The applicant's main objectives are to understand the mechanism(s) of the electrically-induced piconewton level force generation in cell membranes and the molecular basis for modulation of this process through membrane electrical/mechanical properties and the interaction of transmembrane proteins such as prestin and anionic amphipathic agents such as solicyate. Specific objectives include: (1) Investigate the effects of membrane surface charge and tension on electrically-induced force generation in the absence of both prestin and the cytoskeleton; (2) Investigate the contribution of prestin to the overall electrically-induced force generation using model wildtype human embryonic kidney (HEK) cells, and HEK cells transfected with: (a) prestin, (b) mutated prestin, and (c) other proteins closely-related to prestin; and (3) Investigate electromechanical reciprocity using a voltage sensitive fluorescent dye incorporated into the membrane.
