ESCRTs got your Bac

ESCRT-III proteins, which form filaments that deform, bud, and sever membranes, are found in eukaryotes and some archaea. Three studies in this issue of Cell reveal that PspA and Vipp1 are bacterial and cyanobacterial members of the ESCRT-III superfamily, indicating it is even more ubiquitous and ancient than previously thought.