Theory of non-dilute binding and surface phase separation applied to membrane-binding proteins

Surface binding and surface phase separation of cytosolic scaffold proteins on lipid membranes are involved in many cellular processes such as cell signaling, cell adhesion, and cortex regulation. However, the interplay between surface binding and surface phase separation is poorly understood. In this work, we study this interplay by deriving a general thermodynamic model and applying it to in vitro reconstitution experiments of membrane-binding proteins involved in tight junction initiation. Our theory extends the classical surface binding isotherm to account for non-dilute and heterogeneous conditions where components can phase separate. Using this framework we demonstrate how surface phase separation is governed by the interaction strength among membrane-bound scaffold proteins and their binding affinity to the membrane surface. Comparing the theory to reconstitution experiments, we show that tuning the oligomerization state of the adhesion receptors in the membrane controls surface phase transition and patterning of the scaffold protein ZO1. These findings suggest a fundamental role of the interplay between non-dilute surface binding and surface phase separation in the formation of the tight junction. More broadly, our work highlights non-dilute surface binding and surface phase separation as a common organizational principle for membrane-associated structures in living cells.