Biomolecular condensates in fungi: mechanisms and regulatory roles

SUMMARY

Liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) drives the formation of biomolecular condensates, a conserved phenomenon across eukaryotes. This process governs diverse cellular programs, from stress response and morphogenesis to disease pathology. Over the past two decades, the regulatory impact of biomolecular condensates in fungal biology has become increasingly recognized. In this review, we examine the fundamental molecular mechanisms driving LLPS, evaluate the current evidence for LLPS in macromolecular organization and cellular regulation in fungi, and outline the tools employed to study this phenomenon. Lastly, we highlight the challenges of bridging the gap between the in vitro behavior of biomolecular condensates and their complex regulatory functions in vivo within fungal biology.