Roadmap for Condensates in Cell Biology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Research article › Contributed › peer-review

Contributors

  • Dilimulati Aierken - , Princeton University (Author)
  • Sebastian Aland - , Freiberg University of Mining and Technology, Dresden University of Applied Sciences (HTW) (Author)
  • Stefano Bo - , King's College London (KCL) (Author)
  • Steven Boeynaems - , Department of Radiology, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States., Texas Children's Hospital Houston (Author)
  • Danfeng Cai - , Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins Medicine (Author)
  • Serena Carra - , University of Modena and Reggio Emilia (Author)
  • Lindsay B. Case - , Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (Author)
  • Hue Sun Chan - , University of Toronto (Author)
  • Jorge R. Espinosa - , Complutense University, University of Cambridge (Author)
  • Trevor K. Grandpre - , Washington University St. Louis, The University of Chicago (Author)
  • Alexander Y. Grosberg - , New York University (Author)
  • Ivar S. Haugerud - , Augsburg University (Author)
  • William M. Jacobs - , Princeton University (Author)
  • Jerelle A. Joseph - , Princeton University (Author)
  • Frank Jülicher - , Max-Planck-Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems, Clusters of Excellence PoL: Physics of Life (Author)
  • Kurt Kremer - , Max Planck Institute for Polymer Research (Author)
  • Guido Kusters - , Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization (Author)
  • Liedewij Laan - , Delft University of Technology (Author)
  • Keren Lasker - , University of Florida (Author)
  • Kathrin S. Laxhuber - , Max-Planck-Institute for the Physics of Complex Systems (Author)
  • Hyun O. Lee - , University of Toronto (Author)
  • Kathy F. Liu - , University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania (Author)
  • Dimple Notani - , Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (Author)
  • Yicheng Qiang - , Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization (Author)
  • Paul Robustelli - , Dartmouth College (Author)
  • Leonor Saiz - , University of California at Davis (Author)
  • Omar A. Saleh - , University of California at Santa Barbara (Author)
  • Helmut Schiessel - , Clusters of Excellence PoL: Physics of Life, Chair of Theoretical Physics of Living Matter (PoL) (Author)
  • Jeremy D. Schmit - , Kansas State University (Author)
  • Meng Shen - , California State University Fullerton (Author)
  • Krishna Shrinivas - , Northwestern University (Author)
  • Antonia Statt - , University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Author)
  • Andres R. Tejedor - , Complutense University, University of Cambridge (Author)
  • Tatjana Trcek - , Johns Hopkins University (Author)
  • Christoph A. Weber - , Augsburg University (Author)
  • Stephanie C. Weber - , McGill University (Author)
  • Ned S. Wingreen - , Princeton University (Author)
  • Huaiying Zhang - , Carnegie Mellon University (Author)
  • Yaojun Zhang - , Johns Hopkins University, Johns Hopkins Medicine (Author)
  • Huan Xiang Zhou - , University of Illinois at Chicago (Author)
  • David Zwicker - , Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization (Author)

Abstract

Biomolecular condensates govern essential cellular processes yet elude description by traditional equilibrium models. This roadmap, distilled from structured discussions at a workshop and reflecting the consensus of its participants, clarifies key concepts for researchers, funding bodies, and journals. After unifying terminology that often separates disciplines, we outline the core physics of condensate formation, review their biological roles, and identify outstanding challenges in nonequilibrium theory, multiscale simulation, and quantitative in-cell measurements. We close with a forward-looking outlook to guide coordinated efforts toward predictive, experimentally anchored understanding and control of biomolecular condensates.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number032501
JournalPRX Life
Volume4
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jul 2026
Peer-reviewedYes

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas