Cholesterol uptake is dependent on membrane fluidity in mycoplasmas.
The transfer of elaidate-enriched Acholeplasma laidlawii cells in culture from 37 degrees C to 4 degrees C virtually arrested exogenous cholesterol incorporation into the cell membrane. Cholesterol uptake continued, though at a slower rate, in oleate-enriched A. laidlawii cells undergoing similar temperature shift-down. It is concluded that the incorporation of exogenous cholesterol into the cell membrane of living mycoplasmas is rapid when the membrane lipid bilayer is in the liquid-crystalline state and very slow when the lipid bilayer is in the gel state.
D000128:Acholeplasma laidlawii / Q000378:metabolism*; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000378:metabolism*; D003470:Culture Media; D008560:Membrane Fluidity; D009829:Oleic Acids; D013499:Surface Properties; D013696:Temperature
D003470:Culture Media; D009829:Oleic Acids; D002784:Cholesterol