Nuclear bodies: the emerging biophysics of nucleoplasmic phases.
The cell nucleus contains a large number of membrane-less bodies that play important roles in the spatiotemporal regulation of gene expression. Recent work suggests that low complexity/disordered protein motifs and repetitive binding domains drive assembly of droplets of nuclear RNA/protein by promoting nucleoplasmic phase separation. Nucleation and maturation of these structures is regulated by, and may in turn affect, factors including post-translational modifications, protein concentration, transcriptional activity, and chromatin state. Here we present a concise review of these exciting recent advances, and discuss current and future challenges in understanding the assembly, regulation, and function of nuclear RNA/protein bodies.
Princeton University, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
Lian
L
Zhu
Princeton University, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA. Electronic address: cbrangwy@princeton.edu.
Clifford P
CP
Brangwynne
D000818:Animals; D055592:Biophysical Phenomena; D002467:Cell Nucleus / Q000378:metabolism*; D002843:Chromatin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D045586:Intranuclear Inclusion Bodies / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D011499:Protein Processing, Post-Translational
D002843:Chromatin; D009687:Nuclear Proteins