Abstract: Cell-to-cell communication is a prerequisite in multicellular
organisms. Coordinated interaction is provided by different mechanisms
running in parallel. Just over a decade ago, nanotubular cell-to-cell
connections have been discovered, termed tunnelling nanotubes (TNTs) or
membrane nanotubes [1, 2]. The shape of TNTs resembles circular tubes
with a typical diameter of 50 – 200 nm and a length of 10 –70 μm which
can extend up to 1 mm. TNTs can transport ions, intercellular vesicles,
mitochondria, and various cargoes of microparticles, and could mediate
electromagnetic signalling between cells.
Cells with nanotubes could form a system of connected resonant
cavities with unified electromagnetic oscillations. We calculated
circular waveguide cutoff frequencies to be in the 10^15 – 10^16 Hz
region. Signals thus can be excited by microtubules with mode
frequencies in the 10^16 Hz region. The frequency region suggests a
possible interaction of valence and inner electrons in biologically
important atoms (e.g. C, N, O) with the cavity modes of the
electromagnetic field. Possible signal amplification in TNTs can be
described by Manley–Rowe relations [3] or by Fröhlich equation [4].
[1] Rustom A. et al., Science 303, 1007 (2004).
[2] Scholkmann F., Theor. Biol. Med. Model. 13, 16 (2016).
[3] Manley J. M. and Rowe H. E., Proc. IRE 44, 904 (1956).
[4] Fröhlich H., Adv. Electron. El. Phys. 53, 86 (1980).