Abstract
The recent success in applying the pulsed electric field (PEF) method to introduce gene material into living cells and to demonstrate the expression of these genes (Wong and Neumann, 1982; Neumann et al., 1982; Potter et al., 1984) has opened up new possibilities in molecular biology and genetic engineering research. Electric modification of cell membrane permeability, or “electroporation,” is believed to be the basis of the DNA entry. No less an accomplishment is the use of PEF to induce fusion of cells when these cells are brought into contact before (Zimmermann and Pilwat, 1978; Zimmermann and Vienken, 1982; Teissie et al., 1982; Berg et al., 1983; Lo et al., 1984) or after (Sowers, 1984, 1986) the PEF treatment. Electroporation, again, is believed to be one factor leading to membrane fusion. These findings have aroused the attention of cell biologists and biophysicists alike. One must realize, however, that the study of the effect of PEF on cell membranes has spanned more than three decades (Cole, 1972; see also Schwan, this volume). The present chapter reviews the physical characteristics of cell membranes that are essential for understanding the electroporation phenomenon and summarizes experiments done in my laboratory in this area.
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Tsong, T.Y. (1989). Electroporation of Cell Membranes. In: Neumann, E., Sowers, A.E., Jordan, C.A. (eds) Electroporation and Electrofusion in Cell Biology. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-2528-2_9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4899-2528-2_9
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