An applied electric field induces polarized activation of PI3 kinase An applied electric field induces polarized activation of PI3 kinase. (A) An applied electric field activates PI3 kinases (phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase), which leads to activation of Akt, as indicated by an increase in phosphorylation of Akt shortly after an electric field is switched on. Total Akt is the control. Akt, or protein kinase B, is a serine/threonine kinase. Upon binding to PI3 kinase product PIP3, Akt translocates to the plasma membrane, where it is activated. Akt activation plays important roles in diverse cellular processes such as glucose metabolism, cell proliferation, apoptosis, transcription, and cell migration. Primary cultures of mouse keratinocytes in serum-free medium (200 mV/mm). Deletion of a gene (p110γ) encoding a catalytic subunit of PI3 kinase significantly attenuated activation of Akt because there are no active PI3 kinase to produce PIP3. γ110γ+/+ are from cells with the gene deleted. (B) Dynamic distribution of Akt-GFP (Akt tagged with green fluorescence protein) as a probe for PI3 kinase activation to the leading edge (arrows) of HL-60 cell (a human promyelocytic leukemia cell line). When polarity of the EF is reversed, Akt-GFP redistributes toward the new leading edge (arrowheads at 440 sec). (From Zhao, M, Song, B, Pu, J, et al: Electrical signals control wound healing through phosphatidylinositol-3-OH kinase-gamma and PTEN. Nature 2006; 442:457-460.) Source: Endogenous and Exogenous Electrical Fields for Wound Healing, Wound Healing Evidence-Based Management, 4e Citation: McCulloch JM, Kloth LC. Wound Healing Evidence-Based Management, 4e; 2010 Available at: http://fadavispt.mhmedical.com/DownloadImage.aspx?image=/data/books/1954/mccullowound_ch26_f013.png&sec=146794800&BookID=1954&ChapterSecID=146794726&imagename= Accessed: October 12, 2017 Copyright © 2017 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved