title: Phase separation in cytoplasm, due to macromolecular crowding, is the basis for microcompartmentation.
abstract: The macromolecular diversity and concentrations in the fluid phase of cytoplasm constitute conditions necessary and sufficient for aqueous phase separation. Consequences of phase separation in cytoplasm, including its 'compartmentation', are inferred from analogies with the physicochemical properties of aqueous two-phase systems and with the partitioning behavior of biomaterials in them.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Chemical Biology 151, Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Long Beach, CA 90822-5201.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.forename: D E
authors.initials: DE
authors.lastname: Brooks
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001704:Biopolymers; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000502:physiology* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008954:Models, Biological
chemical_list: D001704:Biopolymers