Phosphorylation-dependent membraneless organelle fusion and fission illustrated by postsynaptic density assemblies.

ABSTRACT

Membraneless organelles formed by phase separation of proteins and nucleic acids play diverse cellular functions. Whether and, if yes, how membraneless organelles in ways analogous to membrane-based organelles also undergo regulated fusion and fission is unknown. Here, using a partially reconstituted mammalian postsynaptic density (PSD) condensate as a paradigm, we show that membraneless organelles can undergo phosphorylation-dependent fusion and fission. Without phosphorylation of the SAPAP guanylate kinase domain-binding repeats, the upper and lower layers of PSD protein mixtures form two immiscible sub-compartments in a phase-in-phase organization. Phosphorylation of SAPAP leads to fusion of the two sub-compartments into one condensate accompanied with an increased Stargazin density in the condensate. Dephosphorylation of SAPAP can reverse this event. Preventing SAPAP phosphorylation in vivo leads to increased separation of proteins from the lower and upper layers of PSD sub-compartments. Thus, analogous to membrane-based organelles, membraneless organelles can also undergo regulated fusion and fission.