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Fig. 4 | Theoretical Biology and Medical Modelling

Fig. 4

From: Long range physical cell-to-cell signalling via mitochondria inside membrane nanotubes: a hypothesis

Fig. 4

Visualization of the possible experiments to test the proposed hypothesis. a Laser stimulation to locally disrupt the Δψm in one cell. It is then tested if the mitochondrial network in the cell connected by the MNT also shows a breakdown of Δψm. b Monitoring the spontaneous fluctuations of Δψm in both cells connected by a MNT filled with connected mitochondria. A synchronization of the fluctuations should be observed (case 1). When disrupting the mitochondrial connectivity (at point 3) of the mitochondrial network inside the MNT the synchronization should disappear (case 2). c Shining light into a filamentous mitochondrion and measuring the light intensity at the other end of it will proof if mitochondria can act as optical fibers

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