Author: McLaughlin KA1, Levin M2
Affiliation: <sup>1</sup>Allen Discovery Center, Department of Biology, Tufts University, 200 Boston Ave., Suite 4700, Medford, MA 02155, United States. Electronic address: kelly.mclaughlin@tufts.edu.
<sup>2</sup>Allen Discovery Center, Department of Biology, Tufts University, 200 Boston Ave., Suite 4700, Medford, MA 02155, United States.
Conference/Journal: Dev Biol.
Date published: 2018 Jan 15
Other:
Volume ID: 433 , Issue ID: 2 , Pages: 177-189 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2017.08.032. Epub 2017 Dec 25. , Word Count: 206
The ability to control pattern formation is critical for the both the embryonic development of complex structures as well as for the regeneration/repair of damaged or missing tissues and organs. In addition to chemical gradients and gene regulatory networks, endogenous ion flows are key regulators of cell behavior. Not only do bioelectric cues provide information needed for the initial development of structures, they also enable the robust restoration of normal pattern after injury. In order to expand our basic understanding of morphogenetic processes responsible for the repair of complex anatomy, we need to identify the roles of endogenous voltage gradients, ion flows, and electric fields. In complement to the current focus on molecular genetics, decoding the information transduced by bioelectric cues enhances our knowledge of the dynamic control of growth and pattern formation. Recent advances in science and technology place us in an exciting time to elucidate the interplay between molecular-genetic inputs and important biophysical cues that direct the creation of tissues and organs. Moving forward, these new insights enable additional approaches to direct cell behavior and may result in profound advances in augmentation of regenerative capacity.
KEYWORDS: Bioelectricity; Ion channel; Patterning; Resting potential; Voltage
PMID: 29291972 PMCID: PMC5753428 [Available on 2019-01-15] DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2017.08.032