Cells suck

Via Eurekalert. A new look at the inside of cells finds an internal circulatory system.

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For decades, biology textbooks have taught that free‑floating proteins inside cells move mainly by diffusion, drifting randomly until they happen to reach their destination. But the new study shows that cells don’t leave this to chance. Instead, they create targeted streams of fluid that push essential proteins toward the cell’s leading edge, where movement and repair begin.

“We found that the cell can actually squeeze at the back and target where it sends that material,” Jim said. “If you squeeze half a sponge, the water only goes on that half. That’s basically what the cell is doing.”

The researchers say the study reveals a “pseudo‑organelle,” or a functional compartment that isn’t surrounded by a membrane but still shapes how the cell behaves. The flows occur within a specialized compartment at the cell’s front, separated from the rest of the cell by an actin‑myosin condensate barrier that acts like a physical wall and targets the flows to advancing regions along the cell edge.

The result is a fast, efficient delivery system that fuels protrusion, adhesion and rapid shape changes, all critical processes for cell movement, immune response and tissue repair.

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Nicely fits into the basic principle of action by impedance. Nature moves most things by sucking, not blowing. Technology does the same. There are some big exceptions in each case.