Release of membrane constituents following polyethylene glycol treatment of HEp-2 cells.
HEp-2 cell monolayers were treated with 40% polyethylene glycol for 5 min which resulted in fusion during the subsequent incubation period. A loss of cell membrane components was detected in the polyethylene glycol-treated as well as phosphate buffer/saline-treated control cells, however the polyethylene glycol-treated cells released nearly twice the amount of [14C]acetate-labeled material and [3H]glycerol-labeled lipids into culture fluids than the control cells. It was further detected that the polyethylene glycol-treated cells released only approximately half the amount of protein, glycoprotein, and glycolipid as the control cells. These results suggest that polyethylene glycol exerts a differential mode of action against cell surface components and causes the treated cells to release membrane components rich in lipids but relatively low in protein and carbohydrate-containing components.
D000818:Animals; D002460:Cell Line; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D006023:Glycoproteins / Q000032:analysis; D007700:Kinetics; D008114:Liver Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D008565:Membrane Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000032:analysis; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats
D006023:Glycoproteins; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D008565:Membrane Proteins; D010743:Phospholipids; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols