Regulation of Liquid-Liquid Phase Separation by Molecular Chaperones

Abstract

Molecular chaperones have been extensively studied as mediators in protein folding and quality control but are recently attracting increasing attention as regulators of liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS). In this review, we summarize recent studies regarding molecular chaperones involved in LLPS regulation. We also provide a brief introduction of biophysical and structural studies on molecular chaperones in protein folding that depict how the molecular chaperones recognize client proteins and alter the folding process. Although little is known about the mechanism of regulation of LLPS, the understanding of molecular chaperones in protein folding will provide hints for LLPS regulation.