Membrane potential mediates the cellular response to mechanical pressure

Mechanical forces influence cellular decisions to grow, die, or differentiate, through largely mysterious mechanisms. Separately, changes in resting membrane potential have been observed in development, differentiation, regeneration, and cancer. We demonstrate that membrane potential is an important mediator of cellular response to mechanical pressure. We show that mechanical forces acting on the cell change cellular biomass density, which, in turn, alters membrane potential. Membrane potential then regulates cell number density in epithelia by controlling cell growth, proliferation, and cell elimination. Mechanistically, we show that changes in membrane potential control signaling through the Hippo and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathways and potentially other signaling pathways that originate at the cell membrane. While many molecular interactions are known to affect Hippo signaling, the upstream signal that activates the canonical Hippo pathway at the membrane has previously been elusive. Our results establish membrane potential as an important regulator of growth and tissue homeostasis.