A conceptual framework for understanding phase separation and addressing open questions and challenges

T Mittag, RV Pappu - Molecular cell, 2022 - cell.com
Macromolecular phase separation is being recognized for its potential importance and
relevance as a driver of spatial organization within cells. Here, we describe a framework …

Phase transitions of associative biomacromolecules

RV Pappu, SR Cohen, F Dar, M Farag, M Kar - Chemical Reviews, 2023 - ACS Publications
Multivalent proteins and nucleic acids, collectively referred to as multivalent associative
biomacromolecules, provide the driving forces for the formation and compositional …

Modulating biomolecular condensates: a novel approach to drug discovery

DM Mitrea, M Mittasch, BF Gomes, IA Klein… - Nature Reviews Drug …, 2022 - nature.com
In the past decade, membraneless assemblies known as biomolecular condensates have
been reported to play key roles in many cellular functions by compartmentalizing specific …

Phase-separating RNA-binding proteins form heterogeneous distributions of clusters in subsaturated solutions

M Kar, F Dar, TJ Welsh, LT Vogel… - Proceedings of the …, 2022 - National Acad Sciences
Macromolecular phase separation is thought to be one of the processes that drives the
formation of membraneless biomolecular condensates in cells. The dynamics of phase …

A brief guideline for studies of phase-separated biomolecular condensates

Y Gao, X Li, P Li, Y Lin - Nature Chemical Biology, 2022 - nature.com
Cells are exquisitely compartmentalized to achieve precise spatiotemporal regulation of
myriad processes and pathways. Phase separation offers one way to achieve territorial …

Droplet physics and intracellular phase separation

F Jülicher, CA Weber - Annual Review of Condensed Matter …, 2024 - annualreviews.org
Living cells are spatially organized by compartments that can nucleate, grow, and dissolve.
Compartmentalization can emerge by phase separation, leading to the formation of droplets …

A solid beta-sheet structure is formed at the surface of FUS droplets during aging

L Emmanouilidis, E Bartalucci, Y Kan, M Ijavi… - Nature Chemical …, 2024 - nature.com
Phase transitions are important to understand cell dynamics, and the maturation of liquid
droplets is relevant to neurodegenerative disorders. We combined NMR and Raman …

Mesoscale structure–function relationships in mitochondrial transcriptional condensates

M Feric, A Sarfallah, F Dar… - Proceedings of the …, 2022 - National Acad Sciences
In live cells, phase separation is thought to organize macromolecules into membraneless
structures known as biomolecular condensates. Here, we reconstituted transcription in …

Targeting nucleic acid phase transitions as a mechanism of action for antimicrobial peptides

T Sneideris, NA Erkamp, H Ausserwöger… - Nature …, 2023 - nature.com
Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs), which combat bacterial infections by disrupting the bacterial
cell membrane or interacting with intracellular targets, are naturally produced by a number of …

ISO-FLUCS: symmetrization of optofluidic manipulations in quasi-isothermal micro-environments

A Minopoli, S Wagner, E Erben, W Liao, ID Stoev… - elight, 2023 - Springer
Recently, it has been demonstrated that thermoviscous flows can be used for a range of fine
micromanipulations, such as moving the cytoplasm of cells and develo** embryos …