Science and Research

Functional interactions between scaffold proteins, noncoding RNAs, and genome loci induce liquid-liquid phase separation as organizing principle for 3-dimensional nuclear architecture: implications in cancer

The eukaryotic cell nucleus consists of functionally specialized subcompartments. These nuclear subcompartments are biomolecular aggregates built of proteins, transcripts, and specific genome loci. The structure and function of each nuclear subcompartment are defined by the composition and dynamic interaction between these 3 components. The spatio-temporal localization of biochemical reactions into membraneless nuclear subcompartments can be achieved through liquid-liquid phase separation. Based on this organizing principle, nuclear subcompartments are droplet-like structures that adopt spherical shapes, flow, and fuse like liquids or gels. In the present review, we bring into the spotlight seminal works elucidating the functional interactions between scaffold proteins, noncoding RNAs, and genomic loci, thereby inducing liquid-liquid phase separation as an organizing principle for 3-dimensional nuclear architecture. We also discuss the implications in different cancer types as well as the potential use of this knowledge to develop novel therapeutic strategies against cancer.-Rubio, K., Dobersch, S., Barreto, G. Functional interactions between scaffold proteins, noncoding RNAs, and genome loci induce liquid-liquid phase separation as organizing principle for 3-dimensional nuclear architecture: implications in cancer.

  • Rubio, K.
  • Dobersch, S.
  • Barreto, G.

Keywords

  • biomolecular aggregates
  • chromosome territories
  • nuclear miRNAs
  • nuclear subcompartments
  • nucleolus
Publication details
DOI: 10.1096/fj.201802715R
Journal: FASEB journal : official publication of the Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology
Pages: 5814-5822 
Number: 5
Work Type: Original
Location: UGMLC
Disease Area: LC
Partner / Member: JLU, MPI
Access-Number: 30742773
See publication on PubMed

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