Skip to main contentNews & ViewsPublished: 29 June 2026Biomolecular condensationLizhen Chen ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-5313-73401,2 &Zhijie Liu ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0001-6956-78391 Nature Cell Biology (2026) Cite this articleSave articleView saved researchSubjectsChromatinOncogenesA study shows that TEAD1 can form both active and inactive condensates. Small condensates at enhancers or promoters promote transcription, whereas large condensates at pericentromeric heterochromatin act as storage depots, buffering excess TEAD1 and adding a new layer of transcriptional regulation through spatial sequestration.This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institutionAccess optionsAccess Nature and 54 other Nature Portfolio journalsGet Nature+, our best-value online-access subscription27,99 € / 30 dayscancel any timeLearn moreSubscribe to this journalReceive 12 print issues and online access269,00 € per yearonly 22,42 € per issueLearn moreRent or buy this articlePrices vary by article typefrom$1.95to$39.95Learn morePrices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkoutFig. 1: From activation to repression: a size-dependent transition in TEAD1 condensates.ReferencesSabari, B. R. et al. Science 361, eaar3958 (2018).Article PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar Cho, W.-K. et al. Science 361, 412–415 (2018).Article CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar Boija, A. et al. Cell 175, 1842–1855 (2018).Article CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar Hnisz, D. et al. Cell 169, 13–23 (2017).Article CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar Banani, S. F., Lee, H. O., Hyman, A. A. & Rosen, M. K. Nat. Rev. Mol. Cell Biol. 18, 285–298 (2017).Article CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar Chen, L. et al. Mol. Cell 83, 3438–3412 (2023).Article CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar Wang, Y. et al. Nat. Cell Biol. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41556-026-01985-x (2026).Article PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar Zheng, Y. & Pan, D. Dev. Cell 50, 264–282 (2019).Article CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar Harvey, K. F., Zhang, X. & Thomas, D. M. Nat. Rev. Cancer 13, 246–257 (2013).Article CAS PubMed Google Scholar Zhao, B. et al. Genes Dev. 22, 1962–1971 (2008).Article CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar Lu, Y. et al. Nat. Cell Biol. 22, 453–464 (2020).Article CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar Cai, D. et al. Nat. Cell Biol. 21, 1578–1589 (2019).Article CAS PubMed PubMed Central Google Scholar Hao, S. et al. iScience 27 (2024).Zhu, T. et al. Mol. Cell 85, 3425–3442 (2025).Article CAS PubMed Google Scholar Download referencesAuthor informationAuthors and AffiliationsDepartment of Molecular Medicine, Mays Cancer Center, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USALizhen Chen & Zhijie LiuBarshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, Department of Cell Systems and Anatomy, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, USALizhen ChenAuthorsLizhen ChenView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarZhijie LiuView author publicationsSearch author on:PubMed Google ScholarCorresponding authorsCorrespondence to Lizhen Chen or Zhijie Liu.Ethics declarationsRights and permissionsReprints and permissionsAbout this article