Abstract
Electric field-induced cell fusion (electrofusion) is emerging as a promising new tool in cell biology and somatic cell genetics. Compared with other cell-fusion techniques, electrofusion is rapid, simple, and highly efficient. What makes electrofusion truly unique, however, is its unusual physical basis. As a consequence, electrofusion creates some novel experimental opportunities. Although electrofusion has been the subject of several recent reviews (Pohl et al., 1984; Zimmermann et al., 1984a, b), these reviews have focused on the results of just a few laboratories; a wider review of the field may, therefore, be beneficial. This chapter has two components: (1) a discussion of the underlying physical principles of electrical fusion to elucidate the inherent strengths and limitations of the technique, and (2) a broad-based, critical account of progress in applying electrofusion to cell biology and somatic cell genetics. Wherever possible we have stressed the need for quantitative as opposed to qualitative observations and have tried to indicate important areas requiring further research. Our goal is to provide both a theoretical and a practical basis from which workers interested in pursuing this technique, or those with a general interest in cell and membrane fusion, can compare electrofusion with other fusion methods.
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Bates, G.W., Saunders, J.A., Sowers, A.E. (1987). Electrofusion. In: Sowers, A.E. (eds) Cell Fusion. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4757-9598-1_17
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