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Mitochondrial membrane permeabilization with nanosecond electric pulses.
1Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical Engineering and MOSIS, Information Science Institute, Viterbi School of Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA. vernier@usc.edu
Summary
Ultra-short electric pulses can permeabilize cell membranes. This study shows nanosecond pulses can also permeabilize mitochondrial membranes in living cells, affecting their function.
Area of Science:
- Cell biology
- Biophysics
- Membrane science
Background:
- Ultra-short, high-field electric pulses are known to induce permeabilization of plasma and intracellular membranes.
- Investigating the effects of these pulses on mitochondrial membranes is crucial for understanding cellular responses to electrical stimuli.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of nanosecond electric pulses on mitochondrial membrane permeability in living cells.
- To determine the minimum pulse parameters required to induce mitochondrial membrane permeabilization.
Main Methods:
- Utilized four independent fluorescent dye-based assays: JC-1, rhodamine 123, tetramethyl rhodamine ethyl ester, and cobalt-quenched calcein.
- Applied ultra-short electric pulses (4 ns duration, 10 MV/m field strength, 1 kHz repetition rate) to living cells.
Main Results:
- Demonstrated that as few as five nanosecond electric pulses increase the permeability of the inner mitochondrial membrane.
- Observed a significant loss of mitochondrial membrane potential correlated with the increased inner mitochondrial membrane permeability.
- Confirmed pulse-induced permeabilization of the inner mitochondrial membrane using multiple independent detection methods.
Conclusions:
- Nanosecond electric pulses can induce permeabilization of the inner mitochondrial membrane in living cells.
- This permeabilization is associated with a loss of mitochondrial membrane potential.
- The findings provide new insights into the effects of pulsed electric fields on cellular organelles.
