Blobby Bodies Help Cells Regulate the Cytoplasm’s Electrochemical Environment

Biomolecular condensates within cells, previously thought to only effect nearby molecules, have been found to also induce global effects, according to researchers at Duke University and Washington University in St. Louis. The study found condensate formations in bacterial cells could generate electric potential gradients, changing the cytoplasmic pH and membrane potential, influencing global traits including antibiotic resistance. The condensates were also found to absorb proteins, enzymes and ions when forming, creating a charge imbalance that may impact the electrical potential of the cellular membrane.