Electrically induced bacterial membrane-potential dynamics correspond to cellular proliferation capacity.

ABSTRACT: Membrane-potential dynamics mediate bacterial electrical signaling at both intra- and intercellular levels. Membrane potential is also central to cellular proliferation. It is unclear whether the cellular response to external electrical stimuli is influenced by the cellular proliferative capacity. A new strategy enabling electrical stimulation of bacteria with simultaneous monitoring of single-cell membrane-potential dynamics would allow bridging this knowledge gap and further extend electrophysiological studies into the field of microbiology. Here we report that an identical electrical stimulus can cause opposite polarization dynamics depending on cellular proliferation capacity. This was demonstrated using two model organisms, namely Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli,

SUBMITTER: Stratford JP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6511025 | biostudies-literature | 2019 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature