Cells buzz with electricity, almost like they have their own little power sources. Researchers at the University of Houston and Rutgers University are exploring how tiny ripples in the fatty membranes of our cells could generate voltages. These voltages might actually fuel essential biological processes.
The fluctuations in question are not new; they’ve been studied before. They occur due to proteins at work inside the cell and the breakdown of adenosine triphosphate (ATP), which is vital for energy transport. This fresh research suggests that these membrane movements can produce enough electric charge for crucial tasks.
“Cells are active, not just sitting there,” the researchers explain in their paper. They discovered that these active movements, combined with a principle called flexoelectricity, can create voltage differences across cell membranes. This, in turn, helps transport ions, the charged particles that influence many bodily functions.
Flexoelectricity is an interesting phenomenon where stretching a material generates voltage. The constant bending of cell membranes, influenced by heat, could mean there’s potential energy to tap into. Typically, these voltages would cancel each other out in a balanced environment, but cells are lively, constantly bustling with internal activity.
The researchers calculated that flexoelectricity might produce voltage differences of up to 90 millivolts. That’s enough power to trigger a neuron to fire. Such electrical energy could help move ions, essential for muscle movements and sensory signals. These charges can appear in milliseconds, aligning perfectly with how quickly signals travel in nerve cells.
The implications are exciting. If these cellular ripples can enhance voltage and ion movement, they might explain larger biological processes too. Future research could uncover how this effect scales up to influence tissues made of many cells working together.
Interestingly, the researchers also propose that these natural electricity-generating mechanisms could inspire new technologies, like artificial intelligence networks and synthetic materials. Understanding how neurons operate at the molecular level might lead to breakthroughs in both brain science and bio-inspired tech.
This finding opens new doors in cell biology and technology. It suggests that nature’s intricate designs can be a guide for innovation in human-made systems.
For more detailed information, you can check out the full study in PNAS Nexus here.
Source link
MSFT Content
