Phase separation in biology; functional organization of a higher order

Inside eukaryotic cells, macromolecules are partitioned into membrane-bounded compartments and, within these, some are further organized into non-membrane-bounded structures termed membrane-less organelles. The latter structures are comprised of heterogeneous mixtures of proteins and nucleic acids and assemble through a phase separation phenomenon similar to polymer condensation. Membrane-less organelles are dynamic structures maintained through multivalent interactions that mediate diverse biological processes, many involved in RNA metabolism. They rapidly exchange components with the cellular milieu and their properties are readily altered in response to environmental cues, often implicating membrane-less…

• SJ
  St. Jude Children's Research Hospital
• AL
  American Lebanese Syrian Associated Charities
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: 1R01GM115634, P30CA21765
• NC
  National Cancer Institute

  Award: P30CA21765
• OR
  Oak Ridge National Laboratory