Electroconformational denaturation of membrane proteins.
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.
Department of Physics, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA. wchen@cas.usf.edu
Wei
W
Chen
D000818:Animals; D004560:Electricity; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000502:physiology*; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D011487:Protein Conformation; D011489:Protein Denaturation
D008565:Membrane Proteins