Membrane potential mediates an ancient mechano-transduction mechanism for multi-cellular homeostasis
Mechanical forces have been shown to influence cellular decisions to grow, die, or differentiate, through largely mysterious mechanisms. Separately, changes in resting membrane potential have been observed in development, differentiation, regeneration, and cancer. We now demonstrate that membrane potential is the central mediator of cellular response to mechanical pressure. We show that mechanical forces acting on the cell change cellular biomass density, which in turn alters membrane potential. Membrane potential then regulates cell number density in epithelia by controlling cell growth, proliferation, and cell elimination. Mechanistically, we show that changes in membrane potential control signaling through the Hippo and MAPK pathways, and potentially other signaling pathways that originate at the cell membrane. While many molecular interactions are known to affect Hippo signaling, the upstream signal that activates the canonical Hippo pathway at the membrane has previously been elusive. Our results establish membrane potential as a central regulator of growth and tissue homeostasis.