Breakthrough in Aging: Membraneless Structures and LLPS Offer New Insights and Therapies

November 20, 2024
Breakthrough in Aging: Membraneless Structures and LLPS Offer New Insights and Therapies
  • Potential therapeutic approaches targeting LLPS in age-related diseases are being explored, aiming to interfere with aberrant phase separation in cellular processes.

  • Membraneless structures, such as Cajal bodies and P granules, utilize liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) to form distinct droplets, which facilitate chemical reactions and component isolation within cells.

  • Research has identified LLPS as a crucial factor in various physiological and pathological processes, including immune responses and neurodegenerative disorders.

  • The formation of distinct cellular compartments, whether membrane-bound or membraneless, is essential for maintaining normal cellular functions and organizing biochemical reactions effectively.

  • While membrane-bound organelles create confined spaces for biomolecules using lipid bilayers, membraneless structures also significantly contribute to cellular organization without the need for membranes.

  • Innovative techniques like fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) are enhancing our understanding of LLPS in cellular signaling, providing insights into how these processes function.

  • Carlos López-Otín and colleagues expanded the hallmarks of aging from nine to twelve, incorporating insights from LLPS related to aging and disease.

  • The aging process has been linked to mechanisms such as genomic instability and telomere attrition, both of which are influenced by LLPS and membraneless structures.

Summary based on 1 source


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