[Liquid-liquid phase separation in andrological diseases: Advances in studies]

Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) refers to the process by which biological macromolecules such as cellular proteins and nucleic acids condense into droplet-like condensations to form different liquid phases. This process is regulated by a variety of factors, such as pH, light intensity, temperature, salt concentration, osmotic pressure, molecular crowding, post-translational modifications, etc. LLPS is a ubiquitous and vital phenomenon in cell life activities, which is involved in the formation of membrane-free organelles, gene transcription regulation, cell signal transduction and other processes. In recent years, studies have shown that LLPS is involved in the regulation of many male urinary and reproductive systems, such as infertility, erectile dysfunction, prostate cancer, etc. This article reviews the role of LLPS in some male urinary and reproductive system diseases, and discusses the unanswered questions and future development trends in this field.