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Electroconformational Denaturation of Membrane Proteins
Author(s) -
CHEN WEI
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
annals of the new york academy of sciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.712
H-Index - 248
eISSN - 1749-6632
pISSN - 0077-8923
DOI - 10.1196/annals.1363.028
Subject(s) - electroporation , biophysics , membrane protein , membrane , chemistry , membrane potential , transmembrane protein , cell membrane , electric field , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , biology , receptor , gene , physics , quantum mechanics
A bstract : Because of high electrical impedance of cell membrane, when living cells are exposed to an external electric field, the field‐induced voltage drops will mainly occur on the cell membrane. In addition to Joule heating damage and electroporation of the cell membrane, the electric field‐induced supraphysiological transmembrane potential may inevitably damage the membrane proteins, especially the voltage‐dependent membrane proteins. That is because the charged particles in the amino acid of the membrane proteins and, in particular, the voltage‐sensors in the voltage‐dependent membrane proteins are vulnerable to the membrane potential. An intensive, brief electric shock may induce electroconformational damage or denaturation in the membrane proteins. As a result, the cell functions are significantly reduced. This electric field‐induced denaturation in the membrane proteins strongly suggests a new underlying mechanism involved in electrical injury.