Unveiling Critical Overlooked Protein Components Vital for Life
Scientists from Princeton, the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Washington University have discovered that intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs) in proteins play a crucial role in chromatin regulation and gene expression. These IDRs form condensates, which are liquid droplets that separate from cellular fluid and allow proteins and biomolecules to gather in specific locations for cellular activities. Mutations in IDRs of the cBAF complex, a group of proteins involved in chromatin remodeling, can disrupt gene expression and are frequently found in cancer and neurodevelopmental disorders. The findings shed light on the importance of IDRs and condensates in cellular processes and could lead to new therapeutic strategies.
