Work

Phase transitions and size scaling of membrane-less organelles

Year: 2013

Type: review

Abstract: The coordinated growth of cells and their organelles is a fundamental and poorly understood problem, with implications for processes ranging from embryonic development to oncogenesis. Recent experiments have shed light on the cell size-dependent assembly of membrane-less cytoplasmic and nucleoplasmic structures, including ribonucleoprotein (RNP) granules and other intracellular bodies. Many of these structures behave as condensed liquid-like phases of the cytoplasm/nucleoplasm. The phase transitions that appear to govern their assembly exhibit an intrinsic dependence on cell size, and may explain the size scaling reported for a number of structures. This size scaling could, in turn, play a role in cell growth and size control.

Source: The Journal of Cell Biology

DOI: 10.1083/jcb.201308087

Author: Clifford P. Brangwynne

Institution: Princeton University

Language: English

Topic: RNA Research and Splicing

Subfield: Molecular Biology

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology

Domain: Life Sciences

Open Access status: hybrid

Funders: National Institute of General Medical Sciences, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

Awards: Cell growth control by cell and organelle size-dependent ribosome biogenesis, G6277073534