Nukleofuls
Nukleofuls are a term used to describe a class of membraneless organelles observed in certain unicellular eukaryotes and some archaea. These structures are nucleolus-like condensates that accumulate in the cytoplasm and are implicated in ribosome biogenesis and RNA processing. They are distinct from the classical nucleus and nucleolus, sharing features with other ribonucleoprotein condensates formed by liquid–liquid phase separation.
Structure and composition: Nukleofuls lack a surrounding membrane. They are enriched in RNA-binding proteins and small
Biogenesis and regulation: Formation is driven by phase separation of multivalent proteins and RNAs and is
Distribution and ecology: Nukleofuls have been reported in several thermophilic protists and in archaeal lineages adapted
Discovery and naming: The term was proposed in 2015 by Elena Márquez and colleagues in a study
Significance: Researchers study Nukleofuls to understand ribosome assembly and RNA quality control, and to explore phase