Droplet organelles?

Cells contain numerous, molecularly distinct cellular compartments that are not enclosed by lipid bilayers. These compartments are implicated in a wide range of cellular activities, and they have been variously described as bodies, granules, or organelles. Recent evidence suggests that a liquid-liquid phase separation ( LLPS) process may drive their formation, possibly justifying the unifying term 'droplet organelle'. A veritable deluge of recent publications points to the importance of low-complexity proteins and RNA in determining the physical properties of phase-separated structures. Many of the proteins linked to such structures are implicated in human diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis ( ALS). We provide an overview of the organizational principles that characterize putative 'droplet organelles' in healthy and diseased cells, connecting protein biochemistry with cell physiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]