Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation: Unraveling the Enigma of Biomolecular Condensates in Microbial Cells
Numerous examples of microbial phase-separated biomolecular condensates have now been identified following advances in fluorescence imaging and single molecule microscopy technologies. The structure, function, and potential applications of these microbial condensates are currently receiving a great...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-10-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Microbiology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2021.751880/full |
| _version_ | 1818837381664473088 |
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| author | Zixu Gao Wenchang Zhang Runlei Chang Susu Zhang Guiwen Yang Guoyan Zhao |
| author_facet | Zixu Gao Wenchang Zhang Runlei Chang Susu Zhang Guiwen Yang Guoyan Zhao |
| author_sort | Zixu Gao |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Numerous examples of microbial phase-separated biomolecular condensates have now been identified following advances in fluorescence imaging and single molecule microscopy technologies. The structure, function, and potential applications of these microbial condensates are currently receiving a great deal of attention. By neatly compartmentalizing proteins and their interactors in membrane-less organizations while maintaining free communication between these macromolecules and the external environment, microbial cells are able to achieve enhanced metabolic efficiency. Typically, these condensates also possess the ability to rapidly adapt to internal and external changes. The biological functions of several phase-separated condensates in small bacterial cells show evolutionary convergence with the biological functions of their eukaryotic paralogs. Artificial microbial membrane-less organelles are being constructed with application prospects in biocatalysis, biosynthesis, and biomedicine. In this review, we provide an overview of currently known biomolecular condensates driven by liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) in microbial cells, and we elaborate on their biogenesis mechanisms and biological functions. Additionally, we highlight the major challenges and future research prospects in studying microbial LLPS. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T03:21:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-58207cdcd716435eac046975c1ed68a2 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1664-302X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T03:21:36Z |
| publishDate | 2021-10-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Microbiology |
| spelling | doaj.art-58207cdcd716435eac046975c1ed68a22022-12-21T20:37:45ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Microbiology1664-302X2021-10-011210.3389/fmicb.2021.751880751880Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation: Unraveling the Enigma of Biomolecular Condensates in Microbial CellsZixu GaoWenchang ZhangRunlei ChangSusu ZhangGuiwen YangGuoyan ZhaoNumerous examples of microbial phase-separated biomolecular condensates have now been identified following advances in fluorescence imaging and single molecule microscopy technologies. The structure, function, and potential applications of these microbial condensates are currently receiving a great deal of attention. By neatly compartmentalizing proteins and their interactors in membrane-less organizations while maintaining free communication between these macromolecules and the external environment, microbial cells are able to achieve enhanced metabolic efficiency. Typically, these condensates also possess the ability to rapidly adapt to internal and external changes. The biological functions of several phase-separated condensates in small bacterial cells show evolutionary convergence with the biological functions of their eukaryotic paralogs. Artificial microbial membrane-less organelles are being constructed with application prospects in biocatalysis, biosynthesis, and biomedicine. In this review, we provide an overview of currently known biomolecular condensates driven by liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) in microbial cells, and we elaborate on their biogenesis mechanisms and biological functions. Additionally, we highlight the major challenges and future research prospects in studying microbial LLPS.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2021.751880/fullliquid-liquid phase separationbiomolecular condensatesmembraneless organellesmultivalent interactionscrowded environmentscellular noise |
| spellingShingle | Zixu Gao Wenchang Zhang Runlei Chang Susu Zhang Guiwen Yang Guoyan Zhao Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation: Unraveling the Enigma of Biomolecular Condensates in Microbial Cells Frontiers in Microbiology liquid-liquid phase separation biomolecular condensates membraneless organelles multivalent interactions crowded environments cellular noise |
| title | Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation: Unraveling the Enigma of Biomolecular Condensates in Microbial Cells |
| title_full | Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation: Unraveling the Enigma of Biomolecular Condensates in Microbial Cells |
| title_fullStr | Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation: Unraveling the Enigma of Biomolecular Condensates in Microbial Cells |
| title_full_unstemmed | Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation: Unraveling the Enigma of Biomolecular Condensates in Microbial Cells |
| title_short | Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation: Unraveling the Enigma of Biomolecular Condensates in Microbial Cells |
| title_sort | liquid liquid phase separation unraveling the enigma of biomolecular condensates in microbial cells |
| topic | liquid-liquid phase separation biomolecular condensates membraneless organelles multivalent interactions crowded environments cellular noise |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2021.751880/full |
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