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Multicellular adaptation to electrophysiological perturbations analyzed by deterministic and stochastic bioelectrical
Javier Cervera1, Michael Levin2,3, Salvador Mafe4,2
1Dept. Termodinàmica, Facultat de Física, Universitat de València, Burjassot, 46100, Spain. javier.cervera@uv.es.
Scientific Reports
|November 11, 2024
Summary
Cells adapt to ion channel disruptions by altering other channels, preventing toxic calcium influx. This study models how cell depolarization triggers compensatory protein expression for long-term adaptation.
Area of Science:
- Cellular electrophysiology
- Biophysics
- Systems biology
Background:
- Cells possess mechanisms to compensate for disruptions in ion channel function.
- Electrophysiological perturbations can lead to detrimental cellular states, such as toxic calcium levels.
Purpose of the Study:
- To simulate and understand the adaptation of multicellular non-excitable cells to external cation channel blockade.
- To investigate the role of compensatory channel expression in maintaining cellular homeostasis.
Main Methods:
- Biophysical modeling of a multicellular aggregate.
- Simulation using deterministic and stochastic algorithms.
- Analysis of cell membrane potential regulation and gene expression coupling.
Main Results:
- Cell depolarization due to cation channel blockade can upregulate compensatory channel protein expression.
- This upregulation resets cell potential, preventing harmful calcium entry.
- Simulations indicate that bioelectrical perturbations can induce long-term biochemical adaptations.
Conclusions:
- Multicellular cells can adapt to electrophysiological stress through compensatory channel mechanisms.
- Short-term electrical changes can drive long-term biochemical adaptations in cell populations.
- Findings are supported by experimental data on planarian flatworm adaptation.
