title: Electroporating fields target oxidatively damaged areas in the cell membrane.
abstract: Reversible electropermeabilization (electroporation) is widely used to facilitate the introduction of genetic material and pharmaceutical agents into living cells. Although considerable knowledge has been gained from the study of real and simulated model membranes in electric fields, efforts to optimize electroporation protocols are limited by a lack of detailed understanding of the molecular basis for the electropermeabilization of the complex biomolecular assembly that forms the plasma membrane. We show here, with results from both molecular dynamics simulations and experiments with living cells, that the oxidation of membrane components enhances the susceptibility of the membrane to electropermeabilization. Manipulation of the level of oxidative stress in cell suspensions and in tissues may lead to more efficient permeabilization procedures in the laboratory and in clinical applications such as electrochemotherapy and electrotransfection-mediated gene therapy.
authors: Ming Hsieh Department of Electrical Engineering, Viterbi School of Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California, United States of America. vernier@mosis.com
authors: P Thomas
authors: PT
authors: Vernier
authors: Zachary A
authors: ZA
authors: Levine
authors: Yu-Hsuan
authors: YH
authors: Wu
authors: Vanessa
authors: V
authors: Joubert
authors: Matthew J
authors: MJ
authors: Ziegler
authors: Lluis M
authors: LM
authors: Mir
authors: D Peter
authors: DP
authors: Tieleman
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D003198:Computer Simulation; D053672:Electrochemotherapy / Q000379:methods; D018274:Electroporation / Q000379:methods*; D005583:Fourier Analysis; D015316:Genetic Therapy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D019169:Jurkat Cells; D008051:Lipid Bilayers / Q000737:chemistry; D008055:Lipids / Q000737:chemistry; D008856:Microscopy, Fluorescence / Q000379:methods; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008055:Lipids; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; C055402:1-palmitoyl-2-linoleoylphosphatidylcholine; D010100:Oxygen