Light and temperature perceptions go through a phase separation

Light and temperature are two distinct but closely linked environmental factors that profoundly affect plant growth and development. Biomolecular condensates are membraneless micron-scale compartments formed through liquid-liquid phase separation, which have been shown to be involved in a wide range of biological processes. In the last few years, biomolecular condensates are emerged to serve as phase separation-based sensors for plant sensing and/or responding to external environmental cues. This review summarizes the recently reported plant biomolecular condensates in sensing light and temperature signals. The current understanding of the biophysical properties and the action modes of phase separation-based environmental sensors are highlighted. Unresolved questions and possible challenges for future studies of phase-separation sensors are also discussed.