High frequency electrically-induced force generation by cellular plasma membranes

Bahman Anvari; Feng Qian; Fred Pereira; William Brownell

doi:10.1109/IEMBS.2005.1616600

High frequency electrically-induced force generation by cellular plasma membranes

Conf Proc IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc. 2005:2006:1055-7. doi: 10.1109/IEMBS.2005.1616600.

Authors

Bahman Anvari¹, Feng Qian, Fred Pereira, William Brownell

Affiliation

¹ Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005 USA (phone: 713-348- 5870; fax: 713-348- 5877; e-mail: anvari@rice. edu).

PMID: 17282369
DOI: 10.1109/IEMBS.2005.1616600

Abstract

Using a novel experimental technique that combines optical trapping with patch-clamp and fluorescence photometry, we provide preliminary evidence that native biological membranes are capable of electrically-induced piconewton level force generation in the absence of specialized transmembrane proteins. Force generation is dependent on membrane tension and the transmembrane electrical potential. Salicylate diminishes and presence of prestin, a transmembrane protein found in cochlear outer hair cells, enhances force generation.