Biomedical Applications for Phase Separation of Biomacromolecules
ZHAO Zhennan1, OUYANG Songying1,2, WU Junjun1*
The complex internal components and structures of a cell provide the foundation for the cell to efficiently and orderly carry out various biochemical reactions and regulatory activities. The various functional compartments within the cell play a crucial role in maintaining normal and efficient physiological processes, such as membrane-bound organelles like the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus, and membrane-less compartments such as P-bodies and stress granules. Membrane-less compartments are assembled through phase separation driven by multivalent interactions, also known as biomolecular condensates. Phase separation phenomena have important biological functions within the cell, including regulating the speed of biochemical reactions, ensuring the specific ity of biochemical reactions, sequestering and storing biomolecules, and sensitively regulating minor environmental changes. In terms of drug targeting and as drug delivery carriers, phase separation has shown outstanding applica tion potential. This review mainly elaborates on the mechanism of phase separation occurrence and the biological functions of biomolecular condensates, summarizes recent research progress of phase separation in drug targeting and as drug delivery carriers, and provides references for the study of biomacromolecule phase separation in the f ield of biomedicine.
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