Subcellular compartmentalization contributes to the organization of a plethora of molecular events occurring within cells. This can be achieved in membraneless organelles generated through liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS), a demixing process that separates and concentrates cellular reactions. RNA is often a critical factor in mediating LLPS. Recent evidence indicates that DNA damage response foci are membraneless structures formed via LLPS and modulated by noncoding transcripts synthesized at DNA damage sites. Neurodegeneration is often associated with DNA damage, and dysfunctional LLPS events can lead to the formation of toxic aggregates. In this review, we discuss those gene products involved in neurodegeneration that undergo LLPS and their involvement in the DNA damage response.

亚细胞区室化有助于组织细胞内发生的大量分子事件。这可以在通过液-液相分离 (LLPS) 产生的无膜细胞器中实现，这是一种分离和浓缩细胞反应的分层过程。RNA 通常是介导 LLPS 的关键因素。最近的证据表明，DNA 损伤反应灶是通过 LLPS 形成的无膜结构，并由在 DNA 损伤位点合成的非编码转录物调节。神经变性通常与 DNA 损伤有关，功能失调的 LLPS 事件会导致有毒聚集体的形成。在这篇综述中，我们讨论了那些参与经历 LLPS 的神经变性的基因产物及其参与 DNA 损伤反应。