RNA granules: functional compartments or incidental condensates?
Open Access
- 1 May 2023
- journal article
- review article
- Published by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in Genes & Development
- Vol. 37 (9-10), 354-376
- https://doi.org/10.1101/gad.350518.123
Abstract
RNA granules are mesoscale assemblies that form in the absence of limiting membranes. RNA granules contain factors for RNA biogenesis and turnover and are often assumed to represent specialized compartments for RNA biochemistry. Recent evidence suggests that RNA granules assemble by phase separation of subsoluble ribonucleoprotein (RNP) complexes that partially demix from the cytoplasm or nucleoplasm. We explore the possibility that some RNA granules are nonessential condensation by-products that arise when RNP complexes exceed their solubility limit as a consequence of cellular activity, stress, or aging. We describe the use of evolutionary and mutational analyses and single-molecule techniques to distinguish functional RNA granules from “incidental condensates.”Keywords
Funding Information
- Life Science Research Foundation
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute
- National Institutes of Health (R37 HD37047)
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute
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