Phase Regulation of RNA Binding Protein

Abstract

Living cells utilize liquid-liquid phase separation （LLPS） to enable the compartmentalization of macromolecules as membrane-less organelles. RNA binding proteins with intrinsically disordered regions play a central role in the biological LLPS. Although LLPS provides an enormous advantage in a mixture of a wide variety of biological macromolecules, misregulation leads to fatal diseases, including Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis （ALS）. Phase state of RNA binding protein FUS and its regulation by nuclear import receptor karyopherinβ2 will be discussed.