FBS Colloquia No.337RNA Biofunction Laboratory

Molecular mechanisms for the segregation and coexistence of membraneless organelles

In eukaryotes, numerous membraneless organelles (MLOs) have been identified and serve as sites for various intracellular processes. Multiple MLOs exhibit liquid-like properties and behave as liquid droplets. Recent studies have revealed that these MLOs are formed through phase separation, and the mechanism of intracellular compartmentalization without using membranes has attracted significant attention. Although MLOs co-exist within the cell, how they maintain their independence and avoid fusion remains largely unknown. To elucidate this molecular mechanism, we conducted research by using two MLOs, paraspeckle and nuclear speckle, as models. In this seminar, we will present recent findings and discuss future prospects for our research on MLOs scaffolded by RNAs.