New imaging technology developed at Washington University in St. Louis allows researchers to gaze at mysterious honeycomb structures with unprecedented clarity, suggesting that tiny spots inside our cells behave less like droplets than like a cute, transfer network similar to stupid putty.
These microscopic structures (called biomolecular condensates) play a crucial role in tissue cell activity, but until now, their internal function has been largely hidden. The findings, published on March 14 in Natural Physics, could reshape our understanding of cellular tissues and potentially inform new ways of treating diseases such as cancer and neurodegeneration.
“These spots have been described as ‘liquid’ because some of them were observed to kiss like raindrops on the windshield, fuses, drips and flow,” explains Rohit Pappu, a professor of biomedical engineering at McKelvey School of Engineering.
But appearance can be deceptive. Through computational models, now directly observes, scientists have found that condensate is more complicated than originally imagined. They do not act like simple droplets, but act as dynamic networks that constantly rearrange themselves, an attribute that makes them like stupid putty.
The challenge for researchers has always been scale. Traditional microscopes simply cannot provide such a small structural image. It’s like trying to photograph individual raindrops from a storm a few miles away, and the resolution doesn’t exist.
To overcome this limitation, Pappu collaborated with Matthew Lew, associate professor of electrical and systems engineering, to develop a novel approach using a special photosensitive dye called fluoride. Unlike conventional imaging methods that try to capture everything at once, their technology adopts a “one-time” strategy.
“By writing into the interaction of protein sequences, certain individual proteins are hubs of viscoelastic (silly putty) network structures within condensate water,” Liu said. “Our fluorination sensors don’t light up until they find these hubs. Tracking the movement of individual fluorescent atoms allows us to find and track them as they form, move and disassemble.”
This single-molecule method represents a significant difference from the prior art, which depends on the behavior of all molecules in the average condensed water. By focusing on a single signal, the researchers achieved resolution beyond the diffraction limit, i.e., physical boundaries that typically limit the optical microscope.
Pappu uses interesting analogy to explain its approach: “Microscopy” [is] Similar to sending a single ants to map and browse the dark house. The ant will spend more time around the sugar being excluded, and the map it makes will glow around the sugar. ”
Using multiple ants or fluorescent atoms – creates confusing overlapping signals. However, by tracking one at a time, researchers can construct an accurate map of the internal structure of condensate water.
“Fluorescent atoms swim in condensed water and help us map internal tissue for the first time,” Papp noted. “This is possible by Matt Lew’s innovation and collaboration achieved by our unique center.”
Understanding these cellular structures is more than just an academic exercise. Biomolecular condensates are increasingly considered a key player in cellular health. When they fail, the consequences can be serious, potentially leading to diseases ranging from cancer to Alzheimer’s.
The team described the condensate as tissue surrounding a “sticker” (specific proteins that determine when, when, and where molecules gather). “If you think of coagulants as a group of people, then stickers are friends about when and where to gather and who to invite to make a decision,” the researchers explained.
These “friends” create internal networks, thus giving them unique attributes. Condensate is not a uniform spot, but contains organized areas with specific functions, such as communities within cities.
The study represents a collaboration among researchers at the University of Washington Center for Biomolecular Condensation Water. By bringing together experts from different fields, the center creates an environment in which technological innovation and biological inquiry can be interdependent, resulting in breakthroughs that may not happen.
These findings open up new avenues for cell tissue and disease mechanism research. As scientists gain a better understanding of the function of coagulants in healthy cells, they may also find that these structures appear in disease states, which may lead to new treatments.
Funded by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, the Biology and Biophysics of RNP Particles, and the National Institutes of Health’s Biology and Biophysics collaboration, the study highlights a broad range of interest in this emerging field in the fields of public health and defense.
As researchers continue to refine these imaging techniques, we may soon learn more about the mysterious world of cellular tissue, which, despite its microscopic scope, has a huge impact on human health and disease.
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