title: Cholesterol sulfate inhibits the fusion of Sendai virus to biological and model membranes.
abstract: Cholesterol sulfate is a component of several biological membranes. In erythrocytes, cholesterol sulfate inhibits hypotonic hemolysis, while in sperm, it can decrease fertilization efficiency. We have found cholesterol sulfate to be a potent inhibitor of Sendai virus fusion to both human erythrocyte and liposomal membranes. Cholesterol sulfate also raises the bilayer to hexagonal phase transition temperature of dielaidoyl phosphatidylethanolamine as demonstrated by differential scanning calorimetry and 31P nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometry. Although hexagonal phase structures are not readily found in biological membranes, there is a correlation between the effects of membrane additives on bilayer/non-bilayer equilibria and membrane stabilization. It is proposed that the ability of cholesterol sulfate to alter the physical properties of membranes contributes to its stabilization of biological membranes and the inhibition of membrane fusion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Cheetham
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Epand
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Andrews
authors.forename: T D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Flanagan
mesh_terms: D002152:Calorimetry, Differential Scanning; D002788:Cholesterol Esters / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane; D005732:Gangliosides / Q000502:physiology; D005782:Gels; D006384:Hemagglutination / Q000187:drug effects; D006461:Hemolysis / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008561:Membrane Fusion; D010222:Parainfluenza Virus 1, Human / Q000502:physiology*; D013696:Temperature; D014760:Viral Fusion Proteins / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D002788:Cholesterol Esters; D005732:Gangliosides; D005782:Gels; D014760:Viral Fusion Proteins; C021298:ganglioside, GD1a; C007045:cholesteryl sulfate