Triggered sorting and co-assembly of genetically engineered protein microdomains in the cytoplasm

Abstract

Elastin-like polypeptides (ELPs) are genetically encoded protein polymers that reversibly phase separate in response to stimuli. They respond sharply to small shifts in temperature and form dense microdomains in the living eukaryotic cytosol. For the first time, this communication illustrates how to tune the ELP sequence and architecture for either co-assembly or sorting of distinct proteins into microdomains within a living cell.

Keywords: confocal microscopy; elastin-like polypeptides; intracellular sorting; macromolecular assembly; protein polymer.