Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation

Dear Colleagues,

Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) underlies the formation of membraneless organelles and is a critical component of cellular organization. These dynamic organelles selectively recruit molecules and exhibit similar physical properties (liquid-like behaviour, capacity to undergo phase transitions) in response to external stimuli (temperature, osmotic potential etc), or their chemical composition (posttranslational modifications, RNA, etc). Such dynamic nature allows them to rapidly assemble or dissemble to accommodate various cellular changes, as well as adopt more structural roles, such as nucleation of microtubules by centrosomes, or ribosomal assembly taking place in nucleoli. The material properties of liquid organelles are likely to reflect their functions, and it has been shown that aberrant phase transitions are implicated in multiple pathologies, including neurodegeneration and cancer development. Recent studies have also revealed multiple examples of LLPS involved in viral infections, where phase separation play roles in replication of SARS-CoV-2, HIV, rotaviruses or influenza A virus, all of which seem to utilize liquid organelles to compartmentalize viral replication machinery. The aim of our Special Topic is to address recent advances in this field to provide perspectives in this emerging area of research. It also aims at exploring open questions about the fundamental physico-chemical principles of the LLPS phenomena in order to study them in the context of cellular functions and human diseases.

Dr. Maria João Amorim
Dr. Yohei Yamauchi
Dr. Alexander Borodavka
Topic Editors