Bundles of Brain Microtubules Generate Electrical Oscillations

" ... Under intracellular-like conditions, voltage-clamped MT bundles displayed electrical oscillations with a prominent fundamental frequency at 39 Hz that progressed through various periodic regimes." {Credits 1}

" ... Electrical oscillations by MT bundles may also play a role in other cell functions. Long-distance recruitment of molecules [40] could be reulated by coherent MT oscillations as previously postulated by Fröhlich’s theory, where energetically stimulated oscillators would induce coherent excitations [41]. This is particularly relevant in intracellular physiology as electrodynamic but not electrostatic interactions would exert long distance effects without screening [12]. Further, different MT structures may also have distinct properties relying on their complexity and specific geometry. Centrosomes, which are relevant to cell division, contain two perpendicular centrioles each composed of nine MT triplets. Local electric fields generated by electrical oscillations within centrioles, would have distinct electrical properties that may aid in the mechanisms of centrosome separation and bipolar spindle body assembly. Motor proteins such as kinesins and dyneins that aid in centrosome separation and spindle assembly, require a close proximity to MT structures to efficiently generate the required pulling forces. Thus, electrical activity by MT bundles may provide an efficient means to regulating these interactions." {Credits 1}

{Credits 1} 🎪 Cantero, M.d.R., Villa Etchegoyen, C., Perez, P.L. et al. Bundles of Brain Microtubules Generate Electrical Oscillations. Sci Rep 8, 11899 (2018) doi:10.1038/s41598-018-30453-2. © 2018 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0.