Structure of biomolecular condensates

Biomolecular condensates are important organizers of cellular biochemistry. Understanding their structure and function can, for example, shed light on several neurodegenerative diseases. Although biomolecular condensates play such an important role, we barely understand their internal structure. So far, it is known that structures below the optical resolution limit are proposed to exist. These scales are accessible with X-rays, which are well suited to quantifying the organization of molecules through the structure factor. Here, we propose experiments at the BioSAXS BM29 beamline at the ESRF to further unravel the structure of biomolecular condensates. We hope that these experiments not only shed light on our own system, but also again demonstrate the power of X-rays to a growing community of condensate scientists.

生物分子凝集体（biomolecular condensates）是细胞生化过程的核心组织者。解析其结构与功能，例如可为多种神经退行性疾病的致病机制研究提供关键启示。尽管生物分子凝集体发挥着如此关键的作用，但目前学界对其内部结构仍知之甚少。迄今为止，已有研究推测光学分辨率极限以下的层级结构真实存在。此类尺度的结构可通过X射线探测，而X射线非常适合借助结构因子（structure factor）量化分子的组织排布方式。本研究拟在欧洲同步辐射装置（ESRF）的BioSAXS BM29光束线开展实验，以进一步解析生物分子凝集体的结构。我们期望本次实验不仅能为本研究体系提供关键见解，还能再次向日益壮大的凝集体研究学界展示X射线技术的强大应用潜力。