A conserved pressure-driven mechanism for regulating cytosolic osmolarity.

Controlling intracellular osmolarity is essential to all cellular life. Cells that live in hypo-osmotic environments, such as freshwater, must constantly battle water influx to avoid swelling until they burst. Many eukaryotic cells use contractile vacuoles to collect excess water from the cytosol and pump it out of the cell.

A conserved pressure-driven mechanism for regulating cytosolic osmolarity.

Controlling intracellular osmolarity is essential to all cellular life. Cells that live in hypo-osmotic environments like freshwater must constantly battle water influx to avoid swelling until they burst. Many eukaryotic cells use contractile vacuoles to collect excess water from the cytosol and pump it out of the cell.