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SUMMARY:mRNA condensation fluidizes the cytoplasm - Liam Holt (New York Un
 iversity)
DTSTART:20231010T133000Z
DTEND:20231010T141000Z
UID:TALK204793@talks.cam.ac.uk
DESCRIPTION:The intracellular environment is packed with macromolecules of
  mesoscale size\, and this crowded milieu significantly influences cell ph
 ysiology. When exposed to stress\, mRNAs released after translational arre
 st condense with RNA binding proteins\, resulting in the formation of memb
 raneless RNA protein (RNP) condensates known as processing bodies (P-bodie
 s) and stress granules (SGs). However\, the impact of the assembly of thes
 e condensates on the biophysical properties of the crowded cytoplasmic env
 ironment remains unclear. Here\, we find that upon exposure to stress\, po
 lysome collapse and condensation of mRNAs increases mesoscale particle dif
 fusivity in the cytoplasm. Increased mesoscale diffusivity is required for
  the efficient formation of Q-bodies\, membraneless organelles that coordi
 nate degradation of misfolded peptides that accumulate during stress. Addi
 tionally\, we demonstrate that polysome collapse and stress granule format
 ion has a similar effect in mammalian cells\, fluidizing the cytoplasm at 
 the mesoscale. We find that synthetic\, light-induced RNA condensation is 
 sufficient to fluidize the cytoplasm\, demonstrating a causal effect of RN
 A condensation. Together\, our work reveals a new functional role for stre
 ss-induced translation inhibition and formation of RNP condensates in modu
 lating the physical properties of the cytoplasm to effectively respond to 
 stressful conditions.
LOCATION:Seminar Room 1\, Newton Institute
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