# A solid state conceptualization of information transfer from gene to message to protein

> **NIH NIH R35** · UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER · 2020 · $486,000

## Abstract

Project Summary/Abstract: Since 2012 the McKnight lab has studied an enigmatic class of protein domains
specified by low complexity (LC) sequences. Certain LC sequences assemble into amyloid-like polymers,
leading to formation of liquid-like droplets that sequentially mature into hydrogels. Although morphologically
indistinguishable from pathogenic, prion-like amyloids, polymers formed from LC sequences disassemble upon
dilution. Atomic resolution of the structure of FUS polymers has recently revealed the basis of LC domain
polymer lability (11). In the six years since publication of our back-to-back 2012 papers in Cell (9,10), studies of
RNA granules, membrane-less organelles and LC domains have exploded. That LC domains are involved in
the formation of meso-scaled puncta not surrounded by investing membranes has been firmly established. Our
observations favoring the involvement of labile cross- interactions in the formation of these structures,
however, stands in contrast to what has become the prevailing view in the field. Numerous groups have argued
that LC sequences adopt no molecular structure upon phase transition. The McKnight lab has provided
multiple lines of evidence showing that formation of labile cross- interactions is at the heart of phase
separation into liquid-like droplets, hydrogel formation, and LC domain function in living cells. Evidence
supportive of these conclusions includes chemistry (14,16), pharmacology (12,16), correlative mutagenesis
(10, 13, 14), human genetics (12, 15), and – most recently - solid state NMR spectroscopy (11). The narrative
of this application avoids this controversy and instead focuses on several objectives important to the
advancement of our research. An assessment of differences between the McKnight perspective (LC domain
function as driven by defined structural organization) and that of most others who have joined the field (LC
domain function sans molecular structure) can be found in our review chapter recently published the Annual
Review of Biochemistry (17). The two projects described in this application represent extensions of our work on
the LC domain of FUS. We are also interested in other settings wherein cells employ labile cross- interactions
to abet normal or abnormal biology. We have found that the LC domains of intermediate filament proteins
utilize labile, cross- interactions to mediate filament maturation. In the context of assembled filaments, we
have shown that coalesced LC domains represent binding sites for RNA granules (12). We also deduced the
basis of C9orf72 pathogenesis via the toxic GRn and PRn poly-dipeptides produced by RAN translation of
repeat expansion transcripts – thus resolving how neurons die in the most prevalent form of ALS (12,15,16).
Aside from continuing our collaborative SS-NMR studies with Dr. Robert Tycko, and NAI footprinting studies
with Dr. Yonghao Yu to probe LC domain conformation in living cells, we have established a collaborative
partnership w...

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9844950
- **Project number:** 5R35GM130358-02
- **Recipient organization:** UT SOUTHWESTERN MEDICAL CENTER
- **Principal Investigator:** STEVEN L MCKNIGHT
- **Activity code:** R35 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $486,000
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2019-02-01 → 2024-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9844950

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9844950, A solid state conceptualization of information transfer from gene to message to protein (5R35GM130358-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-22 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9844950. Licensed CC0.

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