Control of Chromatin Organization and Chromosome Behavior during the Cell Cycle through Phase Separation

Phase-separated condensates participate in various biological activities. Liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) can be driven by collective interactions between multivalent and intrinsically disordered proteins. The manner in which chromatin—with various morphologies and activities—is organized in a complex and small nucleus still remains to be fully determined. Recent findings support the claim that phase separation is involved in the regulation of chromatin organization and chromosome behavior. Moreover, phase separation also influences key events during mitosis and meiosis. This review elaborately dissects how phase separation regulates chromatin and chromosome organization and controls mitotic and meiotic chromosome behavior.     

Preparation of a porous structure in a poly(4‐methyl‐1‐pentene)/diphenyl ether system with a thermally induced phase‐separation method

Poly(4‐methyl‐1‐pentene) was used to prepare porous structures by a thermally induced phase‐separation method. Different porous structures were obtained with poly(4‐methyl‐1‐pentene), which has excellent properties as a polymer, and diphenyl ether as a diluent. The affecting factors, including the polymer concentration and cooling temperature, are discussed. Scanning electron microscopy images and porosity values were obtained to investigate the affecting factors. According to the cloud‐point temperature and crystallization temperature, a phase diagram was also obtained to explain the phase‐separation process. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2009     

Thermodynamic Modeling of Phase Diagrams in Binary Alkali Silicate Systems

A thermodynamic modeling of phase diagrams in binary alkali silicate systems is described by using the Gibbs free energy of the phases. Simple models employing regular, quasi-regular, and subregular solution models were applied to describe the liquid phase. The interaction parameters of the liquid phases were obtained by using the liquidus curves of silica (and subliquidus data) through a multiple linear regression method. The present calculated liquidus curves agree very well with Cs₂O—SiO₂ and Rb₂O—SiO₂ systems. In the K₂O—, Na₂O—, and Li₂O—SiO₂ systems, the calculations permitted discrimination between sets of data and, based upon the calculation choices, could be correctly made to select the most appropriate phase diagram. Also, the spinodals were calculated where phase separation can occur by a spinodal decomposition process.     

短程蒸馏分离效果评价因子研究

针对短程蒸馏分离效果评价,从馏出物中轻组分分率与残余物中重组分分率乘积最大化的分离目标出发,建立了评价短程蒸馏分离效果的分离因子;进而考虑短程蒸馏实际操作工况,确定了该分离因子的变化区间,并由此绘制了分离因子变化区域图。分析表明,该分离因子反映了原料液组成、馏出物得率及其中轻组分分率三者的综合影响,能有效表征短程蒸馏分离效果;根据分离因子变化区域图,可明确短程蒸馏操作工况与理想分离条件的接近程度,为评估提高分离效果的可能性和采取可行优化操作条件提供指导;论文最后通过二元混合液短程蒸馏分离实验,进一步表明了该分离因子对短程蒸馏操作条件优化具有实际指导价值。     

Phase Separation-Mediated Chromatin Organization and Dynamics: From Imaging-Based Quantitative Characterizations to Functional Implications

As an effective and versatile strategy to compartmentalize cellular components without the need for lipid membranes, phase separation has been found to underpin a wide range of intranuclear processes, particularly those involving chromatin. Many of the unique physico-chemical properties of chromatin-based phase condensates are harnessed by the cell to accomplish complex regulatory functions in a spatially and temporally controlled manner. Here, we survey key recent findings on the mechanistic roles of phase separation in regulating the organization and dynamics of chromatin-based molecular processes across length scales, packing states and intranuclear functions, with a particular emphasis on quantitative characterizations of these condensates enabled by advanced imaging-based approaches. By illuminating the complex interplay between chromatin and various chromatin-interacting molecular species mediated by phase separation, this review sheds light on an emerging multi-scale, multi-modal and multi-faceted landscape that hierarchically regulates the genome within the highly crowded and dynamic nuclear space. Moreover, deficiencies in existing studies also highlight the need for mechanism-specific criteria and multi-parametric approaches for the characterization of chromatin-based phase separation using complementary techniques and call for greater efforts to correlate the quantitative features of these condensates with their functional consequences in close-to-native cellular contexts.     

多组元溶液分相条件的探讨

本文通过改型的UNIQUAC方程 ,利用NEWTON RAPHSON法计算了二元、三元及四元液液平衡数据。从中发现 ,当具有部分互溶性质组分的活度系数发生突变时 ,则该体系就会出现分层现象。为此 ,本文认为具有部分互溶组分活度系数的突变可做为多组元溶液分相的判据。     

部分相容聚合物共混体系相分离的流变学表征方法

针对具有不同动态非对称性的部分相容聚合物共混体系,阐述了用于表征和探测其相分离特征的流变学方法,包括小振幅振荡剪切考察时温叠加原理的有效性和温度扫描,以及稳态剪切温度扫描;并且分析了共混体系的复杂结构对温度依赖性形成差异的深层原因,总结比较了各方法应用时的优缺点及其针对不同强弱动态非对称体系的适用性。     

双水相萃取技术在药物分离和提取中的应用

系统地介绍了双水相萃取技术在基因工程药物、抗生素以及动、植物药物分离和提取中的应用研究,并着重提出了应用该技术开发我国传统中草药的重要意义。     

聚醚酰亚胺/环氧树脂体系的固化及相分离行为研究

环氧树脂固化物本征的低韧性是限制其在复合材料应用的主要缺点之一。利用高性能热塑性树脂聚醚酰亚胺(PEI)与环氧树脂共混,系统研究了PEI在环氧树脂中的溶解行为、固化行为以及相分离行为。溶解试验表明:PEI与环氧齐聚物具有良好的相互溶解性;同时,PEI的加入降低了环氧树脂固化反应的活化能,但并没有改变其固化反应的机制。扫描电镜结果显示:随着PEI含量的增加,环氧/PEI浇铸体的相形貌从明显的分散颗粒相结构演变为双连续相结构和反转相结构。     

Phase‐separation phenomena in the polymerization of styrene in the presence of polyethylene wax

The demixing processes that occur during the polymerization of styrene in the presence of a low molar mass polyethylene wax were investigated. Quantitative information on the phase behavior of such a three‐component system was obtained through the investigation of the temperature‐induced phase separation and the observation of the phase separation during polymerization. Both techniques allow the construction of the same ternary phase diagram. Such phase behavior can be understood through the discussion of the interference of a liquid–liquid phase‐separation process and crystallization. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 91: 2234–2243, 2004     

Phase Separation in cGAS-STING Signaling: Cytosolic DNA Sensing and Regulatory Functions

Phase separation is a crucial biophysical process that governs cellular signaling and function. This process allows biomolecules to separate and form membraneless compartments in response to both extra- and intra-cellular stimuli. Recently, the identification of phase separation in different immune signaling pathways, including the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) signaling pathway, has shed light on its tight association with pathological processes such as viral infections, cancers, and inflammatory diseases. In this review, we present the phase separation in cGAS-STING signaling, along with its related cellular regulatory functions. Furthermore, we discuss the introduction of therapeutics targeting cGAS-STING signaling, which plays a pivotal role in cancer progression.     

Ⅰ蒽油分离中的相平衡研究

从Ⅰ蒽油中提取蒽菲咔唑具有十分重要的应用价值。通过固液平衡的研究，利用ＵＮＩＱＵＡＣ，ＵＮＩＦＡＣ模型关联实验数据，可以为工程开发提供一定的依据。     

低取代度阳离子淀粉与PVA混合浆液的相分离行为研究

通过改变 3-氯 - 2 -羟丙基三甲基氯化铵的用量 ,制备了一系列具有不同变性深度的低取代度季铵型阳离子淀粉 ;然后以初显分离时间和沉降率为量化指标 ,定量研究了低取代度阳离子淀粉的变性深度、混合比例及 PVA分子结构对淀粉与 PVA混合浆液的相分离行为的影响。结果发现 ,阳离子淀粉的取代度及混合比例都对该混合浆液的相分离行为影响很大 ,而 PVA分子量和醇解度的影响则相对较小     

低温煤焦油中正十二烷-甲苯-苯酚的相平衡及分离

低温煤焦油组分的分离对其充分利用具有重要的作用。分别以正十二烷、甲苯和苯酚为模型化合物,采用实验和Aspen Plus模拟两种方法得到了低温煤焦油中脂肪烃-芳烃-酚类三元体系的液液平衡关系,并模拟了N,N-二甲基甲酰胺（DMF）水溶液萃取分离该体系时的典型三元相图。结果表明,Aspen Plus采用UNIF-LL法模拟得到的三元相图与实验测定结果吻合较好。甲苯在正十二烷-甲苯-苯酚体系中作为共溶溶剂,促使三元体系成为均相。根据正十二烷、甲苯和苯酚在DMF中的溶解性差异,结合Hansen溶度参数理论,通过在DMF中添加不同含量的H₂O以调节萃取剂的极性,可使正十二烷和甲苯依次从均相体系中分离。通过对萃取温度、剂油比和萃取剂含水量进行优化,最终在303.15 K,剂油比为1.5时,以DMF对模型油进行单级萃取,可以得到纯度为93.2%的正十二烷;相分离后向萃取相中添加DMF量30%的H₂O,可分离出纯度为93.4%的甲苯。     

Polymerization of methyl methacrylate in the presence of a nonpolar hydrocarbon solvent. I. Construction of a complete ternary phase diagram through an in situ polymerization

This article presents the ternary phase diagram for methyl methacrylate (MMA), poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA), and n‐hexane system at 70°C. It was constructed by both theoretical calculations and online laser light scattering (LLS) technique. In situ polymerization of MMA in a nonpolar nonsolvent carried out in a LLS cell provides a new means for the accurate detection of the cloud points of highly viscous polymer mixtures, with polymer weight fractions over 0.6. The ternary phase diagram measured in this study can be used to design the reaction conditions for the precipitation and/or dispersion polymerization in a nonpolar nonsolvent medium where polymerization kinetics as well as polymer particle morphologies are strongly affected by thermodynamic phase separation phenomena. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2010     

Study on the phase behavior of ethylene–vinyl acetate copolymer and poly(methyl methacrylate) blends by in situ polymerization

This study examines the phase behavior of ethylene–vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) and poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) blends during MMA polymerization. The ternary PMMA/MMA/EVA mixtures are considered to create a triangular phase diagram, which responds the phase changes during polymerization. The phase changes during MMA polymerization are also examined by optical microscope and photometer. Since the PMMA and EVA are well‐known immiscibles, the polymer solution undergoes phase separation at the initial stage of the MMA polymerization. Additionally, the phase inversion occurs as the conversion of MMA between 13.8 and 20.8%. On the other hand, the EVA‐graft‐PMMA, which can reduce the dispersed EVA particle size, is induced efficiently by taking tert‐butyl peroctoate (t‐BO) as initiator during MMA polymerization. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 90: 1001–1008, 2003