Matteo Buffi, Julia M Kelliher, Aaron J Robinson, Diego Gonzalez, Guillaume Cailleau, Justine A Macalindong, Eleonora Frau, Silvia Schintke, Patrick S G Chain, Claire E Stanley, Markus Künzler, Saskia Bindschedler, Pilar Junier
{"title":"Electrical signaling in fungi: past and present challenges.","authors":"Matteo Buffi, Julia M Kelliher, Aaron J Robinson, Diego Gonzalez, Guillaume Cailleau, Justine A Macalindong, Eleonora Frau, Silvia Schintke, Patrick S G Chain, Claire E Stanley, Markus Künzler, Saskia Bindschedler, Pilar Junier","doi":"10.1093/femsre/fuaf009","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Electrical signaling is a fundamental mechanism for integrating environmental stimuli and coordinating responses in living organisms. While extensively studied in animals and plants, the role of electrical signaling in fungi remains a largely under-explored field. Early studies suggested that filamentous fungi generate action potential-like signals and electrical currents at hyphal tips, yet their function in intracellular communication remained unclear. Renewed interest in fungal electrical activity has fueled developments such as the hypothesis that mycorrhizal networks facilitate electrical communication between plants and the emerging field of fungal-based electronic materials. Given their continuous plasma membrane, specialized septal pores, and insulating cell wall structures, filamentous fungi possess architectural features that could support electrical signaling over long distances. However, studying electrical phenomena in fungal networks presents unique challenges due to the microscopic dimensions of hyphae, the structural complexity of highly modular mycelial networks, and the limitations of traditional electrophysiological methods. This review synthesizes current evidence for electrical signaling in filamentous fungi, evaluates methodological approaches, and highlights experimental challenges. By addressing these challenges and identifying best practices, we aim to advance research in this field and provide a foundation for future studies exploring the role of electrical signaling in fungal biology.</p>","PeriodicalId":12201,"journal":{"name":"FEMS microbiology reviews","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":10.1000,"publicationDate":"2025-03-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"FEMS microbiology reviews","FirstCategoryId":"99","ListUrlMain":"https://doi.org/10.1093/femsre/fuaf009","RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"MICROBIOLOGY","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Electrical signaling is a fundamental mechanism for integrating environmental stimuli and coordinating responses in living organisms. While extensively studied in animals and plants, the role of electrical signaling in fungi remains a largely under-explored field. Early studies suggested that filamentous fungi generate action potential-like signals and electrical currents at hyphal tips, yet their function in intracellular communication remained unclear. Renewed interest in fungal electrical activity has fueled developments such as the hypothesis that mycorrhizal networks facilitate electrical communication between plants and the emerging field of fungal-based electronic materials. Given their continuous plasma membrane, specialized septal pores, and insulating cell wall structures, filamentous fungi possess architectural features that could support electrical signaling over long distances. However, studying electrical phenomena in fungal networks presents unique challenges due to the microscopic dimensions of hyphae, the structural complexity of highly modular mycelial networks, and the limitations of traditional electrophysiological methods. This review synthesizes current evidence for electrical signaling in filamentous fungi, evaluates methodological approaches, and highlights experimental challenges. By addressing these challenges and identifying best practices, we aim to advance research in this field and provide a foundation for future studies exploring the role of electrical signaling in fungal biology.
期刊介绍:
Title: FEMS Microbiology Reviews
Journal Focus:
Publishes reviews covering all aspects of microbiology not recently surveyed
Reviews topics of current interest
Provides comprehensive, critical, and authoritative coverage
Offers new perspectives and critical, detailed discussions of significant trends
May contain speculative and selective elements
Aimed at both specialists and general readers
Reviews should be framed within the context of general microbiology and biology
Submission Criteria:
Manuscripts should not be unevaluated compilations of literature
Lectures delivered at symposia must review the related field to be acceptable