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Galvanotaxis of human granulocytes

Dose-response curve

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Abstract

The galvanotactic response of human granulocytes was investigated theoretically and experimentally. The basic results are: (i) The granulocytes move towards the anode. (ii) The directed movement has been quantified by two different polar order parameters-the McCutcheon index and the average of cos ϕ. (iii) The polar order parameters are a function of the applied electric field (= dose-response curve). (iv) The inverse of the galvanotactic constant of migrating cells (analogous to the Michaelis-Menten constant) has a value of-0.2±0.03 V/mm. (v) The galvanotactic response of granulocytes is a non-cooperative process with a cooperativity coefficient of 1±0.2. (vi) The galvanotactic constant is a function of pH. (vii) The protein essential for the galvanotactic response is very likely a G-protein.

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Rapp, B., de Boisfleury-Chevance, A. & Gruler, H. Galvanotaxis of human granulocytes. Eur Biophys J 16, 313–319 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00254068

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00254068

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