Electrical Activity of Biomembranes and Vectorization of Intracellular Processes

Abstract

Microtubules (MT) play a key role in the vectorization of intracellular movements. We consider theoretical mechanisms of the influence of intracellular electric fields on directed polymerization and orientation of MT. A generalization of Fromherz' model of self-organization in the ionic channel system of biomembranes is used for a simulation of the interaction between the membrane electric activity and the behavior of submem-brane cytoskeletal components. Numerical experiments show two possible scenarios of the system evolution similar to (1) cortical waves of polymerization of the oocyte cytoskeleton after fertilization and (2) the process of ooplasmic segregation in the zygote of ascidia Clione. A similar interaction between the membrane electric activity and directed polymerization of microtubules can also play a fundamental role in neuronal mechanisms of learning and memory.