TY - JOUR
T1 - Organization and Function of Non-dynamic Biomolecular Condensates
AU - Woodruff, Jeffrey B.
AU - Hyman, Anthony A.
AU - Boke, Elvan
N1 - Funding Information:
E.B. acknowledges the support of the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Centro de Excelencia Severo Ochoa, and the support of the CERCA Programme/Generalitat de Catalunya. J.B.W. received support from MaxSynBio.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2017 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2018/2
Y1 - 2018/2
N2 - Cells compartmentalize biochemical reactions using organelles. Organelles can be either membrane-bound compartments or supramolecular assemblies of protein and ribonucleic acid known as ‘biomolecular condensates’. Biomolecular condensates, such as nucleoli and germ granules, have been described as liquid like, as they have the ability to fuse, flow, and undergo fission. Recent experiments have revealed that some liquid-like condensates can mature over time to form stable gels. In other cases, biomolecular condensates solidify into amyloid-like fibers. Here we discuss the assembly, organization, and physiological roles of these more stable condensates in cells, focusing on Balbiani bodies, centrosomes, nuclear pores, and amyloid bodies. We discuss how the material properties of these condensates can be explained by the principles of liquid–liquid phase separation and maturation.
AB - Cells compartmentalize biochemical reactions using organelles. Organelles can be either membrane-bound compartments or supramolecular assemblies of protein and ribonucleic acid known as ‘biomolecular condensates’. Biomolecular condensates, such as nucleoli and germ granules, have been described as liquid like, as they have the ability to fuse, flow, and undergo fission. Recent experiments have revealed that some liquid-like condensates can mature over time to form stable gels. In other cases, biomolecular condensates solidify into amyloid-like fibers. Here we discuss the assembly, organization, and physiological roles of these more stable condensates in cells, focusing on Balbiani bodies, centrosomes, nuclear pores, and amyloid bodies. We discuss how the material properties of these condensates can be explained by the principles of liquid–liquid phase separation and maturation.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85039455460&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85039455460&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.tibs.2017.11.005
DO - 10.1016/j.tibs.2017.11.005
M3 - Review article
C2 - 29258725
AN - SCOPUS:85039455460
SN - 0968-0004
VL - 43
SP - 81
EP - 94
JO - Trends in biochemical sciences
JF - Trends in biochemical sciences
IS - 2
ER -