Phase Separation of Biomacromolecules and Its Important Role in Transcriptional Regulation / 生物化学与生物物理进展

Cells not only contain membrane-bound organelles (MBOs), but also membraneless organelles (MLOs) formed by condensation of many biomacromolecules. Examples include RNA-protein granules such as nucleoli and PML nuclear bodies (PML-NBs) in the nucleus, as well as stress granules and P-bodies in the cytoplasm. Phase separation is the basic organizing principle of the form of the condensates or membraneless organelles (MLOs) of biomacromolecules including proteins and nucleic acids. In particular, liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) compartmentalises and concentrates biological macromolecules into liquid condensates. It has been found that phase separation of biomacromolecules requires some typical intrinsic characteristics, such as intrinsically disordered regions, modular domains and multivalent interactions. The phase separation of biomacromolecules plays a key role in many important cell activities. In recent years, the phase separation of biomacromolecules phase has become a focus of research in gene transcriptional regulation. Transcriptional regulatory elements such as RNA polymerases, transcription factors (TFs), and super enhancers (SEs) all play important roles through phase separation. Our group has previously reported for the first time that long-term inactivation or absence of assembly factors leads to the formation of condensates of RNA polymerase II (RNAPII) subunits in the cytoplasm, and this process is reversible, suggesting a novel regulatory model of eukaryotic transcription machinery. The phase separation of biomacromolecules provides a biophysical understanding for the rapid transmission of transcriptional signals by a large number of TFs. Moreover, phase separation during transcriptional regulation is closely related to the occurrence of cancer. For example, the activation of oncogenes is usually associated with the formation of phase separation condensates at the SEs. In this review, the intrinsic characteristics of the formation of biomacromolecules phase separation and the important role of phase separation in transcriptional regulation are reviewed, which will provide reference for understanding basic cell activities and gene regulation in cancer.

Advance in studies on pharmacokinetics of baicalin / 中国中药杂志

Scutellariae baicalensis is one of the most important traditional Chinese medicinal herbs, mainly distributed in Shandong and Hebei provinces. It has significant pharmacological effects such as antimicrobial activity, anti-inflammatory and antioxidation. Baicalin is one of its main effective components. However, baicalin's low bioavailability has restricted its clinical application. In recent decades, extensive studies have been carried out on the metabolism of baicalin at home and abroad. In order to provide scientific references for baicalin's further studies, this paper would not only review the advances in pharmacokinetics research of baicalin and Chinese herbal preparations containing baicalin, but also make a summary on research status of baicalin.