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Updated: Aug 12, 2025

Immunofluorescent Staining for Visualization of Heterochromatin Associated Proteins in Drosophila Salivary Glands
Published on: August 21, 2021
Heterochromatin organization and phase separation
Hui Zhang1, Weihua Qin2, Hector Romero1
1Cell Biology and Epigenetics, Department of Biology, Technical University of Darmstadt, Darmstadt, Germany.
Abstract:
The eukaryotic nucleus displays a variety of membraneless compartments with distinct biomolecular composition and specific cellular activities. Emerging evidence indicates that protein-based liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) plays an essential role in the formation and dynamic regulation of heterochromatin compartmentalization. This feature is especially conspicuous at the pericentric heterochromatin domains. In this review, we will describe our understanding of heterochromatin organization and LLPS. In addition, we will highlight the increasing importance of multivalent weak homo- and heteromolecular interactions in LLPS-mediated heterochromatin compartmentalization in the complex environment inside living cells.
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