract Ribonucleoprotein bodies are exemplars of membraneless biomolecular condensates that can form via spontaneous or driven phase transitions. The fungal protein Whi3 forms ribonucleoprotein with different RNA molecules, and these implicated in key processes such as cell-cycle control generating cell polarity. has a modular architecture includes Q-rich intrinsically disordered region (IDR) tandem recognition module. Here, we demonstrate 21-residue stretch within the IDR weak intrinsic...

ABSTRACT Duplicating chromosomes once each cell cycle produces sister chromatid pairs, which separate accurately at anaphase. In contrast, reduplicating without separation frequently polytene chromosomes, a barrier to accurate mitosis. Chromosome reduplication occurs in many contexts, including: tissue development, tumors, and following treatment with mitosis-blocking chemotherapeutics. However, mechanisms responding or resolving polyteny during mitosis are poorly understood. Here, using...

Abstract Fungi have been found in every marine habitat that has explored, however, the diversity and functions of fungi ocean are poorly understood. In this study, were cultured from environment vicinity Woods Hole, MA, USA including plankton, sponge coral. Our sampling resulted 36 unique species across 20 genera. We observed many isolates by time-lapse differential interference contrast (DIC) microscopy analyzed modes growth division. Several black yeasts displayed highly unconventional...

Temperature can impact every reaction and molecular interaction essential to a cell. For organisms that cannot regulate their own temperature, major challenge is how adapt temperatures fluctuate unpredictability on variable timescales. Biomolecular condensation offers possible mechanism for encoding temperature-responsiveness robustness into cell biochemistry organization. To explore this idea, we examined temperature adaptation in filamentous-growing fungus called Ashbya gossypii engages...

Temperature can impact every reaction and molecular interaction essential to a cell. For organisms that cannot regulate their own temperature, major challenge is how adapt temperatures fluctuate unpredictability on variable timescales. Biomolecular condensation offers possible mechanism for encoding temperature-responsiveness robustness into cell biochemistry organization. To explore this idea, we examined temperature adaptation in filamentous-growing fungus called Ashbya gossypii engages...

ABSTRACT Multiple nuclei sharing a common cytoplasm are found in diverse tissues, organisms, and diseases. Yet, multinucleation remains poorly understood biological property. Cytoplasm invariably involves plasma membrane breaches. In contrast, we discovered without breaching highly resorptive Drosophila rectal papillae. During six-hour developmental window, 100 individual papillar cells assemble multinucleate cytoplasm, allowing passage of proteins at least 27kDa throughout tissue. Papillar...

Abstract RNA-binding proteins are frequently seen to be capable of auto-regulation by binding their own transcripts. In this work, we show that in the multinucleated fungus Ashbya gossypii , phase-separating protein Whi3 binds and regulates its transcripts distinct condensates from other targets. Failure bind transcript leads a reduction level inability properly regulate targets, leading defects nuclear cycling, polarized growth, transcription START-regulated genes. These results present...