Membraneless Organelles and Phase Separation in Tumours: Mechanisms and Prospects

Abstract

Membraneless organelles (MLOs) are a type of subcellular compartment structure discovered in eukaryotes in recent years. They are mainly formed through the liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) and aggregation of macromolecular substances such as proteins or nucleic acids in cells. When cells are stimulated, they initiate a series of stress responses including gene transcription, RNA metabolism, translation, protein modification and signal transduction to maintain homeostasis. The dysregulation of these cellular processes is a key event in the occurrence and development of cancer. This article provides an overview of the structure and function of membraneless organelles, as well as the mechanisms of phase separation, to summarise the latest research progress on phase separation in tumours. It focuses on the role and molecular mechanism of LLPS in the development of tumours, with the aim of providing new theoretical references for developing drug action targets and innovative treatment strategies.

Keywords

cancer / mechanism / Membraneless organelles / phase separation / therapy

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2025 The Author(s). Cell Proliferation published by Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.