Induced redistribution of membrane particles, anionic sites and con A receptors in Entamoeba histolytica

Abstract

THE extent to which the distribution of antigens and other receptors at the cell surface is determined by structural components within the plasma membrane is largely unknown. In erythrocyte ghost membranes, freeze-fracture and freezeetch studies have demonstrated that structural components, ‘membrane intercalated particles’, are the exclusive sites at the surface which bear A and B antigens^1,2, wheat germ agglutinin³, influenza virus³, con A receptors (Pinto da Silva and Nicolson, unpublished), and anionic sites⁴. It is clear, however, that conclusions derived from the study of this membrane system cannot be freely extrapolated to living cells where the relationship cell surface-membrane structure may be more complex. We report a study of this relationship on the plasma membrane of living Entamoeba histolytica cells in conditions which induce a redistribution of membrane intercalated particles, anionic sites or con A receptors.