Biomolecular condensates are intriguing entities found within living cells. These structures possess the ability to selectively concentrate specific components through phase separation, thereby playing a crucial role in the spatiotemporal regulation of a wide range of cellular processes and metabolic activities. To date, extensive studies have been dedicated to unraveling the intricate connections between molecular features, physical properties, and cellular functions of condensates. This collective effort has paved the way for deliberate engineering of tailor-made condensates with specific applications. In this review, we comprehensively examine the underpinnings governing condensate formation. Next, we summarize the material states of condensates and delve into the design of synthetic intrinsically disordered proteins with tunable phase behaviors and physical properties. Subsequently, we review the diverse biological functions demonstrated by synthetic biomolecular condensates, encompassing gene regulation, cellular behaviors, modulation of biochemical reactions, and manipulation of endogenous protein activities. Lastly, we discuss future challenges and opportunities in constructing synthetic condensates with tunable physical properties and customized cellular functions, which may shed light on the development of new types of sophisticated condensate systems with distinct functions applicable to various scenarios.

中文翻译：

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合成生物分子凝聚物工程研究进展


生物分子凝聚物是在活细胞中发现的有趣实体。这些结构具有通过相分离选择性浓缩特定组分的能力，从而在各种细胞过程和代谢活动的时空调节中发挥关键作用。迄今为止，已经进行了广泛的研究，以揭示凝聚态的分子特征、物理性质和细胞功能之间的复杂联系。这种集体努力为针对特定应用定制冷凝水的精心设计铺平了道路。在这篇综述中，我们全面研究了控制凝析油形成的基础。接下来，我们总结了凝聚态的材料状态，并深入研究了具有可调相行为和物理性质的合成本质无序蛋白质的设计。随后，我们回顾了合成生物分子凝聚物所表现出的各种生物学功能，包括基因调控、细胞行为、生化反应的调节和内源性蛋白质活性的操纵。最后，我们讨论了构建具有可调物理特性和定制细胞功能的合成凝聚物的未来挑战和机遇，这可能为开发适用于各种场景的具有不同功能的新型复杂凝聚态系统提供参考。