Miller John H, Nawarathna Dharmakeerthi, Warmflash David, Pereira Fred A, Brownell William E
Department of Physics and Texas Center for Superconductivity & Advanced Materials, University of Houston, 4800 Calhoun Road, Houston, Texas 77204-5005 U.S.A.
J Biol Phys. 2005 Dec;31(3-4):465-75. doi: 10.1007/s10867-005-6064-6.
We report on the linear and nonlinear dielectric properties of budding yeast (S. cerevisiae) cells, one strain of which has been genetically modified to express prestin. This motor protein plays a crucial role in the large electromotility exhibited by the outer hair cells of mammalian inner ears. Live cell suspensions exhibit enormous dielectric responses, which can be used to probe metabolic activity, membrane potential, and other properties. The aims of this study are: (1) to compare the dielectric responses of organisms expressing prestin from those of control specimens, and (2) ultimately to further develop dielectric response as a tool to study live cells, proteins, and lipids.
我们报道了出芽酵母（酿酒酵母）细胞的线性和非线性介电特性，其中一个菌株经过基因改造以表达 prestin。这种运动蛋白在哺乳动物内耳外毛细胞表现出的大电运动性中起着关键作用。活细胞悬液表现出巨大的介电响应，可用于探测代谢活性、膜电位和其他特性。本研究的目的是：（1）比较表达 prestin 的生物体与对照样本的介电响应，以及（2）最终进一步将介电响应发展成为研究活细胞、蛋白质和脂质的工具。
