Physical Principles Underlying the Complex Biology of Intracellular Phase Transitions
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology · Washington University in St. Louis · +1 more institution
Abstract
Many biomolecular condensates appear to form via spontaneous or driven processes that have the hallmarks of intracellular phase transitions. This suggests that a common underlying physical framework might govern the formation of functionally and compositionally unrelated biomolecular condensates. In this review, we summarize recent work that leverages a stickers-and-spacers framework adapted from the field of associative polymers for understanding how multivalent protein and RNA molecules drive phase transitions that give rise to biomolecular condensates. We discuss how the valence of stickers impacts the driving forces for condensate formation and elaborate on how stickers can be distinguished from spacers in…
Citation impact
- FWCI
- 48.43
- Percentile
- 100%
- References
- 184
Authors
3- JCJeong‐Mo ChoiCorresponding
Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Washington University in St. Louis, Living Systems (United States)
- ASAlex S. Holehouse
Washington University in St. Louis, Living Systems (United States)
- RVRohit V. Pappu
Washington University in St. Louis, Living Systems (United States)
Topics & keywords
- Phase transition
- Associative property
- Valence (chemistry)
- Chemical physics
- Nanotechnology
- Intracellular
- Biological system
- Computer science