Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation (LLPS) in Tumor Biology: Special Focus on the Process of Transcription

Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) has attracted considerable attention in cell biology as a potentially widespread organizing principle in the cellular environment. LLPS involving proteins and nucleic acids participates in a wide range of cellular processes, including regulation of genome activity, modulation of enzymatic activity, and control of subcellular compartmentalization. Emerging evidence supports the idea that aberrant LLPS behavior is associated with various diseases, including cancer and infectious diseases. These findings suggest that LLPS provides a new framework for understanding complex regulatory phenomena in cells. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of LLPS, focusing on the biophysical mechanisms underlying condensate formation, the molecular composition of biomolecular condensates, and current experimental approaches used to study this process. In particular, we highlight the role of LLPS in aberrant transcriptional regulation, with a specific focus on its regulatory functions and underlying molecular mechanisms in tumor cells. Collectively, this review provides an updated perspective on the functional and mechanistic roles of LLPS in physiological and pathological contexts, particularly in tumor biology.