The ability of a eukaryotic cell to resist deformation, to transport intracellular cargo and to
change shape during movement depends on the cytoskeleton, an interconnected network of …

Inorganic polyphosphate (Poly P) is a polymer of tens to hundreds of phosphate residues
linked by “high-energy” phosphoanhydride bonds as in ATP. Found in abundance in all cells …

A large German research consortium mainly within the Max Planck Society (“MaxSynBio”)
was formed to investigate living systems from a fundamental perspective. The research …

The genus Mycobacterium is best known for its two major pathogenic species, M.
tuberculosis and M. leprae, the causative agents of two of the world's oldest diseases …

Recent developments in synthetic biology may bring the bottom-up generation of a synthetic
cell within reach. A key feature of a living synthetic cell is a functional cell cycle, in which …

Macromolecular crowding affects the activity of proteins and functional macromolecular
complexes in all cells, including bacteria. Crowding, together with physicochemical …

The cytoskeleton is a system of intracellular filaments crucial for cell shape, division, and
function in all three domains of life. The simple cytoskeletons of prokaryotes show surprising …

Centromeres are chromosomal elements that are both necessary and sufficient for
chromosome segregation. However, the puzzlingly broad range in centromere complexity …

Spatial organization is a hallmark of all living systems. Even bacteria, the smallest forms of
cellular life, display defined shapes and complex internal organization, showcasing a highly …

Overutilization and misuse of antibiotics in recent decades markedly intensified the rapid
proliferation and diffusion of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) within the environment …