Response to Alternating Electric Fields of Tubulin Dimers and Microtubule Ensembles in Electrolytic Solutions.

ABSTRACT: Microtubules (MTs), which are cylindrical protein filaments that play crucial roles in eukaryotic cell functions, have been implicated in electrical signalling as biological nanowires. We report on the small-signal AC ("alternating current") conductance of electrolytic solutions containing MTs and tubulin dimers, using a microelectrode system. We find that MTs (212 nM tubulin) in a 20-fold diluted BRB80 electrolyte increase solution conductance by 23% at 100 kHz, and this effect is directly proportional to the concentration of MTs in solution. The frequency response of MT-containing electrolytes exhibits a concentration-independent peak in the conductance spectrum at 111 kHz (503 kHz FWHM that decreases linearly with MT concentration), which appears to be an intrinsic property of MT ensemb

SUBMITTER: Santelices IB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5574899 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Aug

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature