Biomolecular condensates in neurodegeneration and cancer

Abstract

The intracellular environment is partitioned into functionally distinct compartments containing specific sets of molecules and reactions. Biomolecular condensates, also referred to as membrane-less organelles, are diverse and abundant cellular compartments that lack membranous enclosures. Molecules assemble into condensates by phase separation; multivalent weak interactions drive molecules to separate from their surroundings and concentrate in discrete locations. Biomolecular condensates exist in all eukaryotes and in some prokaryotes, and participate in various essential house-keeping, stress-response and cell type-specific processes. An increasing number of recent studies link abnormal condensate formation, composition and material properties to a number of disease states. In this review, we discuss current knowledge and models describing the regulation of condensates and how they become dysregulated in neurodegeneration and cancer. Further research on the regulation of biomolecular phase separation will help us to better understand their role in cell physiology and disease.

Keywords: biomolecular condensates; cancer; disease; membrane-less organelles; neurodegeneration; phase separation; phase transition.