1
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Pandey SK, Cifra M. Tubulin Vibration Modes Are in the Subterahertz Range, and Their Electromagnetic Absorption Is Affected by Water. J Phys Chem Lett 2024; 15:8334-8342. [PMID: 39110643 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpclett.4c01553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/16/2024]
Abstract
Many proteins are thought to coordinate distant sites in their structures through a concerted action of global structural vibrations. However, the direct experimental spectroscopic detection of these vibration modes is rather elusive. We used normal-mode analysis to explore the dominant vibration modes of an all-atom model of the tubulin protein and described their characteristics using a large ensemble of tubulin structures. We quantified the frequency range of the normal vibrational modes to be in the subterahertz band, specifically between ∼40 and ∼160 GHz. Adding water layers to the model increases the frequencies of the low-frequency modes and narrows the frequency variations of the modes among the protein ensemble. We also showed how the electromagnetic absorption of tubulin vibration modes is affected by vibrational damping. These results contribute to our understanding of tubulin's vibrational and electromagnetic properties and provide a foundation for future attempts to control protein behavior via external electromagnetic fields.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saurabh Kumar Pandey
- Institute of Photonics and Electronics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague 18200, Czechia
| | - Michal Cifra
- Institute of Photonics and Electronics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Prague 18200, Czechia
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2
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Di Gregorio E, Staelens M, Hosseinkhah N, Karimpoor M, Liburd J, Lim L, Shankar K, Tuszyński JA. Raman Spectroscopy Reveals Photobiomodulation-Induced α-Helix to β-Sheet Transition in Tubulins: Potential Implications for Alzheimer's and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases. NANOMATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2024; 14:1093. [PMID: 38998698 PMCID: PMC11243591 DOI: 10.3390/nano14131093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2024] [Revised: 06/03/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 07/14/2024]
Abstract
In small clinical studies, the application of transcranial photobiomodulation (PBM), which typically delivers low-intensity near-infrared (NIR) to treat the brain, has led to some remarkable results in the treatment of dementia and several neurodegenerative diseases. However, despite the extensive literature detailing the mechanisms of action underlying PBM outcomes, the specific mechanisms affecting neurodegenerative diseases are not entirely clear. While large clinical trials are warranted to validate these findings, evidence of the mechanisms can explain and thus provide credible support for PBM as a potential treatment for these diseases. Tubulin and its polymerized state of microtubules have been known to play important roles in the pathology of Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases. Thus, we investigated the effects of PBM on these cellular structures in the quest for insights into the underlying therapeutic mechanisms. In this study, we employed a Raman spectroscopic analysis of the amide I band of polymerized samples of tubulin exposed to pulsed low-intensity NIR radiation (810 nm, 10 Hz, 22.5 J/cm2 dose). Peaks in the Raman fingerprint region (300-1900 cm-1)-in particular, in the amide I band (1600-1700 cm-1)-were used to quantify the percentage of protein secondary structures. Under this band, hidden signals of C=O stretching, belonging to different structures, are superimposed, producing a complex signal as a result. An accurate decomposition of the amide I band is therefore required for the reliable analysis of the conformation of proteins, which we achieved through a straightforward method employing a Voigt profile. This approach was validated through secondary structure analyses of unexposed control samples, for which comparisons with other values available in the literature could be conducted. Subsequently, using this validated method, we present novel findings of statistically significant alterations in the secondary structures of polymerized NIR-exposed tubulin, characterized by a notable decrease in α-helix content and a concurrent increase in β-sheets compared to the control samples. This PBM-induced α-helix to β-sheet transition connects to reduced microtubule stability and the introduction of dynamism to allow for the remodeling and, consequently, refreshing of microtubule structures. This newly discovered mechanism could have implications for reducing the risks associated with brain aging, including neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease, through the introduction of an intervention following this transition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Di Gregorio
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (DIMEAS), Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnic University of Turin, 10129 Turin, Italy
- Department of Physics, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Michael Staelens
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada
- Instituto de Física Corpuscular, CSIC–Universitat de València, Carrer Catedràtic José Beltrán 2, 46980 Paterna, Spain
| | | | | | | | - Lew Lim
- Vielight Inc., Toronto, ON M4Y 2G8, Canada
| | - Karthik Shankar
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 1H9, Canada
| | - Jack A. Tuszyński
- Department of Physics, Faculty of Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2E1, Canada
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (DIMEAS), Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Polytechnic University of Turin, 10129 Turin, Italy
- Department of Data Science and Engineering, Silesian University of Technology, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
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3
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Pio-Lopez L, Levin M. Aging as a loss of morphostatic information: A developmental bioelectricity perspective. Ageing Res Rev 2024; 97:102310. [PMID: 38636560 DOI: 10.1016/j.arr.2024.102310] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2023] [Revised: 02/21/2024] [Accepted: 04/12/2024] [Indexed: 04/20/2024]
Abstract
Maintaining order at the tissue level is crucial throughout the lifespan, as failure can lead to cancer and an accumulation of molecular and cellular disorders. Perhaps, the most consistent and pervasive result of these failures is aging, which is characterized by the progressive loss of function and decline in the ability to maintain anatomical homeostasis and reproduce. This leads to organ malfunction, diseases, and ultimately death. The traditional understanding of aging is that it is caused by the accumulation of molecular and cellular damage. In this article, we propose a complementary view of aging from the perspective of endogenous bioelectricity which has not yet been integrated into aging research. We propose a view of aging as a morphostasis defect, a loss of biophysical prepattern information, encoding anatomical setpoints used for dynamic tissue and organ homeostasis. We hypothesize that this is specifically driven by abrogation of the endogenous bioelectric signaling that normally harnesses individual cell behaviors toward the creation and upkeep of complex multicellular structures in vivo. Herein, we first describe bioelectricity as the physiological software of life, and then identify and discuss the links between bioelectricity and life extension strategies and age-related diseases. We develop a bridge between aging and regeneration via bioelectric signaling that suggests a research program for healthful longevity via morphoceuticals. Finally, we discuss the broader implications of the homologies between development, aging, cancer and regeneration and how morphoceuticals can be developed for aging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Léo Pio-Lopez
- Allen Discovery Center, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA
| | - Michael Levin
- Allen Discovery Center, Tufts University, Medford, MA 02155, USA; Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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4
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Fan W, Yang X, Hu X, Huang R, Shi H, Liu G. A novel conductive microtubule hydrogel for electrical stimulation of chronic wounds based on biological electrical wires. J Nanobiotechnology 2024; 22:258. [PMID: 38755644 PMCID: PMC11097419 DOI: 10.1186/s12951-024-02524-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 05/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Electrical stimulation (ES) is considered a promising therapy for chronic wounds via conductive dressing. However, the lack of a clinically suitable conductive dressing is a serious challenge. In this study, a suitable conductive biomaterial with favorable biocompatibility and conductivity was screened by means of an inherent structure derived from the body based on electrical conduction in vivo. Ions condensed around the surface of the microtubules (MTs) derived from the cell's cytoskeleton are allowed to flow in the presence of potential differences, effectively forming a network of biological electrical wires, which is essential to the bioelectrical communication of cells. We hypothesized that MT dressing could improve chronic wound healing via the conductivity of MTs applied by ES. We first developed an MT-MAA hydrogel by a double cross-linking method using UV and calcium chloride to improve chronic wound healing by ES. In vitro studies showed good conductivity, mechanical properties, biocompatibility, and biodegradability of the MT-MAA hydrogel, as well as an elevated secretion of growth factors with enhanced cell proliferation and migration ability in response to ES. The in vivo experimental results from a full-thickness diabetic wound model revealed rapid wound closure within 7d in C57BL/6J mice, and the wound bed dressed by the MT-MAA hydrogel was shown to have promoted re-epithelization, enhanced angiogenesis, accelerated nerve growth, limited inflammation phases, and improved antibacterial effect under the ES treatment. These preclinical findings suggest that the MT-MAA hydrogel may be an ideal conductive dressing for chronic wound healing. Furthermore, biomaterials based on MTs may be also promising for treating other diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weijing Fan
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhangheng Street, Pu Dong New District, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Xiao Yang
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhangheng Street, Pu Dong New District, Shanghai, 201203, China.
| | - Xiaoming Hu
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhangheng Street, Pu Dong New District, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Renyan Huang
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhangheng Street, Pu Dong New District, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Hongshuo Shi
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhangheng Street, Pu Dong New District, Shanghai, 201203, China.
| | - Guobin Liu
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Shuguang Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Zhangheng Street, Pu Dong New District, Shanghai, 201203, China.
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5
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Nowroz S, Nasrin SR, Kabir AMR, Yamashita T, Kusumoto T, Taira J, Tani M, Ichikawa M, Sada K, Kakugo A. Role of tubulin C-terminal tail on mechanical properties of microtubule. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2024; 706:149761. [PMID: 38479245 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2024.149761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2024] [Revised: 02/29/2024] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 03/24/2024]
Abstract
Tubulin C-terminal tail (CTT) is a disordered segment extended from each tubulin monomer of αβ tubulin heterodimers, the building blocks of microtubules. The tubulin CTT contributes to the cellular function of microtubules such as intracellular transportation by regulating their interaction with other proteins and cell shape regulation by controlling microtubule polymerization dynamics. Although the mechanical integrity of microtubules is crucial for their functions, the role of tubulin CTT on microtubule mechanical properties has remained elusive. In this work, we investigate the role of tubulin CTTs in regulating the mechanical properties of microtubules by estimating the persistence lengths and investigating the buckling behavior of microtubules with and without CTT. We find that microtubules with intact CTTs exhibit twice the rigidity of microtubules lacking tubulin CTTs. Our study will widen the scope of altering microtubule mechanical properties for its application in nano bio-devices and lead to novel therapeutic approaches for neurodegenerative diseases with altered microtubule properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Senjuti Nowroz
- Graduate School of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0810, Japan
| | - Syeda Rubaiya Nasrin
- Department of Physics, Division of Physics and Astronomy, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
| | | | - Takefumi Yamashita
- Laboratory for Systems Biology and Medicine, Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 153-8904, Japan; Deaprtment of Physical Chemistry, School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hoshi University, Tokyo, 142-8501, Japan
| | - Tomoichiro Kusumoto
- Department of Bioscience and Bioinformatics, Graduate School of Computer Science and Systems Engineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology, Iizuka, 820-8502, Japan
| | - Junichi Taira
- Department of Bioscience and Bioinformatics, Graduate School of Computer Science and Systems Engineering, Kyushu Institute of Technology, Iizuka, 820-8502, Japan
| | - Marie Tani
- Department of Physics, Division of Physics and Astronomy, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
| | - Masatoshi Ichikawa
- Department of Physics, Division of Physics and Astronomy, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan
| | - Kazuki Sada
- Graduate School of Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0810, Japan; Faculty of Science, Hokkaido University, Sapporo, 060-0810, Japan
| | - Akira Kakugo
- Department of Physics, Division of Physics and Astronomy, Graduate School of Science, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 606-8502, Japan.
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6
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Cavaglià M, Deriu MA, Tuszynski JA. Toward a holographic brain paradigm: a lipid-centric model of brain functioning. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1302519. [PMID: 38161798 PMCID: PMC10757614 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1302519] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Due to the stimulation of neuronal membrane dipoles by action potentials, under suitable conditions coherent dipole oscillations can be formed. We argue that these dipole oscillations satisfy the weak Bose-Einstein condensate criteria of the Froehlich model of biological coherence. They can subsequently generate electromagnetic fields (EMFs) propagating in the inter-neuronal space. When neighboring neurons fire synchronously, EMFs can create interference patterns and hence form holographic images containing analog information about the sensory inputs that trigger neuronal activity. The mirror pattern projected by EMFs inside the neuron can encode information in the neuronal cytoskeleton. We outline an experimental verification of our hypothesis and its consequences for anesthesia, neurodegenerative diseases, and psychiatric states.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jack A. Tuszynski
- DIMEAS, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
- Department of Data Science and Engineering, The Silesian University of Technology, Gliwice, Poland
- Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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7
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Kinoshita Y, Uchida N. Flow patterns and defect dynamics of active nematic liquid crystals under an electric field. Phys Rev E 2023; 108:014605. [PMID: 37583184 DOI: 10.1103/physreve.108.014605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
The effects of an electric field on the flow patterns and defect dynamics of two-dimensional active nematic liquid crystals are numerically investigated. We found that field-induced director reorientation causes anisotropic active turbulence characterized by enhanced flow perpendicular to the electric field. The average flow speed and its anisotropy are maximized at an intermediate field strength. Topological defects in the anisotropic active turbulence are localized and show characteristic dynamics with simultaneous creation of two pairs of defects. A laning state characterized by stripe domains with alternating flow directions is found at a larger field strength near the transition to the uniformly aligned state. We obtained periodic oscillations between the laning state and active turbulence, which resembles an experimental observation of active nematics subject to anisotropic friction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yutaka Kinoshita
- Department of Physics, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
| | - Nariya Uchida
- Department of Physics, Tohoku University, Sendai 980-8578, Japan
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8
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Gutierrez BC, Cantiello HF, Cantero MDR. The electrical properties of isolated microtubules. Sci Rep 2023; 13:10165. [PMID: 37349383 PMCID: PMC10287629 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-36801-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
This study examines the electrical properties of isolated brain microtubules (MTs), which are long hollow cylinders assembled from αβ-tubulin dimers that form cytoskeletal structures engaged in several functions. MTs are implicated in sensory functions in cilia and flagella and cellular activities that range from cell motility, vesicular traffic, and neuronal processes to cell division in the centrosomes and centrioles. We determined the electrical properties of the MTs with the loose patch clamp technique in either the presence or absence of the MT stabilizer Paclitaxel. We observed electrical oscillations at different holding potentials that responded accordingly in amplitude and polarity. At zero mV in symmetrical ionic conditions, a single MT radiated an electrical power of 10-17 W. The spectral analysis of the time records disclosed a single fundamental peak at 39 Hz in the Paclitaxel-stabilized MTs. However, a richer oscillatory response and two mean conductances were observed in the non-Paclitaxel MTs. The findings evidence that the brain MTs are electrical oscillators that behave as "ionic-based" transistors to generate, propagate, and amplify electrical signals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brenda C Gutierrez
- Laboratorio de Canales Iónicos, Instituto Multidisciplinario de Salud, Tecnología y Desarrollo (IMSaTeD, CONICET-UNSE), Santiago del Estero, Argentina
| | - Horacio F Cantiello
- Laboratorio de Canales Iónicos, Instituto Multidisciplinario de Salud, Tecnología y Desarrollo (IMSaTeD, CONICET-UNSE), Santiago del Estero, Argentina
| | - María Del Rocío Cantero
- Laboratorio de Canales Iónicos, Instituto Multidisciplinario de Salud, Tecnología y Desarrollo (IMSaTeD, CONICET-UNSE), Santiago del Estero, Argentina.
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9
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Kalra A, Benny A, Travis SM, Zizzi EA, Morales-Sanchez A, Oblinsky DG, Craddock TJA, Hameroff SR, MacIver MB, Tuszyński JA, Petry S, Penrose R, Scholes GD. Electronic Energy Migration in Microtubules. ACS CENTRAL SCIENCE 2023; 9:352-361. [PMID: 36968538 PMCID: PMC10037452 DOI: 10.1021/acscentsci.2c01114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2022] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The repeating arrangement of tubulin dimers confers great mechanical strength to microtubules, which are used as scaffolds for intracellular macromolecular transport in cells and exploited in biohybrid devices. The crystalline order in a microtubule, with lattice constants short enough to allow energy transfer between amino acid chromophores, is similar to synthetic structures designed for light harvesting. After photoexcitation, can these amino acid chromophores transfer excitation energy along the microtubule like a natural or artificial light-harvesting system? Here, we use tryptophan autofluorescence lifetimes to probe energy hopping between aromatic residues in tubulin and microtubules. By studying how the quencher concentration alters tryptophan autofluorescence lifetimes, we demonstrate that electronic energy can diffuse over 6.6 nm in microtubules. We discover that while diffusion lengths are influenced by tubulin polymerization state (free tubulin versus tubulin in the microtubule lattice), they are not significantly altered by the average number of protofilaments (13 versus 14). We also demonstrate that the presence of the anesthetics etomidate and isoflurane reduce exciton diffusion. Energy transport as explained by conventional Förster theory (accommodating for interactions between tryptophan and tyrosine residues) does not sufficiently explain our observations. Our studies indicate that microtubules are, unexpectedly, effective light harvesters.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aarat
P. Kalra
- Department
of Chemistry, New Frick Chemistry Building, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey08544, United States
| | - Alfy Benny
- Department
of Chemistry, New Frick Chemistry Building, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey08544, United States
| | - Sophie M. Travis
- Department
of Molecular Biology, Schultz Laboratory, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey08544, United States
| | - Eric A. Zizzi
- Department
of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (DIMEAS), Politecnico di Torino, Torino10129, Italy
| | - Austin Morales-Sanchez
- Department
of Chemistry, New Frick Chemistry Building, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey08544, United States
| | - Daniel G. Oblinsky
- Department
of Chemistry, New Frick Chemistry Building, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey08544, United States
| | - Travis J. A. Craddock
- Departments
of Psychology & Neuroscience, Computer Science, and Clinical Immunology, Nova Southeastern University, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida33314, United States
| | - Stuart R. Hameroff
- Department
of Anesthesiology, Center for Consciousness Studies, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona85721, United States
| | - M. Bruce MacIver
- Department
of Anesthesiology, Stanford University School
of Medicine, Stanford, California94305, United States
| | - Jack A. Tuszyński
- Department
of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (DIMEAS), Politecnico di Torino, Torino10129, Italy
- Department
of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AlbertaT6G 2E1, Canada
- Department
of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AlbertaT6G 1Z2, Canada
| | - Sabine Petry
- Department
of Molecular Biology, Schultz Laboratory, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey08544, United States
| | - Roger Penrose
- Mathematical
Institute, Andrew Wiles Building, University
of Oxford, Radcliffe Observatory Quarter, Woodstock Road, Oxford, OX2 6GG, United
Kingdom
| | - Gregory D. Scholes
- Department
of Chemistry, New Frick Chemistry Building, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey08544, United States
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10
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Microtubules as a potential platform for energy transfer in biological systems: a target for implementing individualized, dynamic variability patterns to improve organ function. Mol Cell Biochem 2023; 478:375-392. [PMID: 35829870 DOI: 10.1007/s11010-022-04513-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Variability characterizes the complexity of biological systems and is essential for their function. Microtubules (MTs) play a role in structural integrity, cell motility, material transport, and force generation during mitosis, and dynamic instability exemplifies the variability in the proper function of MTs. MTs are a platform for energy transfer in cells. The dynamic instability of MTs manifests itself by the coexistence of growth and shortening, or polymerization and depolymerization. It results from a balance between attractive and repulsive forces between tubulin dimers. The paper reviews the current data on MTs and their potential roles as energy-transfer cellular structures and presents how variability can improve the function of biological systems in an individualized manner. The paper presents the option for targeting MTs to trigger dynamic improvement in cell plasticity, regulate energy transfer, and possibly control quantum effects in biological systems. The described system quantifies MT-dependent variability patterns combined with additional personalized signatures to improve organ function in a subject-tailored manner. The platform can regulate the use of MT-targeting drugs to improve the response to chronic therapies. Ongoing trials test the effects of this platform on various disorders.
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11
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Guo W, Ale TA, Sun S, Sanchez JE, Li L. A Comprehensive Study on the Electrostatic Properties of Tubulin-Tubulin Complexes in Microtubules. Cells 2023; 12:cells12020238. [PMID: 36672172 PMCID: PMC9857020 DOI: 10.3390/cells12020238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 12/31/2022] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Microtubules are key players in several stages of the cell cycle and are also involved in the transportation of cellular organelles. Microtubules are polymerized by α/β tubulin dimers with a highly dynamic feature, especially at the plus ends of the microtubules. Therefore, understanding the interactions among tubulins is crucial for characterizing microtubule dynamics. Studying microtubule dynamics can help researchers make advances in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and cancer. In this study, we utilize a series of computational approaches to study the electrostatic interactions at the binding interfaces of tubulin monomers. Our study revealed that among all the four types of tubulin-tubulin binding modes, the electrostatic attractive interactions in the α/β tubulin binding are the strongest while the interactions of α/α tubulin binding in the longitudinal direction are the weakest. Our calculations explained that due to the electrostatic interactions, the tubulins always preferred to form α/β tubulin dimers. The interactions between two protofilaments are the weakest. Thus, the protofilaments are easily separated from each other. Furthermore, the important residues involved in the salt bridges at the binding interfaces of the tubulins are identified, which illustrates the details of the interactions in the microtubule. This study elucidates some mechanistic details of microtubule dynamics and also identifies important residues at the binding interfaces as potential drug targets for the inhibition of cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhan Guo
- Computational Science Program, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79902, USA
| | - Tolulope Ayodeji Ale
- Computational Science Program, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79902, USA
| | - Shengjie Sun
- Computational Science Program, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79902, USA
| | - Jason E. Sanchez
- Computational Science Program, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79902, USA
| | - Lin Li
- Computational Science Program, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79902, USA
- Department of Physics, University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX 79902, USA
- Correspondence:
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12
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Di Gregorio E, Israel S, Staelens M, Tankel G, Shankar K, Tuszyński JA. The distinguishing electrical properties of cancer cells. Phys Life Rev 2022; 43:139-188. [PMID: 36265200 DOI: 10.1016/j.plrev.2022.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
In recent decades, medical research has been primarily focused on the inherited aspect of cancers, despite the reality that only 5-10% of tumours discovered are derived from genetic causes. Cancer is a broad term, and therefore it is inaccurate to address it as a purely genetic disease. Understanding cancer cells' behaviour is the first step in countering them. Behind the scenes, there is a complicated network of environmental factors, DNA errors, metabolic shifts, and electrostatic alterations that build over time and lead to the illness's development. This latter aspect has been analyzed in previous studies, but how the different electrical changes integrate and affect each other is rarely examined. Every cell in the human body possesses electrical properties that are essential for proper behaviour both within and outside of the cell itself. It is not yet clear whether these changes correlate with cell mutation in cancer cells, or only with their subsequent development. Either way, these aspects merit further investigation, especially with regards to their causes and consequences. Trying to block changes at various levels of occurrence or assisting in their prevention could be the key to stopping cells from becoming cancerous. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of the current knowledge regarding the electrical landscape of cells is much needed. We review four essential electrical characteristics of cells, providing a deep understanding of the electrostatic changes in cancer cells compared to their normal counterparts. In particular, we provide an overview of intracellular and extracellular pH modifications, differences in ionic concentrations in the cytoplasm, transmembrane potential variations, and changes within mitochondria. New therapies targeting or exploiting the electrical properties of cells are developed and tested every year, such as pH-dependent carriers and tumour-treating fields. A brief section regarding the state-of-the-art of these therapies can be found at the end of this review. Finally, we highlight how these alterations integrate and potentially yield indications of cells' malignancy or metastatic index.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisabetta Di Gregorio
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica e Aerospaziale (DIMEAS), Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi, 24, Torino, 10129, TO, Italy; Autem Therapeutics, 35 South Main Street, Hanover, 03755, NH, USA
| | - Simone Israel
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica e Aerospaziale (DIMEAS), Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi, 24, Torino, 10129, TO, Italy; Autem Therapeutics, 35 South Main Street, Hanover, 03755, NH, USA
| | - Michael Staelens
- Department of Physics, University of Alberta, 11335 Saskatchewan Drive NW, Edmonton, T6G 2E1, AB, Canada
| | - Gabriella Tankel
- Department of Mathematics & Statistics, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, L8S 4K1, ON, Canada
| | - Karthik Shankar
- Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, 9211 116 Street NW, Edmonton, T6G 1H9, AB, Canada
| | - Jack A Tuszyński
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica e Aerospaziale (DIMEAS), Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi, 24, Torino, 10129, TO, Italy; Department of Physics, University of Alberta, 11335 Saskatchewan Drive NW, Edmonton, T6G 2E1, AB, Canada; Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, 11560 University Avenue, Edmonton, T6G 1Z2, AB, Canada.
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13
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Tuszynski JA, Costa F. Low-energy amplitude-modulated radiofrequency electromagnetic fields as a systemic treatment for cancer: Review and proposed mechanisms of action. FRONTIERS IN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY 2022; 4:869155. [PMID: 36157082 PMCID: PMC9498185 DOI: 10.3389/fmedt.2022.869155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Exposure to Low-Energy Amplitude-Modulated Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields (LEAMRFEMF) represents a new treatment option for patients with advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (AHCC). We focus on two medical devices that modulate the amplitude of a 27.12 MHz carrier wave to generate envelope waves in the low Hz to kHz range. Each provides systemic exposure to LEAMRFEMF via an intrabuccal antenna. This technology differs from so-called Tumour Treating Fields because it uses different frequency ranges, uses electromagnetic rather than electric fields, and delivers energy systemically rather than locally. The AutemDev also deploys patient-specific frequencies. LEAMRFEMF devices use 100-fold less power than mobile phones and have no thermal effects on tissue. Tumour type-specific or patient-specific treatment frequencies can be derived by measuring haemodynamic changes induced by exposure to LEAMRFEMF. These specific frequencies inhibited growth of human cancer cell lines in vitro and in mouse xenograft models. In uncontrolled prospective clinical trials in patients with AHCC, minorities of patients experienced complete or partial tumour responses. Pooled comparisons showed enhanced overall survival in treated patients compared to historical controls. Mild transient somnolence was the only notable treatment-related adverse event. We hypothesize that intracellular oscillations of charged macromolecules and ion flows couple resonantly with LEAMRFEMF. This resonant coupling appears to disrupt cell division and subcellular trafficking of mitochondria. We provide an estimate of the contribution of the electromagnetic effects to the overall energy balance of an exposed cell by calculating the power delivered to the cell, and the energy dissipated through the cell due to EMF induction of ionic flows along microtubules. We then compare this with total cellular metabolic energy production and conclude that energy delivered by LEAMRFEMF may provide a beneficial shift in cancer cell metabolism away from aberrant glycolysis. Further clinical research may confirm that LEAMRFEMF has therapeutic value in AHCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jack A. Tuszynski
- Division of Experimental Oncology, Department of Oncology, Cross Cancer Institute, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica e Aerospaziale, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy
- Autem Therapeutics, Hanover, NH, United States
| | - Frederico Costa
- Autem Therapeutics, Hanover, NH, United States
- Oncology Department, Hospital Sírio-Libanês, São Paulo, Brazil
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14
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Staelens M, Di Gregorio E, Kalra AP, Le HT, Hosseinkhah N, Karimpoor M, Lim L, Tuszyński JA. Near-Infrared Photobiomodulation of Living Cells, Tubulin, and Microtubules In Vitro. FRONTIERS IN MEDICAL TECHNOLOGY 2022; 4:871196. [PMID: 35600165 PMCID: PMC9115106 DOI: 10.3389/fmedt.2022.871196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
We report the results of experimental investigations involving photobiomodulation (PBM) of living cells, tubulin, and microtubules in buffer solutions exposed to near-infrared (NIR) light emitted from an 810 nm LED with a power density of 25 mW/cm2 pulsed at a frequency of 10 Hz. In the first group of experiments, we measured changes in the alternating current (AC) ionic conductivity in the 50–100 kHz range of HeLa and U251 cancer cell lines as living cells exposed to PBM for 60 min, and an increased resistance compared to the control cells was observed. In the second group of experiments, we investigated the stability and polymerization of microtubules under exposure to PBM. The protein buffer solution used was a mixture of Britton-Robinson buffer (BRB aka PEM) and microtubule cushion buffer. Exposure of Taxol-stabilized microtubules (~2 μM tubulin) to the LED for 120 min resulted in gradual disassembly of microtubules observed in fluorescence microscopy images. These results were compared to controls where microtubules remained stable. In the third group of experiments, we performed turbidity measurements throughout the tubulin polymerization process to quantify the rate and amount of polymerization for PBM-exposed tubulin vs. unexposed tubulin samples, using tubulin resuspended to final concentrations of ~ 22.7 μM and ~ 45.5 μM in the same buffer solution as before. Compared to the unexposed control samples, absorbance measurement results demonstrated a slower rate and reduced overall amount of polymerization in the less concentrated tubulin samples exposed to PBM for 30 min with the parameters mentioned above. Paradoxically, the opposite effect was observed in the 45.5 μM tubulin samples, demonstrating a remarkable increase in the polymerization rates and total polymer mass achieved after exposure to PBM. These results on the effects of PBM on living cells, tubulin, and microtubules are novel, further validating the modulating effects of PBM and contributing to designing more effective PBM parameters. Finally, potential consequences for the use of PBM in the context of neurodegenerative diseases are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Staelens
- Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | | | - Aarat P. Kalra
- Scholes Lab, Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States
| | - Hoa T. Le
- Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | | | | | - Lew Lim
- Vielight Inc., Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jack A. Tuszyński
- Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- *Correspondence: Jack A. Tuszyński
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15
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Chierici F, Dogariu A, Tuszynski JA. Computational Investigation of the Ordered Water System Around Microtubules: Implications for Protein Interactions. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:884043. [PMID: 35547397 PMCID: PMC9083000 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.884043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 04/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The existence of an exclusion zone in which particles of a colloidal suspension in water are repelled from hydrophilic surfaces has been experimentally demonstrated in numerous studies, especially in the case of Nafion surfaces. Various explanations have been proposed for the origin of this phenomenon, which is not completely understood yet. In particular, the existence of a fourth phase of water has been proposed by G. Pollack and if this theory is proven correct, its implications on our understanding of the properties of water, especially in biological systems, would be profound and could give rise to new medical therapies. Here, a simple approach based on the linearized Poisson-Boltzmann equation is developed in order to study the repulsive forces mediated by ordered water and involving the following interacting biomolecules: 1) microtubule and a tubulin dimer, 2) two tubulin dimers and 3) a tubulin sheet and a tubulin dimer. The choice of microtubules in this study is motivated because they could be a good candidate for the generation of an exclusion zone in the cell and these models could be a starting point for detailed experimental investigations of this phenomenon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Chierici
- DIMEAS, Politecnico di Torino, Torino, Italy
- CREOL, The College of Optics and Photonics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States
- *Correspondence: Francesco Chierici,
| | - Aristide Dogariu
- CREOL, The College of Optics and Photonics, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States
| | - Jack A. Tuszynski
- DIMEAS, Politecnico di Torino, Torino, Italy
- Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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16
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Havelka D, Zhernov I, Teplan M, Lánský Z, Chafai DE, Cifra M. Lab-on-chip microscope platform for electro-manipulation of a dense microtubules network. Sci Rep 2022; 12:2462. [PMID: 35165315 PMCID: PMC8844285 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-06255-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Pulsed electric field (PEF) technology is promising for the manipulation of biomolecular components and has potential applications in biomedicine and bionanotechnology. Microtubules, nanoscopic tubular structures self-assembled from protein tubulin, serve as important components in basic cellular processes as well as in engineered biomolecular nanosystems. Recent studies in cell-based models have demonstrated that PEF affects the cytoskeleton, including microtubules. However, the direct effects of PEF on microtubules are not clear. In this work, we developed a lab-on-a-chip platform integrated with a total internal reflection fluorescence microscope system to elucidate the PEF effects on a microtubules network mimicking the cell-like density of microtubules. The designed platform enables the delivery of short (microsecond-scale), high-field-strength (\documentclass[12pt]{minimal}
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\begin{document}$$\le$$\end{document}≤ 25 kV/cm) electric pulses far from the electrode/electrolyte interface. We showed that microsecond PEF is capable of overcoming the non-covalent microtubule bonding force to the substrate and translocating the microtubules. This microsecond PEF effect combined with macromolecular crowding led to aggregation of microtubules. Our results expand the toolbox of bioelectronics technologies and electromagnetic tools for the manipulation of biomolecular nanoscopic systems and contribute to the understanding of microsecond PEF effects on a microtubule cytoskeleton.
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17
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Kalra AP, Eakins BB, Vagin SI, Wang H, Patel SD, Winter P, Aminpour M, Lewis JD, Rezania V, Shankar K, Scholes GD, Tuszynski JA, Rieger B, Meldrum A. A Nanometric Probe of the Local Proton Concentration in Microtubule-Based Biophysical Systems. NANO LETTERS 2022; 22:517-523. [PMID: 34962401 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.1c04487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
We show a double-functional fluorescence sensing paradigm that can retrieve nanometric pH information on biological structures. We use this method to measure the extent of protonic condensation around microtubules, which are protein polymers that play many roles crucial to cell function. While microtubules are believed to have a profound impact on the local cytoplasmic pH, this has been hard to show experimentally due to the limitations of conventional sensing techniques. We show that subtle changes in the local electrochemical surroundings cause a double-functional sensor to transform its spectrum, thus allowing a direct measurement of the protonic concentration at the microtubule surface. Microtubules concentrate protons by as much as one unit on the pH scale, indicating a charge storage role within the cell via the localized ionic condensation. These results confirm the bioelectrical significance of microtubules and reveal a sensing concept that can deliver localized biochemical information on intracellular structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aarat P Kalra
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States of America
| | - Boden B Eakins
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, 9107-116 St, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2 V4, Canada
| | - Sergei I Vagin
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Lichtenbergstraße 4, 85747 Garching bei München, Germany
| | - Hui Wang
- Department of Physics, University of Alberta, 11335 Saskatchewan Dr NW, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1, Canada
| | - Sahil D Patel
- Electrical and Computer Engineering Department, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, United States of America
| | - Philip Winter
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1Z2, Canada
| | - Maral Aminpour
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, 9107-116 St, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2 V4, Canada
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1Z2, Canada
| | - John D Lewis
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1Z2, Canada
| | - Vahid Rezania
- Department of Physical Sciences, MacEwan University, Edmonton, Alberta T5J 4S2, Canada
| | - Karthik Shankar
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, 9107-116 St, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2 V4, Canada
| | - Gregory D Scholes
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544, United States of America
| | - Jack A Tuszynski
- Department of Physics, University of Alberta, 11335 Saskatchewan Dr NW, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1, Canada
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 1Z2, Canada
- Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (DIMEAS), Politecnico di Torino, Torino 10129, Italy
| | - Bernhard Rieger
- Department of Chemistry, Technical University of Munich, Lichtenbergstraße 4, 85747 Garching bei München, Germany
| | - Alkiviathes Meldrum
- Department of Physics, University of Alberta, 11335 Saskatchewan Dr NW, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1, Canada
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18
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Eakins BB, Patel SD, Kalra AP, Rezania V, Shankar K, Tuszynski JA. Modeling Microtubule Counterion Distributions and Conductivity Using the Poisson-Boltzmann Equation. Front Mol Biosci 2021; 8:650757. [PMID: 33842549 PMCID: PMC8027483 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2021.650757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Microtubules are highly negatively charged proteins which have been shown to behave as bio-nanowires capable of conducting ionic currents. The electrical characteristics of microtubules are highly complicated and have been the subject of previous work; however, the impact of the ionic concentration of the buffer solution on microtubule electrical properties has often been overlooked. In this work we use the non-linear Poisson Boltzmann equation, modified to account for a variable permittivity and a Stern Layer, to calculate counterion concentration profiles as a function of the ionic concentration of the buffer. We find that for low-concentration buffers ([KCl] from 10 μM to 10 mM) the counterion concentration is largely independent of the buffer's ionic concentration, but for physiological-concentration buffers ([KCl] from 100 to 500 mM) the counterion concentration varies dramatically with changes in the buffer's ionic concentration. We then calculate the conductivity of microtubule-counterion complexes, which are found to be more conductive than the buffer when the buffer's ionic concentrations is less than ≈100 mM and less conductive otherwise. These results demonstrate the importance of accounting for the ionic concentration of the buffer when analyzing microtubule electrical properties both under laboratory and physiological conditions. We conclude by calculating the basic electrical parameters of microtubules over a range of ionic buffer concentrations applicable to nanodevice and medical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boden B Eakins
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Sahil D Patel
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, United States
| | - Aarat P Kalra
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, United States
| | - Vahid Rezania
- Department of Physical Sciences, MacEwan University, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Karthik Shankar
- Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Jack A Tuszynski
- Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada.,Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Politecnico di Torino, Turin, Italy.,Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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19
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Baluška F, Miller WB, Reber AS. Biomolecular Basis of Cellular Consciousness via Subcellular Nanobrains. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22052545. [PMID: 33802617 PMCID: PMC7961929 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22052545] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cells emerged at the very beginning of life on Earth and, in fact, are coterminous with life. They are enclosed within an excitable plasma membrane, which defines the outside and inside domains via their specific biophysical properties. Unicellular organisms, such as diverse protists and algae, still live a cellular life. However, fungi, plants, and animals evolved a multicellular existence. Recently, we have developed the cellular basis of consciousness (CBC) model, which proposes that all biological awareness, sentience and consciousness are grounded in general cell biology. Here we discuss the biomolecular structures and processes that allow for and maintain this cellular consciousness from an evolutionary perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- František Baluška
- Institute of Cellular and Molecular Botany, University of Bonn, 53115 Bonn, Germany
- Correspondence:
| | | | - Arthur S. Reber
- Department of Psychology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z4, Canada;
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