Liquid-liquid phase separation in physiological and pathophysiological bone turnover.

Abstract

The regulation of bone physiology and pathophysiology is intricately controlled by a complex interplay of cellular and molecular mechanisms. In these processes, the precise spatiotemporal coordination of biological activities in bone-resident cells plays a central role. Recently, liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), a mechanism underlying membraneless biomolecular condensate formation, has emerged as a transformative area of research. Liquid-liquid phase separation refers to the phase transition of biomolecules under specific conditions, leading to the formation of biomolecular condensates, which orchestrate diverse cellular functions. In this review, we provide a comprehensive synthesis of how LLPS influences bone turnover, focusing on its role in regulating bone homeostasis and its dysregulation in bone disease pathogenesis. Furthermore, aside from addressing the current challenges and limitations in this nascent field, we explore the implications of LLPS in bone regeneration, preventive strategies, and precision medicine. Despite LLPS research being in its early stages, its rapid advancement underscores its crucial role in bone biology and highlights the urgent need to integrate LLPS insights with translational approaches to advance therapeutic interventions for bone disorders.