Electroselection in the photosynthetic membrane: polarized luminescence induced by an external electric field

Effect of medium conductivity and composition on the uptake of propidium iodide into electropermeabilized myeloma cells

The effects of ionic composition and conductivity of the medium on electropermeabilization of the plasma membrane of mammalian cells were studied. Temporal and spatial uptake of propidium iodide (PI) into field-treated cells was measured by means of flow cytometry, spectrofluorimetry and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Murine myeloma cells were electropulsed in iso-osmolar solutions. These contained 10-100 micrograms ml-1 PI at different conductivities (0.8-14 mS cm-1) and ionic strengths, adjusted by varying concentrations of K+, Na+, Cl- and SO4(2-). Field-induced incorporation of PI into reversibly permeabilized cells was (almost) independent of ionic composition and strength (at a fixed medium conductivity), but increased dramatically with decreasing medium conductivity at a fixed field strength. The time-course of PI uptake (which apparently reflected the resealing process of the membrane) could be fitted by single-exponential curve (relaxation time about 2 min in the absence of Ca2+) and was independent of medium conductivity and composition. These and other data suggested that the expansion of the 'electroleaks' during the breakdown process is field-controlled and depends, therefore, on the (conductivity-dependent) discharging process of the permeabilized membrane. The threshold field strength for dye uptake increased with increasing K+ concentration (about 0.6 kV cm-1 in K(+)-free, NaCl-containing medium and about 0.9 kV cm-1 in 30 mM KCl-containing medium). Also, the spatial uptake pattern of PI shifted from an asymmetric permeation through the cell hemisphere facing the anode to a more symmetric uptake through both hemispheres. These results suggested that the generated potential is superimposed on the (K(+)-dependent) resting membrane potential. Taking this into account, the breakdown voltage of the membrane was estimated to be about 1 V.

Electroluminescence

An overview is presented of research based on the observation by Arnold and Azzi (1971) (Photochem Photobiol 14: 233-240), that an electric field induces charge-recombination luminescence in a suspension of photosynthetic membrane vesicles. The 'electroluminescence' signals from Photosystems I and II are discussed in relation to the shape of the vesicles and the membrane potentials generated by the externally applied electric field. The use of the electroluminescence amplitude as a probe to study the kinetics and energetics of charge separation, and of its kinetics to monitor the electric-field induced charge recombination process are reviewed. Currently unresolved issues regarding the emission yield of electroluminescence are briefly discussed and the properties are summarized of the unexplained Photosystem II luminescence which is not sensitive to the membrane potential.

Capacitative pulsed electric stimulation of bone cells. Induction of cyclic-AMP changes and DNA synthesis

Pulsed electric stimulation, coupled capacitively to bone cells isolated from rat embryo calvaria, caused changes in the intracellular level of cyclic AMP and enhanced DNA synthesis. The capacitive method of electrical stimulation was characterized in terms of displacement currents (0.7-4.0 A) and voltages (10-54 V/cm) prevailing in the stimulation chamber. Changes, both in cyclic AMP and in incorporation of [3H]thymidine into DNA, were correlated with the strength of the applied electric field. Unlike the mechanical stimulation of bone cells, the electrical stimulus was not mediated by de novo synthesis of prostaglandins. The findings suggest that cyclic-AMP changes, induced by the capacitive electrical stimulation of bone cells, trigger DNA synthesis.