Potential Difference Across the Nuclear Membrane: A Regulator of Gene Expression?

Abstract

We propose a model for eukaryotic gene regulaion in which a variable electric field at the nuclear periphery, caused by a potential difference across the inner nuclear membrane, controls macroraolecular interactions, including those between DNA and regulatory proteins. Evidence for the existence of a nuclear membrane potential and DNA contact with the nuclear periphery is presented. The suggestion is made that each cell type is characterized by a specific magnitude of nuclear membrane potential.