Newswise — Scientists have discovered the first evidence of protein folding driven by liquid-liquid phase separation, a phenomenon in which fluids form into microscopic droplets and separate inside cells — like drops of oil in water.
In a study published in the journal Chemical Science, researchers at the University of Notre Dame found that elevated concentrations of proteins within the droplets triggered a folding event, increasing the potential for protein aggregation — or misfolding — which has been linked to neurological diseases including Alzheimer’s disease and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
“These particular proteins are intrinsically disordered — they have no well-defined structure — but when forced together by these droplets, we see evidence of folding,” said Arnaldo Serrano, assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and…
