How Cells Use Shape-Shifting Molecules to Keep Things Moving—and What That May Mean for Diseases Like ALS

Inside our cells, molecules constantly shift and rearrange to keep everything running smoothly. Proteins and fats (lipids) do not just float around randomly—they often change their physical state to work together in precise ways. One important example of this teamwork is how certain proteins and lipids interact to help transport RNA, the molecule that helps turn genetic instructions into action.

A new study by Dr. Peter H. St George-Hyslop, co-director of The Carol and Gene Ludwig Center for Research on Neurodegeneration, together with collaborators at the University of Cambridge, explored how a protein called ANXA11 helps link clusters of RNA and proteins (called RNP granules) to parts of the cell called lysosomes, which act like recycling centers. ANXA11 forms liquid-like droplets—known as biomolecular condensates—that stick to lysosomes and help shuttle RNP granules around the cell.

As recently reported in Nature Communications(link is external and opens in a new window), these condensates are part of a clever system cells use to organize themselves without needing hard boundaries like membranes. They can form and dissolve as needed, helping the cell react quickly to stress or other changes.

The researchers also found two other proteins, ALG2 and CALC, that help control how ANXA11 connects to lysosomes. These regulators influence how flexible and stable these protein-lipid connections are, which affects how well the cell can transport its cargo.

This discovery matters because several proteins involved in this process—including ANXA11—are linked to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a severe neurodegenerative disease. By better understanding how these molecular systems work (and how they sometimes fail), scientists can gain new insights into what might go wrong in diseases like ALS, and possibly how to fix it.