Galvanin (TMEM154) is an electric-field sensor for directed cell migration

PAPER manual Cell 2026 In vitro study Effect: unclear Evidence: Low

Read original paper → DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2026.04.026 Evidence Lab

Abstract

Directed migration of immune and epithelial cells is critical for rapid responses to tissue injury or infection. Endogenous electric fields, generated by disruption of the transepithelial potential across the skin, are thought to guide cells to wound sites. However, how single cells detect these electrical cues remains unclear. We identified Galvanin (TMEM154), a poorly characterized single-pass transmembrane protein, as required for electric-field-guided migration of rapidly moving cells. Expression of Galvanin is sufficient to confer electric-field-guided migration on otherwise non-responsive epithelial cells. Upon electric-field exposure, Galvanin rapidly relocalizes to the anodal side of cells, and in human neutrophils, relocalization is immediately followed by changes in spatial patterns of cellular protrusion and retraction. These data suggest Galvanin acts as a direct sensor of the electric field, transducing spatial information about a cell’s electrical environment to the intracellular migratory apparatus to support directed cell migration.

AI evidence extraction

At a glance

Study type

In vitro study

Effect direction

unclear

Population

Rapidly moving cells, epithelial cells, and human neutrophils studied at the cellular level

Sample size

—

Exposure

electric field associated with disruption of the skin transepithelial potential

Evidence strength

Low

Confidence: 90% · Peer-reviewed: yes

Main findings

Galvanin was required for electric-field-guided migration of rapidly moving cells, and its expression conferred guided migration on otherwise non-responsive epithelial cells. During electric-field exposure, Galvanin rapidly relocated to the anodal side of cells; in human neutrophils, this was immediately followed by altered spatial patterns of protrusion and retraction.

Outcomes measured

Electric-field-guided cell migration
Galvanin (TMEM154) relocalization within cells
Spatial patterns of cellular protrusion and retraction

View raw extracted JSON

{
    "study_type": "in_vitro",
    "exposure": {
        "band": null,
        "source": "electric field associated with disruption of the skin transepithelial potential",
        "frequency_mhz": null,
        "sar_wkg": null,
        "duration": null
    },
    "population": "Rapidly moving cells, epithelial cells, and human neutrophils studied at the cellular level",
    "sample_size": null,
    "outcomes": [
        "Electric-field-guided cell migration",
        "Galvanin (TMEM154) relocalization within cells",
        "Spatial patterns of cellular protrusion and retraction"
    ],
    "main_findings": "Galvanin was required for electric-field-guided migration of rapidly moving cells, and its expression conferred guided migration on otherwise non-responsive epithelial cells. During electric-field exposure, Galvanin rapidly relocated to the anodal side of cells; in human neutrophils, this was immediately followed by altered spatial patterns of protrusion and retraction.",
    "effect_direction": "unclear",
    "limitations": [],
    "evidence_strength": "low",
    "confidence": 0.90000000000000002220446049250313080847263336181640625,
    "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
    "keywords": [
        "Galvanin",
        "TMEM154",
        "electric-field sensing",
        "electrotaxis",
        "directed cell migration",
        "epithelial cells",
        "human neutrophils",
        "wound healing",
        "transepithelial potential"
    ],
    "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract/metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice.

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