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The Heterogeneous Solution Ensemble of the DEAD-box Protein Dhh1 Reveals a Modular Architecture

Erba, D.; Fatti, E.; Paloni, M.; Weis, K.; Bernado, P.; Barducci, A.

2025-12-08 biophysics
10.64898/2025.12.08.692948 bioRxiv
Show abstract

DEAD-box proteins such as Dhh1 play essential roles in RNA metabolism and the formation of biomolecular condensates, with a modular architecture comprising folded domains and disordered regions. To elucidate how this architecture shapes conformational dynamics in solution, we combined solution scattering experiments and multi-scale simulations on core and full-length constructs. Enhanced-sampling simulations captured a dynamic ensemble of core conformations stabilized by transient interdomain contacts that underpin functional regulation. Coarse-grained modelling revealed that disordered tails behave as independent modules exerting minimal influence on core dynamics. This integrated approach reveals a modular organization balancing structural heterogeneity and functional specificity, providing a framework for studying DEAD-box proteins in phase separation.

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