The depletion attraction: an underappreciated force driving cellular organization.
Marenduzzo D., Finan K., Cook PR.
Cellular structures are shaped by hydrogen and ionic bonds, plus van der Waals and hydrophobic forces. In cells crowded with macromolecules, a little-known and distinct force-the "depletion attraction"-also acts. We review evidence that this force assists in the assembly of a wide range of cellular structures, ranging from the cytoskeleton to chromatin loops and whole chromosomes.