A protein droplet system that is as active and as concentrated as the cytoplasm

Living organisms harvest energy from the environment to drive chemical processes that enable life. In this paper, realized in collaboration with researchers from the Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology and Max Plank Institute, the authors introduce a protein droplets system that is able replicate the activity levels of unicellular organisms through chemical reactions catalyzed by enzymes. At these metabolic densities, the droplets show self-​generated pH gradients and internal flows, reminiscent of biological phenomena found in cells and bacteria.