The Plasma Membrane Potential and the Organization of the Actin Cytoskeleton of Epithelial Cells

The establishment and maintenance of the polarized epithelial phenotype require a characteristic organization of the cytoskeletal components. There are many cellular effectors involved in the regulation of the cytoskeleton of epithelial cells. Recently, modifications in the plasma membrane potential...

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Main Authors: Silvia Chifflet, Julio A. Hernández
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2012-01-01
Series:International Journal of Cell Biology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/121424
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author Silvia Chifflet
Julio A. Hernández
author_facet Silvia Chifflet
Julio A. Hernández
author_sort Silvia Chifflet
collection DOAJ
description The establishment and maintenance of the polarized epithelial phenotype require a characteristic organization of the cytoskeletal components. There are many cellular effectors involved in the regulation of the cytoskeleton of epithelial cells. Recently, modifications in the plasma membrane potential (PMP) have been suggested to participate in the modulation of the cytoskeletal organization of epithelia. Here, we review evidence showing that changes in the PMP of diverse epithelial cells promote characteristic modifications in the cytoskeletal organization, with a focus on the actin cytoskeleton. The molecular paths mediating these effects may include voltage-sensitive integral membrane proteins and/or peripheral proteins sensitive to surface potentials. The voltage dependence of the cytoskeletal organization seems to have implications in several physiological processes, including epithelial wound healing and apoptosis.
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spelling doaj-art-91ede8fad4194e098aacf12690978be72025-08-20T03:37:07ZengWileyInternational Journal of Cell Biology1687-88761687-88842012-01-01201210.1155/2012/121424121424The Plasma Membrane Potential and the Organization of the Actin Cytoskeleton of Epithelial CellsSilvia Chifflet0Julio A. Hernández1Departamento de Bioquímica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de la República, Gral. Flores 2125, 11800 Montevideo, UruguaySección Biofísica, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de la República, Iguá 4225 esq. Mataojo, 11400 Montevideo, UruguayThe establishment and maintenance of the polarized epithelial phenotype require a characteristic organization of the cytoskeletal components. There are many cellular effectors involved in the regulation of the cytoskeleton of epithelial cells. Recently, modifications in the plasma membrane potential (PMP) have been suggested to participate in the modulation of the cytoskeletal organization of epithelia. Here, we review evidence showing that changes in the PMP of diverse epithelial cells promote characteristic modifications in the cytoskeletal organization, with a focus on the actin cytoskeleton. The molecular paths mediating these effects may include voltage-sensitive integral membrane proteins and/or peripheral proteins sensitive to surface potentials. The voltage dependence of the cytoskeletal organization seems to have implications in several physiological processes, including epithelial wound healing and apoptosis.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/121424
spellingShingle Silvia Chifflet
Julio A. Hernández
The Plasma Membrane Potential and the Organization of the Actin Cytoskeleton of Epithelial Cells
International Journal of Cell Biology
title The Plasma Membrane Potential and the Organization of the Actin Cytoskeleton of Epithelial Cells
title_full The Plasma Membrane Potential and the Organization of the Actin Cytoskeleton of Epithelial Cells
title_fullStr The Plasma Membrane Potential and the Organization of the Actin Cytoskeleton of Epithelial Cells
title_full_unstemmed The Plasma Membrane Potential and the Organization of the Actin Cytoskeleton of Epithelial Cells
title_short The Plasma Membrane Potential and the Organization of the Actin Cytoskeleton of Epithelial Cells
title_sort plasma membrane potential and the organization of the actin cytoskeleton of epithelial cells
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2012/121424
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