A model for the electrostatic interaction of cells

Abstract

A model for the electrostatic interaction of two similar cells is presented which assumes that the surface charge density of the cell membrane remains constant during interaction. This model suggests that when two cells approach each other, changes in electrostatic potential may occur within the cell membrane and inside the cell. The interaction energy is predicted to depend on the charge densities of both surfaces of the membrane, on the Debye-Hückel parameters and the dielectric constants of the solution outside and inside the cell, on the membrane capacitance, and on the difference between the electrostatic potentials of the solution outside and inside the cell. Under physiological conditions, however, the dependence of the interaction energy on the parameters except the charge density of the outer membrane surface, and the Debye-Hückel parameter and the dielectric constant of the solution outside the cell seems to be small. It is also predicted that the change in potential gradient within the cell membrane of the order of 10 3–10 5 V/cm may occur when two cells approach each other to about 10–20 Å.