Key points
Liquid-liquid phase separation emerges as a universal tool for the intracellular biomolecule organization, particularly via the formation of membraneless organelles.
The liquid-like membraneless organelles afford unique properties and have aroused wide interests among cell biologists.
Metastability is a general feature of liquid-like membraneless organelles, which has manifested in multiple aspects including energy state, molecular interactions, molecular structures, biological assemblages and its association with diseases.
Understanding of metastability of biological liquid phase separation can not only help to elucidate the formation and properties of membraneless organelles, but also pave the way to the insight into pathogenesis.