Elucidating the reversible and irreversible self-assembly mechanisms of low-complexity aromatic-rich kinked peptides and steric zipper peptides

Many RNA-binding proteins such as fused-in sarcoma (FUS) can self-assemble into reversible liquid droplets and fibrils through the self-association of their low-complexity (LC) domains. Recent experiments have revealed that SYG-rich segments in the FUS LC domains play critical roles in the reversible self-assembly behaviors of FUS. These FUS LC segments alone can self-assemble into reversible kinked fibrils, which are markedly different from the canonical irreversible steric zipper β-sheet fibrils. However, the molecular determinants underlying the reversible and irreversible self-assembly are poorly understood. Herein we conducted extensive all-atom and coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations of four representative hexapeptides: two low-complexity aromatic-rich kinked peptides from the amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-related FUS protein, FUS_37-42 (SYSGYS) and FUS_54-59 (SYSSYG); and two steric zipper peptides from Alzheimer's-associated Aβ and Tau proteins, Aβ_16-21 (KLVFFA) and Tau_306-311 (VQIVYK). We dissected their reversible and irreversible self-assembly dynamics, predicted their phase separation behaviors, and elucidated the underpinning molecular interactions. Our simulations showed that alternating stickers (Tyr) and spacers (Gly and Ser) in FUS_37-42 and FUS_54-59 facilitate the formation of highly dynamic coil-rich oligomers and lead to reversible self-assembly, while consecutive hydrophobic residues of LVFF in Aβ_16-21 and IVY in Tau_306-311 act as hydrophobic patches, favoring the formation of stable β-sheet-rich oligomers and driving the irreversible self-assembly. Intriguingly, we found that FUS_37-42 and FUS_54-59 peptides, possessing the same amino acid composition and the same number of sticker and spacer residues, display differential self-assembly propensities. This finding suggests that the self-assembly behaviors of FUS peptides are fine-tuned by the site-specific patterning of spacer residues (Ser and Gly). This study provides significant mechanistic insights into reversible and irreversible peptide self-assembly, which would be helpful for understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the formation of biological liquid condensates and pathological solid amyloid fibrils.