Phase-separated biomolecular condensates for biocatalysis

Samuel Lim; Douglas S Clark

doi:10.1016/j.tibtech.2023.10.003

Phase-separated biomolecular condensates for biocatalysis

Trends Biotechnol. 2024 Apr;42(4):496-509. doi: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2023.10.003. Epub 2023 Nov 2.

Authors

Samuel Lim¹, Douglas S Clark²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
² Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA; Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA.. Electronic address: dsc@berkeley.edu.

PMID: 37925283
DOI: 10.1016/j.tibtech.2023.10.003

Abstract

Nature often uses dynamically assembling multienzymatic complexes called metabolons to achieve spatiotemporal control of complex metabolic reactions. Researchers are aiming to mimic this strategy of organizing enzymes to enhance the performance of artificial biocatalytic systems. Biomolecular condensates formed through liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) can serve as a powerful tool to drive controlled assembly of enzymes. Diverse enzymatic pathways have been reconstituted within catalytic condensates in vitro as well as synthetic membraneless organelles in living cells. Furthermore, in vivo condensates have been engineered to regulate metabolic pathways by selectively sequestering enzymes. Thus, harnessing LLPS for controlled organization of enzymes provides an opportunity to dynamically regulate biocatalytic processes.

Keywords: biocatalysis; biomolecular condensate; enzyme cascade; liquid–liquid phase separation.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Artificial Cells*
Biocatalysis
Biomolecular Condensates*
Catalysis
Phase Separation