Abstract
FLUIDITY of the fatty acyl chains of phospholipids in cell membranes is required for essential cellular activities, and the degree of fluidity can be influenced by cholesterol. Changes in the ratio of cholesterol to phospholipids can, therefore, affect the internal viscosity and molecular motion of lipids within membranes and this may function as a regulator in cell behaviour1–4. Our studies of the surface membrane of normal lymphocytes and lymphocytic leukaemic cells have shown that the surface membrane of the leukaemic cells has a lower rotational mobility of concanavalin A binding sites5,6, and a higher fluidity of the lipid layer6,7. We have now found that these differences in fluidity are associated with a difference in the cholesterol to phospholipid ratio in these cells.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Oldfield, E., and Chapman, D., FEBS Lett., 23, 285 (1972).
Dekruyff, B., Denel, R. A., and Van Deenen, L. L. M., Biochim. biophys. Acta, 255, 331 (1972).
Rottem, S., Yashouv, J., Ne'eman, Z., and Razin, S., Biochim. biophys. Acta, 323, 495 (1973).
Papahadjopoulos, D., Cowden, M., and Kimelberg, H. K., Biochim. biophys. Acta, 330, 8 (1973).
Inbar, M., Shinitzky, M., and Sachs, L., J. molec. Biol., 81, 245 (1973).
Sachs, L., Harvey Lectures, 68, (Academic Press, New York, in the press).
Inbar, M., Shinitzky, M., and Sachs, L., FEBS Lett., 38, 268 (1974).
Shevach, E. M., Stobo, J. D., and Green, I., J. Immun., 108, 1146 (1972).
Gottfried, E. L., J. Lipid Res., 8, 321 (1967).
Folch, J., Lees, M., and Sloane-Stanley, G. H., J. biol. Chem., 226, 497 (1957).
Ames, B. N., in Methods in enzymology (edit. by Neufeld, E. F., and Ginsburg, V.), 8, 115 (Academic Press, New York, 1966).
Wycoff, H. D., and Parsons, J., Science, 125, 347 (1957).
Chen, H. W., Kandutsch, A. A., Heiniger, H. J., and Meier, H., Cancer Res., 33, 2774 (1973).
Brown, S. M., Goldstein, J. L., and Siperstein, M. D., Fedn Proc., 32, 2168 (1973).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
VLODAVSKY, I., SACHS, L. Difference in the cellular cholesterol to phospholipid ratio in normal lymphocytes and lymphocytic leukaemic cells. Nature 250, 67–68 (1974). https://doi.org/10.1038/250067a0
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/250067a0
This article is cited by
-
Lipid composition of human lymphocytes in patients with chronic lymphatic leukaemia and with blocked T cell activity
Irish Journal of Medical Science (1979)
-
Relationship between lymphoid cell population and levels of cholesterol or phospholipids
Experientia (1978)
-
Close correlation between levels of cholesterol and free fatty acids in lymphoid cells
Experientia (1976)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
