title: Mechanisms and Consequences of Macromolecular Phase Separation.
abstract: Over a century ago, colloidal phase separation of matter into non-membranous bodies was recognized as a fundamental organizing principal of cell "protoplasm." Recent insights into the molecular properties of such phase-separated bodies present challenges to our understanding of cellular protein interaction networks, as well as opportunities for interpreting and understanding of native and pathological genetic and molecular interactions. Here, we briefly review examples of and discuss physical principles of phase-separated cellular bodies and then reflect on how knowledge of these principles may direct future research on their functions.
authors.affiliation: Département de Biochimie, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, Succursale centre-ville, Montréal, Québec H3C 3J7, Canada.
authors.forename: Louis-Philippe
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Bergeron-Sandoval
authors.affiliation: Département de Biochimie, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, Succursale centre-ville, Montréal, Québec H3C 3J7, Canada.
authors.forename: Nozhat
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Safaee
authors.affiliation: Département de Biochimie, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, Succursale centre-ville, Montréal, Québec H3C 3J7, Canada; Centre Robert-Cedergren, Bio-Informatique et Génomique, Université de Montréal, C.P. 6128, Succursale centre-ville, Montréal, Québec H3C 3J7, Canada. Electronic address: stephen.michnick@umontreal.ca.
authors.forename: Stephen W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Michnick
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003102:Colloids / Q000737:chemistry; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000737:chemistry; D003868:Dequalinium / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D015388:Organelles / Q000737:chemistry; D025941:Protein Interaction Mapping; D011506:Proteins / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D003102:Colloids; D011506:Proteins; D003868:Dequalinium