Tubulin response to intense nanosecond-scale electric field in molecular dynamics simulation.

ABSTRACT: Intense pulsed electric fields are known to act at the cell membrane level and are already being exploited in biomedical and biotechnological applications. However, it is not clear if electric pulses within biomedically-attainable parameters could directly influence intra-cellular components such as cytoskeletal proteins. If so, a molecular mechanism of action could be uncovered for therapeutic applications of such electric fields. To help clarify this question, we first identified that a tubulin heterodimer is a natural biological target for intense electric fields due to its exceptional electric properties and crucial roles played in cell division. Using molecular dynamics simulations, we then demonstrated that an intense - yet experimentally attainable - electric field of nanosecond dur

SUBMITTER: Marracino P 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6642143 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature