Interplay between membranes and biomolecular condensates in the regulation of membrane-associated cellular processes

Abstract

Liquid‒liquid phase separation (LLPS) has emerged as a key mechanism for organizing cellular spaces independent of membranes. Biomolecular condensates, which assemble through LLPS, exhibit distinctive liquid droplet-like behavior and can exchange constituents with their surroundings. The regulation of condensate phases, including transitions from a liquid state to gel or irreversible aggregates, is important for their physiological functions and for controlling pathological progression, as observed in neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. While early studies on biomolecular condensates focused primarily on those in fluidic environments such as the cytosol, recent discoveries have revealed their existence in close proximity to, on, or even comprising membranes. The aim of this review is to provide an overview of the properties of membrane-associated condensates in a cellular context and their biological functions in relation to membranes. Understanding how cells organize and compartmentalize their interiors is key to understanding how they function and respond to changes. This study analyzes data from past research to explore the roles of membrane-associated biomolecular condensates in cellular processes such as signaling, membrane dynamics, and the formation of specialized cellular domains. Researchers demonstrate how these condensates, formed through a process called liquid–liquid phase separation, selectively gather specific molecules while excluding others, thus regulating various cellular functions. The study also investigates how these condensates influence membrane shape, contribute to contact between different organelles, and control the movement of molecules within the cell. Researchers conclude that a deeper understanding of these condensates offers new insights into cell biology and may lead to new treatment strategies for diseases in which condensate function is disrupted. This summary was initially drafted using artificial intelligence, then revised and fact-checked by the author.