Dissecting the complexity of biomolecular condensates. (18th December 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Swain, Pinaki; Weber, Stephanie C.
• Is Part Of: Biochemical Society transactions. Volume 48:Number 6(2020)
• Page Start: 2591
• Page End: 2602
• Publication Date: 2020-12-18
• Subjects: associative polymers -- biomolecular condensates -- liquid–liquid phase separation -- multiphase organization -- network connectivity -- non-equilibrium activity; Biochemistry -- Congresses; 572
• DOI: 10.1042/BST20200351
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0300-5127

Abstract

Abstract : Biomolecular condensates comprise a diverse and ubiquitous class of membraneless organelles. Condensate assembly is often described by liquid–liquid phase separation. While this process explains many key features, it cannot account for the compositional or architectural complexity that condensates display in cells. Recent work has begun to dissect the rich network of intermolecular interactions that give rise to biomolecular condensates. Here, we review the latest results from theory, simulations and experiments, and discuss what they reveal about the structure–function relationship of condensates.