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Electroporation enhances cell membrane peroxidation and luminescence
M Maccarrone1, N Rosato, A F Agrò
1Dipartimento di Medicina Sperimentale e Scienze Biochimiche, Università di Roma Tor Vergata, Italy.
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
|January 5, 1995
Summary
Electroporation, a method using electric fields to permeabilize cell membranes, induces lipid hydroperoxide formation and light emission, suggesting singlet oxygen involvement. Antioxidants did not affect permeability but reduced light emission.
Area of Science:
- Biophysics
- Cell Biology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Electroporation uses electric fields for cell membrane permeabilization, enabling molecule entry.
- It has broad biotechnological applications, including genetic transformation.
- The precise mechanism of membrane electropermeabilization remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the underlying mechanisms of cell membrane electropermeabilization.
- To explore the role of lipid hydroperoxides and singlet oxygen in electroporation.
Main Methods:
- Applying pulsed electric fields to animal and plant cells under conditions compatible with cell survival.
- Measuring lipid hydroperoxide formation in cell membranes.
- Detecting spontaneous light emission (bioluminescence) from cells.
- Assessing the effect of antioxidants on electroporation outcomes.
Main Results:
- Electroporation induced lipid hydroperoxide formation in cell membranes.
- Electric field exposure increased light emission up to 5-fold, correlating with hydroperoxide levels.
- Photon emission primarily occurred in the red spectrum, indicating singlet oxygen involvement.
- Antioxidants did not alter hydroperoxide formation or cell permeability but reduced luminescence.
Conclusions:
- Electroporation involves lipid hydroperoxide formation and singlet oxygen generation.
- These reactive oxygen species may play a role in membrane permeabilization.
- Further research is needed to fully elucidate the electroporation mechanism.