Protein codes and mobility together shape cellular function and disease

Cells organize their biochemical activities by assembling proteins into both membrane-bound organelles and membrane-less condensates. These compartments enable specialized chemical environments that support unique biochemical functions. Recent evidence indicates that proteins carry encoded instructions for not only protein folding, but also selective distribution into condensate compartments. The dynamic movement of proteins into and within compartments is essential for normal function, while disruptions that reduce protein mobility can impair biochemical rates and cause dysfunction and disease. Here, we review these principles of condensate compartmentalization, emphasizing how encoded protein properties, chemical environments, and dynamic movement shape both cellular health and disease pathology.