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Volume 54 Issue 5
Oct.  2023
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CHEN Yilong, LING Xiaoru, YU Haopeng, et al. Role of Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation in Cell Fate Transition and Diseases[J]. Journal of Sichuan University (Medical Sciences), 2023, 54(5): 857-862. DOI: 10.12182/20230960302
Citation: CHEN Yilong, LING Xiaoru, YU Haopeng, et al. Role of Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation in Cell Fate Transition and Diseases[J]. Journal of Sichuan University (Medical Sciences), 2023, 54(5): 857-862. DOI: 10.12182/20230960302
shu

Role of Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation in Cell Fate Transition and Diseases

  • 1.

    Medical Big Data Center, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China

  • 2.

    West China Biomedical Big Data Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China

  • 3.

    Med-X Center for Informatics, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, China

  • 4.

    Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China

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  • Corresponding author:

    DING Junjun, E-mail: dingjunj@mail.sysu.edu.cn

  • Received Date: September 04, 2023
  • Revised Date: September 08, 2023
  • Available Online: October 12, 2023
  • Published Date: October 12, 2023
    Abstract
  • Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), a novel mechanism of the organization and formation of cellular structures, plays a vital role in regulating cell fate transitions and disease pathogenesis and is gaining widespread attention. LLPS may lead to the assemblage of cellular structures with liquid-like fluidity, such as germ granules, stress granules, and nucleoli, which are classic membraneless organelles. These structures are typically formed through the high-concentration liquid aggregation of biomacromolecules driven by weak multivalent interactions. LLPS is involved in regulating various intracellular life activities and its dysregulation may cause the disruption of cellular functions, thereby contributing to the pathogenesis and development of neurodegenerative diseases, infectious diseases, cancers, etc. Herein, we summarized published findings on the LLPS dynamics of membraneless organelles in physiological and pathological cell fate transition, revealing their crucial roles in cell differentiation, development, and various pathogenic processes. This paper provides a fresh theoretical framework and potential therapeutic targets for LLPS-related studies, opening new avenues for future research.
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