Effects of Low Intensity Focused Ultrasound on Liposomes Containing Channel proteins
Meghedi Babakhanian1,2, Limin Yang3, Bryan Nowroozi1,2
1Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
Scientific Reports
|November 24, 2018
Summary
Low Intensity Focused Ultrasound (LIFU) may not activate neuronal channels directly. Instead, it causes pore formation in cell membranes, though mechanosensitive channels might increase membrane elasticity, influencing ultrasound effects.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Neuroscience
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Low Intensity Focused Ultrasound (LIFU) shows therapeutic potential for neurological disorders like epilepsy and Parkinson's disease.
- The precise mechanisms by which LIFU modulates neuronal activity in vivo remain largely unexplained.
- A leading hypothesis suggests LIFU mechanically perturbs neuronal membranes, activating mechanosensitive ion channels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the direct effects of LIFU on membrane-tension gated channels.
- To explore the potential role of mechanosensitive channels in mediating LIFU's bioeffects.
- To elucidate the biophysical interactions between LIFU, cell membranes, and ion channel proteins.
Main Methods:
- Utilized purified bacterial mechanosensitive channel MscL reconstituted in liposomes.
- Examined the impact of LIFU on MscL, KvAP, and NaK2K F92A channels.
- Analyzed channel behavior and membrane integrity under ultrasound exposure.
Main Results:
- LIFU-induced membrane perturbation did not directly gate the studied channels.
- Pore formation was observed at the membrane protein-lipid interface upon ultrasound exposure.
- High concentrations of MscL reduced pore formation, suggesting increased membrane elasticity.
Conclusions:
- LIFU's primary effect appears to be membrane pore formation rather than direct channel gating.
- Mechanosensitive channels like MscL may influence membrane properties, potentially modulating LIFU's impact.
- Further research is needed to fully understand LIFU's mechanism of action in therapeutic applications.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:21G-Protein Gated Ion Channels
5.7K
GPCRs are primarily responsible for our sense of smell, taste, and vision. The binding of a sensory stimulus activates GPCR to stimulate effector proteins, many of which are ion channels in the sensory organs. GPCRs modulate the opening and closing of the target ion channels either directly by binding them, or by releasing second messengers that activate these channels. As ions move across the membrane, the membrane potential is altered, which induces an appropriate response.
Sensory...
Sensory...
5.7K
01:21Electrochemical Gradient and Channel Proteins: An Overview
4.7K
An electrochemical gradient is a fundamental concept in biology and chemistry. It regulates the movement of ions across cell membranes. This movement is influenced by two factors:
The electrical gradient: The electrical gradient across cell membranes refers to the difference in electric charge between the inside and outside of a cell. This difference drives the movement of ions towards or away from the cells. For instance, if the inside of the cell is more negatively charged relative to...
The electrical gradient: The electrical gradient across cell membranes refers to the difference in electric charge between the inside and outside of a cell. This difference drives the movement of ions towards or away from the cells. For instance, if the inside of the cell is more negatively charged relative to...
4.7K
01:19Ion Channels
91.4K
The movement of ions like sodium, potassium, and calcium into and out of the cell is essential to maintain the electrochemical gradient in living cells. The ion channels—a class of membrane transport proteins—help maintain this ionic gradient for the smooth functioning of physiological activities such as maintaining cell size and volume, conducting nerve impulses, and gas and nutrient exchange.
Ion channels are specialized integral membrane proteins on the plasma membrane that allow...
Ion channels are specialized integral membrane proteins on the plasma membrane that allow...
91.4K
00:58Sound Intensity
4.8K
The loudness of a sound source is related to how energetically the source is vibrating, consequently making the molecules of the propagation medium vibrate. To measure the loudness of a source, the physical quantity of interest is the intensity. This is defined as the energy emitted per unit of time per unit of area perpendicular to the sound wave's propagation direction. Since the total energy is greater if the source vibrates for a longer duration and over a larger area, dividing the...
4.8K
00:53Sound Intensity Level
4.9K
Humans perceive sound by hearing. The human ear helps sound waves reach the brain, which then interprets the waves and creates the perception of hearing. The loudness of the environment in which a person is located determines whether they can distinguish between different sound sources.
The human ear can perceive an extensive range of sound intensity, necessitating the use of the logarithmic scale to define a physical quantity—the intensity level. It is a ratio of two intensities and...
The human ear can perceive an extensive range of sound intensity, necessitating the use of the logarithmic scale to define a physical quantity—the intensity level. It is a ratio of two intensities and...
4.9K
01:25Ultrasound II: Endoscopic Ultrasound and FibroScan
691
Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) and FibroScan are valuable diagnostic tools in gastroenterology and hepatology, each with specific applications and techniques.
Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS):
Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS):
691