Potential Difference Across the Nuclear Membrane: A Regulator of Gene Expression?

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Abstract
We propose a model for eukaryotic gene regulation in which a variable electric field at the nuclear periphery, caused by a potential difference across the inner nuclear membrane, controls macromolecular interactions, including those between DNA and regulatory proteins. Evidence for the existence of a nuclear membrane potential and DNA contact with the nuclear periphery is presented. The suggestion is made that each cell type is characterized by a specific magnitude of nuclear membrane potential.