Stress granules (SGs) and processing bodies (PBs) are membraneless ribonucleoprotein-based cellular compartments that assemble in response to stress. SGs and PBs form through liquid–liquid phase separation that is driven by high local concentrations of key proteins and RNAs, both of which dynamically shuttle between the granules and the cytoplasm. SGs uniquely contain certain translation initiation factors and PBs are uniquely enriched with factors related to mRNA degradation and decay, although recent analyses reveal much broader protein commonality between these granules. Despite detailed knowledge of their composition and dynamics, the function of SGs and PBs remains poorly understood. Both, however, contain mRNAs, implicating their assembly in the regulation of RNA metabolism. SGs may also serve as hubs that rewire signaling events during stress. By contrast, PBs may constitute RNA storage centers, independent of mRNA decay. The aberrant assembly or disassembly of these granules has pathological implications in cancer, viral infection and neurodegeneration. Here, we review the current concepts regarding the formation, composition, dynamics, function and involvement in disease of SGs and PBs.

应激颗粒 (SG) 和加工体 (PB) 是基于核糖核蛋白的无膜细胞区室，它们根据应激而聚集。SG 和 PB 通过液-液相分离形成，该分离是由局部高浓度的关键蛋白和 RNA 驱动的，两者在颗粒和细胞质之间动态穿梭。SG 独特地含有某些翻译起始因子，PB 独特地富含与 mRNA 降解和衰变相关的因子，尽管最近的分析揭示了这些颗粒之间更广泛的蛋白质共性。尽管人们对 SG 和 PB 的组成和动力学有了详细的了解，但人们对它们的功能仍然知之甚少。然而，两者都含有 mRNA，表明它们的组装参与了 RNA 代谢的调节。SG 还可以充当在压力期间重新连接信号事件的枢纽。相比之下，PBs 可能构成 RNA 储存中心，独立于 mRNA 的衰变。这些颗粒的异常组装或分解对癌症、病毒感染和神经变性具有病理意义。在这里，我们回顾了有关 SG 和 PB 的形成、组成、动力学、功能和参与疾病的当前概念。