Sparks of life: The shocking role of bioelectricity in pattern formation

Abstract

The role of bioelectricity in living systems has been studied for a long time. Now, with the development of novel molecular tools, advancements in fields such as machine learning, and the ever-increasing computing power, there is an increased capacity to research the significance of bioelectricity in greater detail than ever before. The prevailing belief for spatial gradient formation during morphogenesis is that only biochemical molecules are involved in this process. However, it could be argued that bioelectric gradients also provide positional information to cells during development. Therefore, by exploring the field of developmental bioelectricity, an integration between neurobiology and developmental biology, the goal is to foster a broader perspective on cellular communication and manipulation of cellular behaviour. Spatial gradient formation is a dynamic process involved in shaping multicellular structures, and the seemingly dynamic nature of the signals required for the formation of spatial gradients may extend beyond just biochemical signalling pathways. For instance, bioelectric signals consist of ion fluxes, facilitated by ion transporters, and changing membrane potentials, which are transduced and integrated into biochemical signalling pathways. This grants bioelectric signals the ability to provide instructive cues to induce cell behaviours, such as proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Moreover, the ability to exchange bioelectric signals is not exclusive to the cells involved in the muscular and nervous system. Many cell types utilize bioelectric signals to form voltage gradients, and thereby can generate bioelectrical networks. These networks might be used during development to store epigenetic information, such as organism-specific anatomy, i.e. the target morphology. By manipulating the bioelectric properties of cells, such as the membrane potential and ion transporters, and creating quantitative models of these systems to understand collective cell behaviours, the exploration of the role of bioelectricity in cell communication and pattern formation offers exciting possibilities.