The cell is a mechanical machine, and continuum mechanics of the fluid cytoplasm and the viscoelastic deforming cytoskeleton play key roles in cell physiology. We review mathematical models of intracellular fluid mechanics, from cytoplasmic fluid flows, to the flow of a viscous active cytoskeletal gel, to models of two-phase poroviscous flows, to poroelastic models. We discuss application of these models to cell biological phenomena, such as organelle positioning, blebbing, and cell motility. We also discuss challenges of understanding fluid mechanics on the cellular scale.

Natural macromolecules, i.e., sequence-controlled polymers, build the basis for life. In synthetic macromolecular chemistry, reliable tools for the formation of sequence-controlled macromolecules are rare. A robust and efficient chain-growth approach based on the simultaneous living anionic polymerization of sulfonamide-activated aziridines for sequence control of up to five competing monomers resulting in gradient copolymers is presented. The simultaneous azaanionic copolymerization is monitored by real-time (1) H NMR spectroscopy for each monomer at any time during the reaction. The monomer sequence can be adjusted by the monomer reactivity, depending on the electron-withdrawing effect by the sulfonamide (nosyl-, brosyl-, tosyl-, mesyl-, busyl) groups. This method offers unique opportunities for sequence control by competing copolymerization: a step forward to well-engineered synthetic polymers with defined microstructures.

Graphical Abstract Highlights d Muscle nuclei collectively establish precise global scaling with muscle fiber size d Cells contain domains with distinct local scaling of DNA, nuclear and nucleolar sizes d Nucleolar scaling indicates proportionally higher synthetic activity in small nuclei d Changes in DNA content affect nuclear scaling relationships and muscle function SUMMARY Optimal cell performance depends on cell size and the appropriate relative size, i.e., scaling, of the nucleus. How nuclear scaling is regulated and contributes to cell function is poorly understood, especially in skeletal muscle fibers, which are among the largest cells, containing hundreds of nuclei.Here, we present a Drosophila in vivo system to analyze nuclear scaling in whole multinucleated muscle fibers, genetically manipulate individual components, and assess muscle function. Despite precise global coordination, we find that individual nuclei within a myofiber establish different local scaling relationships by adjusting their size and synthetic activity in correlation with positional or spatial cues. While myonuclei exhibit compensatory potential, even minor changes in global nuclear size scaling correlate with reduced muscle function. Our study provides the first comprehensive approach to unraveling the intrinsic regulation of size in multinucleated muscle fibers. These insights to muscle cell biology will accelerate the development of interventions for muscle diseases.