CTP-controlled liquid-liquid phase separation of ParB

The ParABS system is supposed to be responsible for plasmid partitioning and chromosome segregation in bacteria. ParABS ensures a high degree of fidelity in inheritance by dividing the genetic material equally between daughter cells during cell division. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the assembly of the partition complex, representing the core of the ParABS system, are still far from being understood. Here we demonstrate that the partition complex is formed via liquid-liquid phase separation. Assembly of the partition complex is initiated by the formation of oligomeric ParB species, which in turn are regulated by CTP-binding. Phase diagrams and in vivo analysis show how the partition complex can further be spatially regulated by parS. By investigating the phylogenetic variation in phase separation and its regulation by CTP, we find a high degree of evolutionary conservation among distantly related prokaryotes. These results advance the understanding of partition complex formation and regulation in general, by confirming and extending recently proposed models.(c) 2021 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Automated summary

The ParABS system plays a crucial role in plasmid partitioning and chromosome segregation in bacteria. The assembly of the partition complex, which is the core of the ParABS system, is achieved through liquid-liquid phase separation. The formation of oligomeric ParB species, regulated by CTP-binding, initiates the assembly process. Spatial regulation of the partition complex by parS is also observed. The findings highlight the evolutionary conservation and advance the understanding of partition complex formation and regulation.