Title:Electric cable: cytoskeleton as an electric transmitter for cancer therapy
VOLUME: 8 ISSUE: 2
Author(s):Deyou Xiao, Chenguo Yao, Chengxiang Li and Liling Tang
Affiliation:College of Bioengineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China.
Keywords:Cytoskeleton, electric, intermediate filaments, microfilaments, microtubules, tensegrity.
Abstract:Cytoskeleton is a major component of living cells consisting of microfilaments, microtubules and intermediate
filaments. It plays a key role in many cell functions such as cell migration, cell division, signal transduction and cell
apoptosis. Researchers have investigated the cytoskeleton by analyzing its molecular components in isolation and
studying its ‘gel’ properties. The proposal of tensegrity model firstly considers the cytoskeleton as a whole architectural
structure to investigate cellular behaviors in response to mechanical stimulation. Furthermore, recent studies have
suggested that cytoskeleton may function as electric cables and plays an important role in cellular responses to electric
fields. In this review, we summarize recent studies about the role of cytoskeleton in view of tensegrity and discuss how
cytoskeleton functions as cables in cellular response to electric fields. Understanding this process will be helpful to find
out the detail of electroporation and other electric effect by application of electric stimulation.
