Workgroup “Functional Organization of the Nucleus”

Zuzana Storchova
storchova@biologie.uni-kl.de

Cristina Cardoso
cardoso@bio.tu-darmstadt.de

Summary

The nucleus is a highly organized and dynamic cellular compartment essential for regulating gene expression to support cellular function. It houses the cell’s genetic material, primarily organized into chromosomes. Despite lacking internal membranes, the nucleus exhibits dynamic functional organization, with distinct subnuclear compartments, such as the nucleolus, discovered two centuries ago. The dynamic “functional organization of the nucleus” optimizes efficiency, fidelity, and specificity by concentrating molecular factors involved in related functions. Recent studies suggest phase separation as a key mechanism underlying the formation of these compartments, influencing nuclear metabolism, chromosome domain arrangement, DNA replication and repair, and overall nuclear architecture. The functional organization of the nucleus changes during cell proliferation, differentiation, and senescence, and its disruption is implicated in various diseases. Understanding nuclear organization is a critical area of study in cell biology, as it provides insights into the spatial and temporal regulation of gene expression and sheds light on both normal and pathological conditions.