Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Cell Polarization by Rho Proteins

Cell Polarization by Rho Proteins

Cell polarity is the asymmetric distribution of cellular and membrane components, making one side of the cell different from the other. This polarity is essential to many processes such as embryogenesis, axon migration, glucose transport across epithelial cells, and directional cell migration. A migrating cell responds to intracellular or extracellular signals via molecular cascades that reorganize the actin cytoskeleton to establish this polarity. In these cells, the Rho family proteins Cdc42,...

Depolarizing Blockers: Mechanism of Action

Depolarizing Blockers: Mechanism of Action

Depolarizing blockers act on skeletal muscle fibers' membranes and induce their depolarization. Most depolarizing blockers have two quaternary N+ atoms that bind the nicotinic acetylcholine receptors and cause neuromuscular blockade within minutes.
Succinylcholine is the most commonly used depolarizing blocker. Chemically, it constitutes two molecules of acetylcholine joined together by an acetate methyl group. They act on the receptors in the same way as acetylcholine. Because succinylcholine...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

COVID-19-associated cardiovascular morbidity in older adults: a position paper from the Italian Society of Cardiovascular Researches.

GeroScience·2020

Same author

Conjugated polymers optically regulate the fate of endothelial colony-forming cells.

Science advances·2019

Same author

Fine structural detection of calcium ions by photoconversion.

European journal of histochemistry : EJH·2016

Same author

Differential clinical effects of different mutation subtypes in CALR-mutant myeloproliferative neoplasms.

Leukemia·2015

Same author

Interleukin-6, soluble interleukin-6 receptor/interleukin-6 complex and insulin resistance in obese children and adolescents.

Journal of endocrinological investigation·2014

Same author

Feasibility and effectiveness of primary umbilical hernia repair with biologic graft: preliminary study.

Acta chirurgica Belgica·2014

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Multi-Photon Laser Ablation of Cytoplasmic Microtubule Organizing Centers in Mouse Oocytes

Multi-Photon Laser Ablation of Cytoplasmic Microtubule Organizing Centers in Mouse Oocytes

Published on: November 11, 2022

Latrunculin A depolarizes starfish oocytes.

¹Department of Structural and Functional Biology, University of Naples Federico II, viale Cinthia, 80126 Naples, Italy. moccia1972@hotmail.it

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part A, Molecular & Integrative Physiology

|September 28, 2007

Summary

Actin depolymerization with latrunculin A causes membrane depolarization in starfish oocytes by releasing calcium and activating sodium channels. This process triggers an action potential via voltage-gated calcium channels.

More Related Videos

Xenopus Oocytes: Optimized Methods for Microinjection, Removal of Follicular Cell Layers, and Fast Solution Changes in Electrophysiological Experiments

Xenopus Oocytes: Optimized Methods for Microinjection, Removal of Follicular Cell Layers, and Fast Solution Changes in Electrophysiological Experiments

Published on: December 31, 2016

Demonstration of Proteolytic Activation of the Epithelial Sodium Channel (ENaC) by Combining Current Measurements with Detection of Cleavage Fragments

Demonstration of Proteolytic Activation of the Epithelial Sodium Channel (ENaC) by Combining Current Measurements with Detection of Cleavage Fragments

Published on: July 5, 2014

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Multi-Photon Laser Ablation of Cytoplasmic Microtubule Organizing Centers in Mouse Oocytes

Multi-Photon Laser Ablation of Cytoplasmic Microtubule Organizing Centers in Mouse Oocytes

Published on: November 11, 2022

Xenopus Oocytes: Optimized Methods for Microinjection, Removal of Follicular Cell Layers, and Fast Solution Changes in Electrophysiological Experiments

Xenopus Oocytes: Optimized Methods for Microinjection, Removal of Follicular Cell Layers, and Fast Solution Changes in Electrophysiological Experiments

Published on: December 31, 2016

Demonstration of Proteolytic Activation of the Epithelial Sodium Channel (ENaC) by Combining Current Measurements with Detection of Cleavage Fragments

Demonstration of Proteolytic Activation of the Epithelial Sodium Channel (ENaC) by Combining Current Measurements with Detection of Cleavage Fragments

Published on: July 5, 2014

Area of Science:

Cell Biology
Neuroscience
Biophysics

Background:

The actin cytoskeleton's role in membrane potential regulation is not fully understood.
Actin depolymerization can affect intracellular calcium levels and calcium influx.
Previous studies lack information on actin's direct impact on membrane potential.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate the effect of the actin depolymerizing drug latrunculin A (Lat A) on the membrane potential (V(m)) of starfish oocytes.
To elucidate the mechanisms underlying actin-mediated V(m) modulation.

Main Methods:

Treatment of starfish oocytes with actin-disrupting agents (Lat A, cytochalasin D) and stabilizers (jasplakinolide).
Electrophysiological recordings to measure membrane potential changes.
Experiments in Ca2+-free seawater and Na+-free conditions.
Intracellular calcium measurements using BAPTA and heparin, and testing ryanodine.

Main Results:

Lat A induced membrane depolarization, mimicked by cytochalasin D and blocked by jasplakinolide.
Lat A-promoted depolarization activated voltage-gated calcium channels (VGCCs) and triggered action potentials.
Depolarization was dependent on extracellular calcium and sodium, and involved calcium release from InsP3 receptors.
Pre-injection of BAPTA and heparin prevented depolarization, while ryanodine had no effect.

Conclusions:

Latrunculin A induces membrane depolarization in starfish oocytes by releasing Ca2+ from InsP3 receptors.
The released Ca2+ activates a Ca2+-dependent Na+ influx, leading to V(m) depolarization.
This depolarization stimulates VGCCs, initiating an action potential.