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Updated: Jun 20, 2025

A Microfluidics Approach for the Functional Investigation of Signaling Oscillations Governing Somitogenesis
Published on: March 19, 2021
Phase separation provides a mechanism to drive phenotype switching
Lijun Hong1, Zhenquan Zhang1, Zihao Wang1
1Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Computational Science, <a href="https://ror.org/0064kty71">Sun Yat-sen University</a>, Guangzhou 510275, People's Republic of China and School of Mathematics, <a href="https://ror.org/0064kty71">Sun Yat-Sen University</a>, Guangzhou 510275, People's Republic of China.
Protein compartmentalization via liquid-liquid phase separation influences cell fate. Our model shows phase separation drives bistability and controls cell fate decisions, particularly within the droplet phase.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Systems Biology
- Cell Biology
Background:
- Phenotypic switching is critical for cell fate determination.
- Protein compartmentalization through liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) influences these decisions.
- The precise regulatory mechanisms of LLPS in phenotypic switching are not fully understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of phase separation in regulating phenotypic switching.
- To establish a mathematical model coupling phase separation and gene expression with feedback.
- To elucidate the mechanism by which LLPS influences cell fate determination.
Main Methods:
- Developed a mathematical model integrating phase separation and gene expression feedback.
- Applied chemical master equation theory and mean-field approximation.
- Analyzed the effects of phase separation on gene expression products and system dynamics.
Main Results:
- Phase separation induces bistability and bimodality in gene expression.
- LLPS modulates key bistable properties, including bifurcation points and ranges.
- The droplet phase, compared to the dilute phase, shows distinct bimodal behavior crucial for cell fate decisions.
Conclusions:
- Phase separation offers an alternative mechanism for influencing cell fate decisions.
- LLPS plays a pivotal role in regulating phenotypic switching through gene expression dynamics.
- This modeling approach can guide the design of biomolecular systems and deepen our understanding of cell fate determination.
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