Biophysical Journal 48: 721-726 (1985)
© 1985 the Biophysical Society

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Orientation of Schizosaccharomyces POMBE Nonliving Cells under Alternating Uniform and Nonuniform Electric Fields

ABSTRACT

When nonliving cells of Schizosaccharomyces pombe were subjected to the action of alternating uniform and nonuniform electric fields, two types of orientation were produced. The first one, with its longest axis parallel to the field lines, is similar to that obtained with living cells. The second, perpendicular to the direction of the field, is produced for relatively high frequencies and low conductivities; this probably takes place when the conductivities of the external and internal media (cell cytoplasm) become equal. A mixed cell population is produced in a discrete interval of the parameters used. Our results provide direct evidence that cell alignment does not depend on the physiological state of the cells.