Control of Chromatin Organization and Chromosome Behavior during the Cell Cycle through Phase Separation

Int J Mol Sci. 2021 Nov 12;22(22):12271. doi: 10.3390/ijms222212271.

Abstract

Phase-separated condensates participate in various biological activities. Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) can be driven by collective interactions between multivalent and intrinsically disordered proteins. The manner in which chromatin-with various morphologies and activities-is organized in a complex and small nucleus still remains to be fully determined. Recent findings support the claim that phase separation is involved in the regulation of chromatin organization and chromosome behavior. Moreover, phase separation also influences key events during mitosis and meiosis. This review elaborately dissects how phase separation regulates chromatin and chromosome organization and controls mitotic and meiotic chromosome behavior.

Keywords: chromosome organization; liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS); meiosis; mitosis.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Cell Cycle*
  • Chromatin / genetics
  • Chromatin / metabolism*
  • Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly*
  • Chromosomes, Mammalian / genetics
  • Chromosomes, Mammalian / metabolism*
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / chemistry
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / isolation & purification
  • DNA-Binding Proteins / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Intrinsically Disordered Proteins / chemistry
  • Intrinsically Disordered Proteins / isolation & purification
  • Intrinsically Disordered Proteins / metabolism*
  • Liquid-Liquid Extraction
  • Phase Transition

Substances

  • Chromatin
  • DNA-Binding Proteins
  • Intrinsically Disordered Proteins