Biomolecular phase separation in stress granule assembly and virus infection.

Abstract

Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS) has emerged as a crucial mechanism for cellular compartmentalization. One prominent example of this is the stress granule. Found in various types of cells, stress granule is a biomolecular condensate formed through phase separation. It comprises numerous RNA and RNA-binding proteins. Over the past decades, substantial knowledge has been gained about the composition and dynamics of stress granules. SGs can regulate various signaling pathways and have been associated with numerous human diseases, such as neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and infectious diseases. The threat of viral infections continues to loom over society. Both DNA and RNA viruses depend on host cells for replication. Intriguingly, many stages of the viral life cycle are closely tied to RNA metabolism in human cells. The field of biomolecular condensates has rapidly advanced in recent times. In this context, we aim to summarize research on stress granules and their link to viral infections. Notably, stress granules triggered by viral infections behave differently from the canonical stress granules triggered by sodium arsenite (SA) and heat shock. Studying stress granules in the context of viral infections could offer a valuable platform to link viral replication processes and host anti-viral responses. A deeper understanding of these biological processes could pave the way for innovative interventions and treatments for viral infectious diseases. They could potentially bridge the gap between basic biological processes and interactions between viruses and their hosts.