title: Nonlinear impedance of whole cells near an electrode as a probe of mitochondrial activity.
abstract: By simultaneously measuring the bulk media and electrode interface voltages of a yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) suspension subjected to an AC voltage, a yeast-dependent nonlinear response was found only near the current injection electrodes. Computer simulation of yeast near a current injection electrode found an enhanced voltage drop across the yeast near the electrode due to slowed charging of the electrode interfacial capacitance. This voltage drop is sufficient to induce conformation change in membrane proteins. Disruption of the mitochondrial electron transport chain is found to significantly change the measured nonlinear current response, suggesting nonlinear impedance can be used as a non-invasive probe of cellular metabolic activity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Texas Center for Superconductivity, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA. apalanisami@uh.edu.
authors.forename: Akilan
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palanisami
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Texas Center for Superconductivity, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA. gmercier@central.uh.edu.
authors.forename: George T
authors.initials: GT
authors.lastname: Mercier
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Texas Center for Superconductivity, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA. jie.fang@mail.uh.edu.
authors.forename: Jie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Texas Center for Superconductivity, University of Houston, Houston, TX 77204, USA. jhmiller@uh.edu.
authors.forename: John H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Miller