Phase Transition in T Cell Signaling

Research Seminar
Title：Phase Transition in T Cell Signaling
Speaker：Xiaolei Su 
CRI Irvington Postdoctoral Fellow, UCSF
Time：2017-1-10，13:00-14:00
Venue：Rm. 311, New Life Sciences Building
Abstract：
Activation of various cell surface receptors triggers the reorganization of downstream signaling molecules into micrometer- or submicrometer-sized clusters. However, the functional consequences of such clustering have been unclear. We biochemically reconstituted a 12-component signaling pathway on model membranes, beginning with T cell receptor (TCR) activation and ending with actin assembly. When TCR phosphorylation was triggered, downstream signaling proteins spontaneously separated into liquid-like clusters that promoted signaling outputs both in vitro and in human Jurkat T cells. Reconstituted clusters were enriched in kinases but excluded phosphatases and enhanced actin filament assembly by recruiting and organizing actin regulators. These results demonstrate that protein phase separation can create a distinct physical and biochemical compartment that facilitates signaling.
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