Display Settings:

Format

Send to:

Choose Destination
We are sorry, but NCBI web applications do not support your browser and may not function properly. More information
    Biophys J. 2006 Jun 15;90(12):4639-43. Epub 2006 Mar 24.

    A biopolymer transistor: electrical amplification by microtubules.

    Source

    Department of Physics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2J1, Canada. apriel@phys.ualberta.ca

    Abstract

    Microtubules (MTs) are important cytoskeletal structures engaged in a number of specific cellular activities, including vesicular traffic, cell cyto-architecture and motility, cell division, and information processing within neuronal processes. MTs have also been implicated in higher neuronal functions, including memory and the emergence of "consciousness". How MTs handle and process electrical information, however, is heretofore unknown. Here we show new electrodynamic properties of MTs. Isolated, taxol-stabilized MTs behave as biomolecular transistors capable of amplifying electrical information. Electrical amplification by MTs can lead to the enhancement of dynamic information, and processivity in neurons can be conceptualized as an "ionic-based" transistor, which may affect, among other known functions, neuronal computational capabilities.

    PMID:
    16565058
    [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]
    PMCID:
    PMC1471843
    Free PMC Article

    Images from this publication.See all images (3)Free text

    FIGURE 2
    FIGURE 1
    FIGURE 3

      Supplemental Content

      Icon for Elsevier Science Icon for PubMed Central

      Save items

      Recent activity

      Your browsing activity is empty.

      Activity recording is turned off.

      Turn recording back on

      See more...
      Write to the Help Desk