"Propensity of GRASPs to undergo liquid-liquid phase separation analyzed through an integrated approach of Monte Carlo simulations and small angle X-ray scattering

• Grant number: 25/10983-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral
• Start date: August 01, 2025
• End date: July 31, 2028
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Biophysics - Molecular Biophysics
• Principal Investigator: Rosangela Itri
• Grantee: Luiz Fernando de Camargo Rodrigues
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física (IF). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 23/04532-9 - The exquisite biophysics of the unconventional protein secretion: old and new looks to old and new problems, AP.TEM

Abstract

The project aims to study GRASPS proteins in aqueous solution and their interactions until biomolecular condensates are formed. This is a project with a theoretical/experimental approach combining the expression, purification, and characterization of proteins, as well as the acquisition and analysis of small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) data and Monte Carlo (MC) simulations under conditions that consider oligomerization mechanisms of GRASPs governed by changes in the physicochemical parameters of the system. The main objectives include: expression, purification, and characterization of GRASPs, experimental SAXS measurements of the proteins in aqueous solution varying the system concentration, exploring physicochemical parameters leading to liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS, biomolecular condensates), and determining interaction potentials between the proteins through SAXS data analysis coupled with Monte Carlo simulation. (AU)