Heterochromatin Organization and Phase Separation

Overview

Journal Nucleus

Date 2023 Jan 30

PMID 36710442

Authors

Hui Zhang

Weihua Qin

Hector Romero

Heinrich Leonhardt

M Cristina Cardoso

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The eukaryotic nucleus displays a variety of membraneless compartments with distinct biomolecular composition and specific cellular activities. Emerging evidence indicates that protein-based liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) plays an essential role in the formation and dynamic regulation of heterochromatin compartmentalization. This feature is especially conspicuous at the pericentric heterochromatin domains. In this review, we will describe our understanding of heterochromatin organization and LLPS. In addition, we will highlight the increasing importance of multivalent weak homo- and heteromolecular interactions in LLPS-mediated heterochromatin compartmentalization in the complex environment inside living cells.

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