Towards arbitrary manipulation of protein phase transition/separation in living cells

Abstract

Through recent cell biology researches, phase transition/separation of biomolecules has emerged as an essential biophysical mechanism underlying subcellular organization of the cell. Membrane-less organelles, a class of intracellular structures assembled through phase transition/separation, are involved in a wide variety of both physiological and pathological phenomena. Membrane-less organelles are thus promising targets for arbitrarily manipulating cellular functions. In this review, the author summarizes development of synthetic biology molecular tools that manipulate assembly and disassembly of a representative membrane-less organelle, stress granules. Open challenges and future perspectives in the field will also be discussed.