Condensation of ribosomal proteins in ribosome biogenesis

Matthew L. Kraushar, PhD, MD

October 07, 2022

Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) is a highly efficient mechanism to concentrate molecules for biological reactions. The nucleolus is a liquid condensate with the principal function of assembling ribosome subunits, a membrane-less compartment for transcribing rRNA and supporting ribosomal protein (RP) interactions. RPs are the most abundant proteins in the nucleolus. However, whether RPs individually or collectively undergo liquid-liquid phase separation to form condensates miscible with the nucleolus, concentrating around rRNA within, is unknown. This project aims to dissect the LLPS character of RPs and their interactions within the nucleolus, towards the functional assembly of ribosomal subunits. Our approach will leveraging a unique combination of ribosome-specific and LLPS-specific expertise, utilizing methods in biochemisty, biophysics, cells biology, and high-resolution structural biology.

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