Transmembrane migration ('flip-flop') of cholesterol in erythrocyte membranes.
After exchange with [14C]cholesterol-labelled plasma lipoproteins for 0.5-4h, erythrocytes were extracted with bile-salt solutions. The extracted cholesterol (mainly from the outside of the erythrocyte membrane) had the same specific radioactivity as the residual sterol. Thus cholesterol equilibrates rapidly (half-time less than 1 h) between the two sides of the membrane.
D000818:Animals; D002463:Cell Membrane Permeability; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood*; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000378:metabolism*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D051381:Rats
D008074:Lipoproteins; D002784:Cholesterol