Subcellular structures are distinct, spatially organized physical systems within cells, encompassing membrane-bound organelles (e.g., mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi apparatus, lysosomes), non-membranous bodies (e.g., ribosomes, cytoskeleton, centrosomes), and specialized compartments (e.g., nucleolus, stress granules). They are defined by specific molecular compositions, biophysical properties, and emergent functions such as energy transduction, macromolecular synthesis, intracellular trafficking, signal transduction, and mechanical support. As physical systems, they exhibit dynamic self-assembly, phase separation, and regulated turnover, and their organization is governed by principles of thermodynamics, molecular crowding, and active processes driven by nucleotide hydrolysis and cytoskeletal forces.
Our cells produce a variety of proteins, each with a specific role that, in many cases, means that they need to be in a particular part of the cell where that role is needed. One of the ways that cells ensure certain proteins ...
Cell & Microbiology
Aug 27, 2025
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For life to function, cell membranes must remain intact. When these fragile barriers are damaged—for instance by heat or viral attack—specialized proteins come to the rescue. Researchers at Forschungszentrum Jülich, Heinrich ...
Cell & Microbiology
Aug 27, 2025
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A team led by scientists at Northwestern University has discovered how paraspeckles, a landmark (condensate) found in the nucleus of cells in many organ systems, form through a different mechanism than the well-established ...
Cell & Microbiology
Aug 26, 2025
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New research, published in the journal Science, shows how lysosomes—organelles that act like cells' waste disposal system—respond to stress by becoming abnormally bloated, a process called lysosomal vacuolation that is associated ...
Cell & Microbiology
Aug 21, 2025
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Exosomes, naturally derived vesicles responsible for intercellular communication, are emerging as next-generation drug delivery systems capable of transporting therapeutics to specific cells. However, their tightly packed, ...
Bio & Medicine
Aug 13, 2025
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In order to fulfill their many functions, proteins must be folded into the correct shape. Researchers at the University of Basel have now discovered tiny "folding factories" in cells that enable efficient and accurate protein ...
Cell & Microbiology
Aug 11, 2025
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In a process that is remarkably close to how we take out our household trash, every single cell in your body has the ability to wrap up any unwanted material in a double-membrane sack and send it to be degraded and recycled ...
Cell & Microbiology
Aug 7, 2025
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150
Gram-negative bacteria pose a significant threat to global health due to their high resistance to antibiotics compared to that of Gram-positive bacteria. Their formidable defensive capabilities stem from their outer membrane ...
Cell & Microbiology
Aug 5, 2025
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When we think about the blueprint of life, we tend to focus on DNA—the genetic code stored in every cell of our bodies. But DNA is only part of the story. For those instructions to matter, they must be read and turned into ...
Cell & Microbiology
Aug 5, 2025
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135
Cell membranes cradle, protect, and gatekeep living cells. Membranes can even affect how a cell behaves.
Bio & Medicine
Aug 1, 2025
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