| MLO Description | |
|---|---|
| MLO | Phase separation |
| Synonym | Phase transition, Liquid-liquid phase separation |
| Description | Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) means the demixing of two liquid phases with identical chemical potentials, but distinct molecular composition[1]. These diverse liquid-like droplets of biomolecules, which self-assemble within another liquid-the cytoplasm or nucleoplasm-are increasingly recognized as arising from a physicochemical process known as liquid-liquid phase separation, sometimes also called coacervation[2]. The ability to undergo LLPS may be a universal property of proteins and nucleic acids under specific conditions, many of which may never be encountered in a normal cell. LLPS or condensation underlies the formation of membraneless bodies such as nucleoli in cells. In addition to punctate membraneless bodies, other subcellular structures are also formed via LLPS and share similar underlying interactions and physical properties[3]. Examples include assemblies in the nucleus such as the nucleolus, Cajal bodies, and nuclear speckles and also cytoplasmic structures such as stress granules, P-bodies, and germ granules. These structures play diverse roles in various biological processes and are also increasingly implicated in protein aggregation diseases[2]. |
| Reference | 27203111,28935776,30682370 |
Chao Hou, Haotai Xie, Yang Fu, Yao Ma, Tingting Li. MloDisDB: A manually curated DataBase of the relations between MembraneLess Organelles and DISeases