RNA Droplets.
Annu Rev Biophys
; 49: 247-265, 2020 05 06.
Article
in En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-32040349
ABSTRACT
Liquid-liquid phase separation is emerging as the universal mechanism by which membraneless cellular granules form. Despite many previous studies on condensation of intrinsically disordered proteins and low complexity domains, we lack understanding about the role of RNA, which is the essential component of all ribonucleoprotein (RNP) granules. RNA, as an anionic polymer, is inherently an excellent platform for achieving multivalency and can accommodate many RNA binding proteins. Recent findings have highlighted the diverse function of RNA in tuning phase-separation propensity up or down, altering viscoelastic properties and thereby driving immiscibility between different condensates. In addition to contributing to the biophysical properties of droplets, RNA is a functionally critical constituent that defines the identity of cellular condensates and controls the temporal and spatial distribution of specific RNP granules. In this review, we summarize what we have learned so far about such roles of RNA in the context of in vitro and in vivo studies.
Key words
Full text:
1
Collection:
01-internacional
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
RNA
Language:
En
Journal:
Annu Rev Biophys
Journal subject:
BIOFISICA
Year:
2020
Document type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Estados Unidos