Gene fusions are potent drivers of cancer, and nuclear condensates are known to have a role in transcription. By creating synthetic fusion oncogenes, we show that nuclear condensate formation might be a general feature of fusion oncoprotein-directed transcription, including in brain tumour development.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Access Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journals
Get Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription
$32.99 / 30 days
cancel any time
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 12 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $21.58 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on SpringerLink
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Arabzade, A. et al. ZFTA–RELA dictates oncogenic transcriptional programs to drive aggressive supratentorial ependymoma. Cancer Discov. 11, 2200–2215 (2021). This study established the role of ZFTA–RELA as an oncogenic transcription factor.
Hu, X. et al. Nuclear condensates of YAP fusion proteins alter transcription to drive ependymoma tumourigenesis. Nat. Cell Biol. 25, 323–336 (2023). This study demonstrated that condensate formation is important for YAP1 fusion-driven ependymoma.
Chandra, B. et al. Phase separation mediates NUP98 fusion oncoprotein leukemic transformation. Cancer Discov. 12, 1152–1169 (2022). This study characterized the role of condensate formation and the function of NUP98 fusions in leukaemia.
Kim, Y. J. et al. Light-activated macromolecular phase separation modulates transcription by reconfiguring chromatin interactions. Sci. Adv. 9, eadg1123 (2023). This study describes a technology to induce phase separation in cells through light stimulation.
Additional information
Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
This is a summary of: Arabzade, A. et al. Synthetic ZFTA fusions pinpoint disordered protein domain acquisition as a mechanism of brain tumorigenesis. Nat. Cell Biol. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41556-025-01745-3 (2025).
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Fusion oncoproteins acquire condensate propensity to initiate tumour formation. Nat Cell Biol 27, 1396–1397 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41556-025-01746-2
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41556-025-01746-2
