title: Liquid-liquid phase separation in cellular signaling systems.
abstract: Liquid-liquid demixing or phase separation of protein with RNA is now recognized to be a key part of the mechanism for assembly of ribonucleoprotein granules. Cellular signaling also appears to employ phase separation as a mechanism for amplification or control of signal transduction both within the cytoplasm and at the membrane. The concept of receptor clustering, identified more than 3 decades ago, is now being examined through the lens of phase separation leading to new insights. Intrinsically disordered proteins or regions are central to these processes owing to their flexibility and accessibility for dynamic protein-protein interactions and post-translational modifications. We review some recent examples, examine the mechanisms driving phase separation and delineate the implications for signal transduction systems.
authors.affiliation: Program in Molecular Structure and Function, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: P Andrew
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Chong
authors.affiliation: Program in Molecular Structure and Function, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: forman@sickkids.ca.
authors.forename: Julie D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Forman-Kay
mesh_terms: D002477:Cells / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D064267:Intrinsically Disordered Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012313:RNA / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction
chemical_list: D064267:Intrinsically Disordered Proteins; D012313:RNA