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TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) liquid-liquid phase separation is mediated by just a few aromatic residues
Li HR, Chiang WC, Chou PC, Wang WJ, Huang JR.. The Journal of biological chemistry, 2018-03-06
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Eukaryotic cells contain distinct organelles, but not all of these compartments are enclosed by membranes. Some intrinsically disordered proteins mediate membraneless organelle formation through liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). LLPS facilitates many biological functions such as regulating RNA stability and ribonucleoprotein assembly, and disruption of LLPS pathways has been implicated in several diseases.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Li, H. R., Chiang, W. C., Chou, P. C., Wang, W. J., & Huang, JR. (2018). TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) liquid-liquid phase separation is mediated by just a few aromatic residues. The Journal of biological chemistry. https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.ac117.001037
Vancouver
Li HR, Chiang WC, Chou PC, Wang WJ, Huang JR. TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) liquid-liquid phase separation is mediated by just a few aromatic residues. The Journal of biological chemistry. 2018. doi:10.1074/jbc.ac117.001037. PMID: 29511089.
BibTeX
@article{li2018-29511089,
author = {Li, H. R. and Chiang, W. C. and Chou, P. C. and Wang, W. J. and Huang, JR.},
title = {{TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) liquid-liquid phase separation is mediated by just a few aromatic residues}},
journal = {The Journal of biological chemistry},
year = {2018},
doi = {10.1074/jbc.ac117.001037},
pmid = {29511089},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1074/jbc.ac117.001037}
}
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Key findings
- Some intrinsically disordered proteins mediate membraneless organelle formation through liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS).
- LLPS facilitates many biological functions such as regulating RNA stability and ribonucleoprotein assembly, and disruption of LLPS pathways has been implicated in several diseases.
- Proteins exhibiting LLPS typically have low sequence complexity and specific repeat motifs.
- These motifs promote multivalent connections with other molecules and the formation of higher-order oligomers, and their removal usually prevents LLPS.
Why it matters
This laboratory study describes how liquid-liquid phase separation of TDP-43 is mediated by just a few aromatic residues. It is basic biochemistry and does not show any treatment, cure or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 46/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (The Journal of biological chemistry) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Journal of Biological Chemistry: journal h-index 780 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2018 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 269 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 26.9 citations a year over 10 year(s) since 2018 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 16.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 9 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 79 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Jie‐rong Huang: h-index 22 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | National Yang Ming University: institution h-index 442 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 29511089) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 46 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ac117.001037
- PubMed: 29511089
- Original source →
- Free full text: Journal of Biological Chemistry →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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