Biomolecular condensates for biocatalysis: from physicochemical properties to multiscale regulations

Biomolecular condensates formed through phase separation are emerging as a central player for spatiotemporal organization of many cellular processes. Significant progress has been made recently in the identification and functional analysis of natural biomolecular condensates, and in the design and construction of synthetic mimics that can function as microreactors for biochemical pathways. Here, we review recent advances made in this emerging field and highlight how the microenvironments of synthetic condensates can be characterized, tuned, and utilized for improved biocatalysis. In particular, we describe a hierarchy of mechanisms to control the enzymatic reactions across multiple length scales. These efforts are expected to establish a conceptual framework for condensate-driven biocatalysis and guide the construction of designer condensates in biocatalytic systems.