Electric fields accelerate cell polarization and bypass myosin action in motility initiation

Area of Science:

• Cell biology
• Biophysics
• Cytoskeleton dynamics

Background:

• Stationary fish keratocyte cells exhibit slow spontaneous polarization and motility.
• Cell polarization is a critical process for directed cell movement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effect of electric fields (EF) on fish keratocyte cell polarization and motility.
• To determine if EF-induced polarization requires myosin activity.
• To understand the stability of EF-induced cell polarity.

Main Methods:

• Applying electric fields (EF) to stationary fish keratocyte cells.
• Observing cell polarization and motility under EF and after EF removal.
• Utilizing myosin inhibition to assess its role in EF-induced polarization.

Main Results:

• EF application accelerated cell polarization by an order of magnitude compared to spontaneous polarization.
• EF-induced polarity was transient in most cells when EF was switched off, but stable motility was achieved with prolonged EF exposure.
• Myosin inhibition abolished spontaneous polarization but did not affect EF-induced polarization speed; however, post-EF motility became erratic.

Conclusions:

• Electric fields provide a rapid method to induce cell polarization and initiate motility.
• Cell polarization stability is achieved gradually, even with rapid EF induction.
• EF-induced cell motility can bypass the conventional requirement for myosin activity in polarization initiation.