A novel method to study the electrodynamic behavior of actin filaments. Evidence for cable-like properties of actin

Lin, Eric; Cantiello, Horacio F.

doi:10.1016/s0006-3495(93)81188-3

Cited by 113 publications

(121 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…Our data show that these channels had a highly expressed cation characteristic (Fig. 1E), as had been earlier suggested based on the behavior of F-actin molecules in vitro (9,26).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

“…Both kinds of action of protein molecules on the membrane could induce formation of transmembrane ionic channels of different conductivities: indirectly by local dislocations of lipid bilayer (Fig. 3a), and directly by means of protein penetration through the lipid bilayer, presumably attributable to the known cablelike properties of actin laments and their ability to conduct electrical signals (9). Our data show that these channels had a highly expressed cation characteristic (Fig.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 68%

“…However, the actual mechanism that allows the watersoluble protein to conduct the electric signal through synaptic membranes remains unclear. Although explaining this by an ability of F-actin to conduct electric current along its surface, as revealed earlier in water (9), is attractive, it remains unknown whether the actin can maintain this property once it has been incorporated into membrane.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Study of F‐Actin Interaction with Planar and Liposomal Bilayer Phospholipid Membranes

et al. 2000

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SummaryInteraction of the cytoskeletal protein F-actin with planar bilayer lipid membrane (BLM) induced formation of single ionic channels in both NaCl and KCl bathing solutions. We also recorded noiselike high-current jumps with a mean conductivity of » 160 pS, which might represent the simultaneous opening and closing of several channels of lower conductivity. The ratio of cation to anion permeabilities (Pc/Pa) of the BLM with many channels in KCl was 26 § 2. Freeze-fracture electron microscopy revealed brillar-like structures on the hydrophobi c surfaces of liposomal membranes. We also observed some structural features giving evidence for the penetration of F-actin bers through an arti cial phospholipid membrane. We suggest that the F-actin/lipids complexes can transmit electric signals in synaptic and other intercellular contacts.

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“…Our data show that these channels had a highly expressed cation characteristic (Fig. 1E), as had been earlier suggested based on the behavior of F-actin molecules in vitro (9,26).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 68%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Study of F‐Actin Interaction with Planar and Liposomal Bilayer Phospholipid Membranes

et al. 2000

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“…In contrast to divalent cations, the monovalent cations Na ϩ and K ϩ can pass microfilament bundles with lower resistance (54). As shown in Fig.…”

Section: The F-actin Diffusion Barrier Is a Cation Exchangermentioning

confidence: 98%

Cellular target of weak magnetic fields: ionic conduction along actin filaments of microvilli

Gartzke

Lange²

2002

American Journal of Physiology-Cell Physiology

102

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Gartzke, Joachim, and Klaus Lange. Cellular target of weak magnetic fields: ionic conduction along actin filaments of microvilli. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 283: C1333-C1346, 2002; 10.1152/ajpcell. 00167.2002.-The interaction of weak electromagnetic fields (EMF) with living cells is a most important but still unresolved biophysical problem. For this interaction, thermal and other types of noise appear to cause severe restrictions in the action of weak signals on relevant components of the cell. A recently presented general concept of regulation of ion and substrate pathways through microvilli provides a possible theoretical basis for the comprehension of physiological effects of even extremely low magnetic fields. The actin-based core of microfilaments in microvilli is proposed to represent a cellular interaction site for magnetic fields. Both the central role of F-actin in Ca 2ϩ signaling and its polyelectrolyte nature eliciting specific ion conduction properties render the microvillar actin filament bundle an ideal interaction site for magnetic and electric fields. Ion channels at the tip of microvilli are connected with the cytoplasm by a bundle of microfilaments forming a diffusion barrier system. Because of its polyelectrolyte nature, the microfilament core of microvilli allows Ca 2ϩ entry into the cytoplasm via nonlinear cable-like cation conduction through arrays of condensed ion clouds. The interaction of ion clouds with periodically applied EMFs and field-induced cation pumping through the cascade of potential barriers on the F-actin polyelectrolyte follows well-known physical principles of ion-magnetic field (MF) interaction and signal discrimination as described by the stochastic resonance and Brownian motor hypotheses. The proposed interaction mechanism is in accord with our present knowledge about Ca 2ϩ signaling as the biological main target of MFs and the postulated extreme sensitivity for coherent excitation by very low field energies within specific amplitude and frequency windows. Microvillar F-actin bundles shielded by a lipid membrane appear to function like electronic integration devices for signal-tonoise enhancement; the influence of coherent signals on cation transduction is amplified, whereas that of random noise is reduced. calcium signaling; cell differentiation; Brownian motor hypothesis; cyclotron resonance; hair cell; mechanoelectrical coupling; physiological effects MORE THAN A DECADE OF RESEARCH on field effects in biological systems has yielded rather compelling data for the involvement of the Ca 2ϩ signaling pathway as a primary and main target of magnetic fields (MFs). As first demonstrated by Liburdy and colleagues (52,53) and later on by a number of other authors, the Ca 2ϩ influx pathways of isolated or cultured cells are severely affected by rather low MF energies.The physiological relevance of this finding is high, because Ca 2ϩ represents the most important intracellular signal governing almost all physiological functions in differentiated cells. Most importantly, cytopla...

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“…First is to generate an actin network in a desired topology; this may be in vitro or in vivo. Although minute manipulation of actin fibres has been demonstrated in vitro (Lin and Cantiello 1993), we suggest that actin growth within model organisms such as P. polycephalum is also a viable method to this end as growth patterns are essentially programmable by manipulation of the organism's environment and internal feedback mechanisms.…”

Section: Practical Actin Computingmentioning

confidence: 91%

Cellular automata modelling of slime mould actin network signalling

Mayne

Adamatkzy

2016

Nat Comput

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Actin is a cytoskeletal protein which forms dense, highly interconnected networks within eukaryotic cells. A growing body of evidence suggests that actinmediated intra-and extracellular signalling is instrumental in facilitating organism-level emergent behaviour patterns which, crucially, may be characterised as natural expressions of computation. We use excitable cellular automata modelling to simulate signal transmission through cell arrays whose topology was extracted from images of Watershed transformation-derived actin network reconstructions; the actin networks sampled were from laboratory experimental observations of a model organism, slime mould Physarum polycephalum. Our results indicate that actin networks support directional transmission of generalised energetic phenomena, the amplification and transnetwork speed of which of which is proportional to network density (whose primary determinant is the anatomical location of the network sampled). Furthermore, this model also suggests the ability of such networks for supporting signal-signal interactions which may be characterised as Boolean logical operations, thus indicating that a cell's actin network may function as a nanoscale data transmission and processing network. We conclude by discussing the role of the cytoskeleton in facilitating intracellular computing, how computation can be implemented in such a network and practical considerations for designing 'useful' actin circuitry.

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A novel method to study the electrodynamic behavior of actin filaments. Evidence for cable-like properties of actin

Cited by 113 publications

References 36 publications

Study of F‐Actin Interaction with Planar and Liposomal Bilayer Phospholipid Membranes

Study of F‐Actin Interaction with Planar and Liposomal Bilayer Phospholipid Membranes

Cellular target of weak magnetic fields: ionic conduction along actin filaments of microvilli

Cellular automata modelling of slime mould actin network signalling

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