Recent Progress on Phase Separation of DNA-Based System.

Abstract

Precise spatiotemporal regulation of intracellular processes has been shown to occur through phase separation. The resulting droplets and coacervates mediate critical biological functions. Although hundreds of publications on this topic are generated every year, a systematic exposition on DNA phase separation is still lacking. As a highly charged polyelectrolyte, DNA is prone to associative phase separation driven by the presence of abundant components. DNA-based phase separation processes have shown great potential for applications in diverse fields such as drug delivery, gene regulation, and smart materials development. This perspective highlights the phase separation mechanisms of DNA in the presence of different substances such as proteins, polymers, cationic ligands, and metal ions. The functional characteristics of the corresponding products are also discussed. Current challenges and future directions in the field are also discussed.