scholarly journals A Note of Caution: Gramicidin Affects Signaling Pathways Independently of Its Effects on Plasma Membrane Conductance

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Frances Evans ◽  
Julio A. Hernández ◽  
Federico Cabo ◽  
Silvia Chifflet
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Electrical Properties ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Membrane Lipids ◽  
Membrane Conductance ◽  
Ionic Channel ◽  
Plasma Membrane Potential ◽  
Hydrophobic Nature

Gramicidin is a thoroughly studied cation ionophore widely used to experimentally manipulate the plasma membrane potential (PMP). In addition, it has been established that the drug, due to its hydrophobic nature, is capable of affecting the organization of membrane lipids. We have previously shown that modifications in the plasma membrane potential of epithelial cells in culture determine reorganizations of the cytoskeleton. To elucidate the molecular mechanisms involved, we explored the effects of PMP depolarization on some putative signaling intermediates. In the course of these studies, we came across some results that could not be interpreted in terms of the properties of gramicidin as an ionic channel. The purpose of the present work is to communicate these results and, in general, to draw attention to the fact that gramicidin effects can be misleadingly attributed to its ionic or electrical properties. In addition, this work also contributes with some novel findings of the modifications provoked on the signaling intermediates by PMP depolarization and hyperpolarization.

scholarly journals The Plasma Membrane Potential and the Organization of the Actin Cytoskeleton of Epithelial Cells

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Silvia Chifflet ◽  
Julio A. Hernández
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Epithelial Cells ◽  
Actin Cytoskeleton ◽  
Plasma Membrane Potential ◽  
Cytoskeletal Organization ◽  
Physiological Processes ◽  
Peripheral Proteins ◽  
Epithelial Wound Healing ◽  
Epithelial Phenotype

The establishment and maintenance of the polarized epithelial phenotype require a characteristic organization of the cytoskeletal components. There are many cellular effectors involved in the regulation of the cytoskeleton of epithelial cells. Recently, modifications in the plasma membrane potential (PMP) have been suggested to participate in the modulation of the cytoskeletal organization of epithelia. Here, we review evidence showing that changes in the PMP of diverse epithelial cells promote characteristic modifications in the cytoskeletal organization, with a focus on the actin cytoskeleton. The molecular paths mediating these effects may include voltage-sensitive integral membrane proteins and/or peripheral proteins sensitive to surface potentials. The voltage dependence of the cytoskeletal organization seems to have implications in several physiological processes, including epithelial wound healing and apoptosis.

scholarly journals TRPC6 regulates phenotypic switching of vascular smooth muscle cells through plasma membrane potential‐dependent coupling with PTEN

2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (9) ◽  
pp. 9785-9796 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takuro Numaga‐Tomita ◽  
Tsukasa Shimauchi ◽  
Sayaka Oda ◽  
Tomohiro Tanaka ◽  
Kazuhiro Nishiyama ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Vascular Smooth Muscle ◽  
Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells ◽  
Muscle Cells ◽  
Phenotypic Switching ◽  
Plasma Membrane Potential

scholarly journals Kinetic study of the plasma-membrane potential in procyclic and bloodstream forms of Trypanosoma brucei brucei using the fluorescent probe bisoxonol

1996 ◽  
Vol 314 (2) ◽  
pp. 595-601 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabienne DEFRISE-QUERTAIN ◽  
Chantal FRASER-L'HOSTIS ◽  
Danièle CORAL ◽  
Jacques DESHUSSES
Keyword(s):  
Plasma Membrane ◽  
Membrane Potential ◽  
Trypanosoma Brucei ◽  
Cultured Cells ◽  
Bloodstream Form ◽  
Metabolic Inhibitors ◽  
Trypanosoma Brucei Brucei ◽  
Plasma Membrane Potential ◽  
Regulation Mechanisms ◽  
K Concentration

The characteristics of the plasma-membrane potential of procyclic and bloodstream forms of Trypanosoma brucei brucei (cultured cells) were investigated using the fluorescent anionic probe bisoxonol. Observation of a stable and representative plasma-membrane potential in the resting state required careful washing, centrifugation and maintenance of the cells at room temperature before measurement. Bloodstream forms were more prone to depolarization during washing at 4 °C than procyclic cells. The higher fluorescence observed in the presence of long slender cells than in the presence of procyclic cells shows that the plasma-membrane potential is more negative in the insect form. Healthy dilute cells can sustain their plasma-membrane potential for hours in the presence of external glucose. The presence of a high K+ concentration in the medium did not promote by itself the depolarization of either type of cell. Study of bisoxonol fluorescence as a function of time allowed us to follow the kinetics of the action of metabolic inhibitors in the presence of various ions. o-Vanadate (1 mM) was found to depolarize bloodstream-form cells rapidly but only in a phosphate-free NaCl buffer. Omeprazole and strophanthidin also specifically depolarized bloodstream-form trypanosomes. However, NN´-dicyclohexylcarbodi-imide depolarized both types of cell, but more rapidly for bloodstream-form cells. Bloodstream-form trypanosomes appear to use mainly a vanadate-sensitive Na+ pump to maintain their Na+-diffusion gradient. However, most of the ATPase inhibitors tested had little or no effect on the plasma-membrane potential of procyclics suggesting that this form of trypanosome may rely on several regulation mechanisms.

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