Bioelectrical understanding and engineering of cell biology

• Type of Material: Article
• Authors: Zoe Schofield, University of Warwick; Gabriel N. Meloni, University of Warwick; Peter Tran, Northwestern University; Christian Zerfass, University of Warwick; Giovanni Sena, Imperial College London; Yoshikatsu Hayashi, University of Reading; Murray Grant, University of Warwick; Sonia A. Contera, University of Oxford; Shelley D. Minteer, University of Utah; Minsu Kim, Emory University; Arthur Prindle, Northwestern University; Paulo Rocha, University of Bath; Mustafa B. A. Djamgoz, Imperial College London; Teuta Pilizota, University of Edinburgh; Patrick R. Unwin, University of Warwick; Munehiro Asally, University of Warwick; Orkun S. Soyer, University of Warwick
• Language: English
• Date: 2020-05-27
• Publisher: The Royal Society Publishing
• Publication Version: Final Published Version
• Copyright Statement: © 2020 The Authors.
• License: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International
• Final Published Version (URL): http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2020.0013
• Title of Journal or Parent Work: Journal of the Royal Society: Interface
• Volume: 17
• Issue: 166
• Start Page: 20200013
• End Page: 20200013
• Grant/Funding Information: We recognize funding for the aforementioned workshop from the University of Warwick, and the UK's Biological and Biotechnological Sciences (grant no. BB/S506783/1) and Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Councils.
• Keywords: bioelectricity; Multidisciplinary Sciences; Science & Technology; cell biophysics; Long distance; Proliferation; cell physiology; Membrane potentials; Science & Technology - Other Topics; Living cells; electrochemistry; Escherichia coli; Growth; Oscillations; Quantitative visualization; Overflow metabolism; bioelectrical cell biology; Electrical signals
• Research Categories: Biology, Cell; Physics, Electricity and Magnetism; Biology, Physiology; Biophysics, Medical

Abstract

The last five decades of molecular and systems biology research have provided unprecedented insights into the molecular and genetic basis of many cellular processes. Despite these insights, however, it is arguable that there is still only limited predictive understanding of cell behaviours. In particular, the basis of heterogeneity in single-cell behaviour and the initiation of many different metabolic, transcriptional or mechanical responses to environmental stimuli remain largely unexplained. To go beyond the status quo, the understanding of cell behaviours emerging from molecular genetics must be complemented with physical and physiological ones, focusing on the intracellular and extracellular conditions within and around cells. Here, we argue that such a combination of genetics, physics and physiology can be grounded on a bioelectrical conceptualization of cells. We motivate the reasoning behind such a proposal and describe examples where a bioelectrical view has been shown to, or can, provide predictive biological understanding. In addition, we discuss how this view opens up novel ways to control cell behaviours by electrical and electrochemical means, setting the stage for the emergence of bioelectrical engineering.