title: Liquid-liquid phase separation in biology.
abstract: Cells organize many of their biochemical reactions in non-membrane compartments. Recent evidence has shown that many of these compartments are liquids that form by phase separation from the cytoplasm. Here we discuss the basic physical concepts necessary to understand the consequences of liquid-like states for biological functions.
authors.affiliation: Max Planck Institute of Molecular Cell Biology and Genetics Dresden, and.
authors.forename: Anthony A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Hyman
authors.forename: Christoph A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Weber
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Jülicher
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002451:Cell Compartmentation / Q000502:physiology; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000737:chemistry; D004058:Diffusion; D019277:Entropy; D005782:Gels; D007424:Intracellular Fluid / Q000737:chemistry*; D000069497:Origin of Life; D044367:Phase Transition; D012995:Solubility; D009626:Terminology as Topic
chemical_list: D005782:Gels
keywords: P granules; biological liquids; chemical potential; origin of life; phase separation