Scientists have discovered a new method for measuring electricity in cells

Electricity is a key component of living organisms.

They are the ones that control the heartbeat and allowBut for decades, it has been impossible to measure the voltage difference between organelles — the membrane structures within a cell — and the rest of the cell.The new technology allowed the researchers to peer into cells to see how many different organelles are usingvoltage to perform functions.

"Scientists have long noticed that the charged dyes used to stain cells get stuckin mitochondria," explained PhD student Anand Saminathan, first author of a paper published injournal Nature Nanotechnology.« But little has been done to investigate the membrane potential of other organelles in living cells."

Krishnan's lab at the University of California, Chicago, specializes in creating tiny sensors that move inside cells and reportThis allows you toResearchers understand how cells work and how they are broken down in diseases or disorders. 

In a new study, they decided to use this technique to study the electrical activity of organelles within living cells.

In the membranes of neurons, there are proteins – ion channels – that actlike a gateway for charged ions that enter and exit the cellPrevious research has shown that organelles haveSimilar ion channels, but scientists weren't sure what role they played.

The new Voltair explorer tool allowsexplore this issue deeper. This is a dedicated DNA-based voltmeter for organelles. It works like a voltmeter, measuring the voltage difference in two different areas within the cell. Voltair can penetrate directly into the cell and access deeper structures.

In their initial researchthe researchers looked for membrane potentials - the difference in voltage within an organelle versus an external one. They found evidence for this potential in several organelles that were previously thought to have no membrane potential at all.

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