Department of Physics and Astronomy, Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea.
Institute of Applied Physics of Seoul National University, Seoul, 08826, South Korea.
Exp Mol Med. 2024 Apr;56(4):809-819. doi: 10.1038/s12276-024-01226-x. Epub 2024 Apr 25.
Chromosomal phase separation is involved in a broad spectrum of chromosome organization and functional processes. Nonetheless, the intricacy of this process has left its molecular mechanism unclear. Here, we introduce the principles governing phase separation and its connections to physiological roles in this context. Our primary focus is contrasting two phase separation mechanisms: self-association-induced phase separation (SIPS) and bridging-induced phase separation (BIPS). We provide a comprehensive discussion of the distinct features characterizing these mechanisms and offer illustrative examples that suggest their broad applicability. With a detailed understanding of these mechanisms, we explore their associations with nucleosomes and chromosomal biological functions. This comprehensive review contributes to the exploration of uncharted territory in the intricate interplay between chromosome architecture and function.
染色体相分离参与了广泛的染色体组织和功能过程。尽管如此，这一过程的复杂性仍使其分子机制不明确。在这里，我们介绍了控制相分离的原则及其与生理作用的联系。我们的主要重点是对比两种相分离机制：自缔合诱导相分离（SIPS）和桥联诱导相分离（BIPS）。我们全面讨论了这些机制的独特特征，并提供了说明性的例子，表明它们具有广泛的适用性。通过对这些机制的详细了解，我们探讨了它们与核小体和染色体生物学功能的关联。这篇全面的综述有助于探索染色体结构和功能之间复杂相互作用的未知领域。
