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Related Experiment Videos

Voltage-dependent membrane displacements measured by atomic force microscopy

J Mosbacher1, M Langer, J K Hörber

  • 1Department of Cell Biophysics, European Molecular Biology Laboratory, Heidelberg, Germany D-69117, USA.

The Journal of General Physiology
|February 14, 1998
PubMed
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Cell membranes exhibit voltage-dependent movements detected by atomic force microscopy (AFM). These movements, influenced by ion channels, reveal potential physiological roles in cellular electromechanical coupling.

Area of Science:

  • Biophysics
  • Cell Biology
  • Electrophysiology

Background:

  • Cells sense transmembrane potential changes via polar membrane molecules.
  • Electromechanical coupling manifests as ion channel gating and membrane bending (inverse flexoelectric effect).

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate cell membrane motions in an electric field using AFM.
  • To study voltage-dependent conformational changes of ion channels.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized atomic force microscopy (AFM) to observe membrane movements in voltage-clamped HEK293 cells (untransfected and Shaker K+ channel transfected).
  • Applied a +/- 10-mV peak-peak AC carrier stimulus and analyzed movements relative to voltage and holding potential.

Main Results:

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  • Unانtransfected cells showed 0.5-15 nm normal membrane movements tracking voltage (>1 kHz) with a phase lead.
  • Shaker K+ channel transfected cells exhibited similar movements, but these were sensitive to holding potential.
  • Control experiments ruled out artifactual origins from pipettes or AFM tip interactions.

Conclusions:

  • Observed membrane movements are likely generated by the cell membrane itself, potentially via flexoelectric effect in control cells.
  • Channel-specific movements were detected in transfected cells, suggesting voltage-dependent conformational changes.
  • AFM can potentially image membrane components using voltage-dependent movements, which may have physiological consequences during action potentials.