The role of liquid-liquid phase separation in the disease pathogenesis and drug development

Abstract

Misfolding and aggregation of specific proteins are associated with liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), and these protein aggregates can interfere with normal cellular functions and even lead to cell death, possibly affecting gene expression regulation and cell proliferation. Therefore, understanding the role of LLPS in disease may help to identify new mechanisms or therapeutic targets and provide new strategies for disease treatment. There are several ways to disrupt LLPS, including screening small molecules or small molecule drugs to target the upstream signaling pathways that regulate the LLPS process, selectively dissolve and destroy RNA droplets or protein aggregates, regulate the conformation of mutant protein, activate the protein degradation pathway to remove harmful protein aggregates. Furthermore, harnessing the mechanism of LLPS can improve drug development, including preparing different kinds of drug delivery carriers (microneedles, nanodrugs, imprints), regulating drug internalization and penetration behaviors, screening more drugs to overcome drug resistance and enhance receptor signaling. This review initially explores the correlation between aberrant LLPS and disease, highlighting the pivotal role of LLPS in preparing drug development. Ultimately, a comprehensive investigation into drug-mediated regulation of LLPS processes holds significant scientific promise for disease management.

Keywords

• Liquid-liquid phase separation(LLPS)
• Drug delivery carriers
• Drug release
• Drug penetration
• Drug resistance
• Enhancing receptor signaling