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Phase separation

Rules of selective condensation in cells

Liquid droplets form in cells to concentrate specific biomolecules (while excluding others) in order to perform specific functions. The molecular mechanisms that determine whether different macromolecules undergo co-partitioning or exclusion has so far remained elusive. Now, two studies uncover key principles underlying this selectivity.

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Fig. 1: Co-condensation and exclusion are controlled by tuning homotypic and heterotypic molecular interactions.

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Correspondence to Michael Phillips or Kingshuk Ghosh.

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Phillips, M., Ghosh, K. Rules of selective condensation in cells. Nat. Chem. (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41557-024-01525-w

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