Premium
Phase separation in cytoplasm, due to macromolecular crowding, is the basis for microcompartmentation
Author(s) -
Walter Harry,
Brooks Donald E.
Publication year - 1995
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/0014-5793(95)00159-7
Subject(s) - cytoplasm , macromolecular crowding , macromolecule , phase (matter) , chemistry , biophysics , biology , biochemistry , organic chemistry
The macromolecular diversity and concentrations in the fluid phase of cytoplasm constitute conditions necessary and sufficient for aqueous phase separation. Consequences of phase separation in cytoplasm, including its ‘compartmentation’, are inferred from analogies with the physicochemical properties of aqueous two‐phase systems and with the partitioning behavior of biomaterials in them.