The role of LLPS of biomacromolecules in the gonads and related diseases

Liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS), an emerging mechanism of intracellular organization and regulation, has attracted increasing attention in reproductive biology in recent years. By promoting the spatiotemporal compartmentalization of biomolecules, LLPS is involved in a wide range of essential biological processes, including transcriptional regulation, chromatin remodeling, and mRNA stabilization and translation. Increasing evidence has demonstrated that LLPS plays indispensable roles in the development, maturation, and differentiation of both sperm and oocytes, while also contributing to the initiation and progression of sex hormone-dependent tumors. Despite these advances, the mechanistic links and overarching roles of LLPS in both gametogenesis and sex hormone-dependent tumorigenesis have not yet been comprehensively summarized. A clearer understanding of the functions and regulatory mechanisms of LLPS in gamete development and tumorigenesis will not only deepen our insight into the complex molecular networks underlying germ cell biology, but also offer potential molecular targets and a conceptual basis for the diagnosis and treatment of reproductive system disorders.