Intrinsically disordered protein biosensor tracks the physical-chemical effects of osmotic stress on cells.

ABSTRACT: Cell homeostasis is perturbed when dramatic shifts in the external environment cause the physical-chemical properties inside the cell to change. Experimental approaches for dynamically monitoring these intracellular effects are currently lacking. Here, we leverage the environmental sensitivity and structural plasticity of intrinsically disordered protein regions (IDRs) to develop a FRET biosensor capable of monitoring rapid intracellular changes caused by osmotic stress. The biosensor, named SED1, utilizes the Arabidopsis intrinsically disordered AtLEA4-5 protein expressed in plants under water deficit. Computational modeling and in vitro studies reveal that SED1 is highly sensitive to macromolecular crowding. SED1 exhibits large and near-linear osmolarity-dependent changes in FRET inside

SUBMITTER: Cuevas-Velazquez CL 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8440526 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature