Protein Phase Separation: A New Phase in Cell Biology. Issue 6 (June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Boeynaems, Steven; Alberti, Simon; Fawzi, Nicolas L.; Mittag, Tanja; Polymenidou, Magdalini; Rousseau, Frederic; Schymkowitz, Joost; Shorter, James; Wolozin, Benjamin; Van Den Bosch, Ludo; Tompa, Peter; Fuxreiter, Monika
• Is Part Of: Trends in cell biology. Volume 28:Issue 6(2018)
• Page Start: 420
• Page End: 435
• Publication Date: 2018-06
• Subjects: Cytology -- Periodicals; Cytology -- Research -- Periodicals; 571.6
• DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2018.02.004
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0962-8924

Abstract

Abstract : Cellular compartments and organelles organize biological matter. Most well-known organelles are separated by a membrane boundary from their surrounding milieu. There are also many so-called membraneless organelles and recent studies suggest that these organelles, which are supramolecular assemblies of proteins and RNA molecules, form via protein phase separation. Recent discoveries have shed light on the molecular properties, formation, regulation, and function of membraneless organelles. A combination of techniques from cell biology, biophysics, physical chemistry, structural biology, and bioinformatics are starting to help establish the molecular principles of an emerging field, thus paving the way for exciting discoveries, including novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of age-related disorders. Highlights: Phase separation is known to play a role in a variety of cellular processes, including formation of classical membraneless organelles, signaling complexes, the cytoskeleton, and numerous other supramolecular assemblies. The concept of phase separation provides a new framework for our understanding of the functional role of sequence degeneracy (low-complexity) and protein disorder. Accumulating evidence points to a key role for phase transitions in human diseases associated with protein aggregation, and to the misregulation of membraneless organelles in disease. Understanding the physical principles and molecular interactions behind protein phase separation could inspire novel biomaterials.