Enzymes and Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation: A New Era for the Regulation of Enzymatic Activity

Abstract

Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) is recognized as a mechanism for regulation of enzymatic activity. Biochemical mechanisms include concentrating reactants to enhance reaction rates or sequester enzymes and reactants from each other to reduce the reaction rate. On the other hand, LLPS might also regulate the diffusion of small molecules or important parameters for enzymatic activity (such as modulators, macromolecular crowding and changing the media physicochemical features) increasing or decreasing the reaction rate of the enzymes. Furthermore, the co-compartmentalization of specific enzymes can favour or speed up specific metabolic fluxes. Here, we discuss how LLPS contributed to generate a new era for enzyme regulation and the new possible subtle regulation mechanisms still unexplored.