“Biological Batteries” Heal Wounds

3d image of yellow bacteria against red and green background

Biological Strategy

Coxiellaceae

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Chemically Generate Flow of Electrons (Redox)

Electron flows, or electron transport, is a critical step in numerous biochemical pathways. For example, the flow of electrons along the electron transport chain between membrane-bound proteins of mitochondria during cellular respiration or the chloroplast during photosynthesis triggers a flow of protons across the same membrane. This flow provides the energy for cellular processes similar to the flow of water across a hydroelectric dam.

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Bacteria

Domain Bacteria (“small staff”): L. acidophilus, Staphylococcus

From inside of our own bodies to the deepest parts of the ocean, bacteria have adapted to almost every possible environment. All bacteria are unicellular, microscopic, and lack a membrane-bound nucleus and organelles, and come in three basic shapes: spherical (cocci), rod (bacilli), and spiral (spirilla). Some strains can be deadly, like Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) while others, like Lactobacillus acidophilus, found in our intestinal microbiome, keep us healthy. Cyanobacteria, also known as blue green algae, caused the Great Oxidation Event 2.4 billion years ago, producing Earth’s first oxygenated atmosphere.

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Cells in tissues foster wound healing by forming "biological batteries" that can generate an extracellular electric field.

“Our daily routines would be impossible without the wonders of electricity. This also applies to the cells in our bodies, each of which generates internal mini-currents to carry out its functions. It is less well known that cells in tissues (for example in our skin) can team up to form ‘biological batteries’ that can generate current upon wounding of the tissue. Zhao et al.¹ now present evidence that this extracellular electric field is the driving force in wound healing, and they uncover signaling pathways that control this biological phenomenon.” (Vanhaesebroeck 2006:453)

Last Updated September 14, 2016

References

Journal article

Charging the batteries to heal wounds through PI3K

Vanhaesebroeck, Bart

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Reference

Journal article

Electrical signals control wound healing through phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase-[gamma] and PTEN

Zhao M; Song B; Pu J; Wada T; Reid B; Tai G; Wang F; Guo A; Walczysko P; Gu Y; Sasaki, T; Suzuki, A; Forrester, JV; Bourne, HR; Devreotes, PN; McCaig, CD; Penninger, JM

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