Chemical Insights into Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation in Molecular Biology
Yugo R. Kamimura, Motomu Kanai
Abstract
Abstract Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) in living organisms is a recently emerging biologic principle that may dramatically alter current perceptions of cellular systems. Various proteins, RNAs, and other biomolecules undergo LLPS, exhibiting various cellar functions. The field is still immature, however, there is no consensus regarding the basic experimental techniques used for characterizing the phenomenon, knowledge of the physicochemical basis driving and regulating LLPS in cells is insufficient, and very little is known about potential chemical interventions for LLPS. Addressing these deficiencies requires chemical approaches, and will markedly advance drug discovery, molecular biology, and medicine. Here, we introduce the basic biology of LLPS and present challenges in the field from a chemical viewpoint.