That's because the cytostome is oxidized, you need to break it down with the hammer tool (2), grab it with the hand tool (1) and place it again. It's a mechanic it's being worked on, but for now it works that way. Bigger cytostomes don't oxidize, but need energy to work.
Viewing post in Lifecraft - out now on Steam! comments
Oxidation is unit based, not time based. A cytostome will fetch like 40-50 items before stopping so it's possible the issue is somewhere else, are you actually removing the items from the cytostome? It only has capacity for a single item inside so you must use a picker to empty it as soon as it's filled
Ok useful to know. But I replicate what I've seen on your trailer Youtube, Cytostome stops at first. I tried to connect behind, in front, but It doesn't go though microtube. Another bug, after loading my save, all ribosomes... don't display anymore production ("E" fonction place), but still effective as assembly process is showed in right-panel.