Frontispiece: Physical Chemistry of Cellular Liquid‐Phase Separation

Abstract

Proper cell function requires specific physical and chemical interactions to take place among high concentrations of macromolecules, small molecules, and ions. One important means by which this specificity is achieved is by compartmentalization of biochemistry. Recent work has shown that phase separation is a key contributor to cellular compartmentalization through the formation of liquid‐like membraneless organelles (MLOs). In their Minireview on page 5600 ff., E. Bentley, B. Frey and A. Deniz discuss the key conceptual and mechanistic underpinnings of this phenomenon, including weak noncovalent interactions and polymer physics principles, biological examples and active matter.