title: Hydrophobicity of cultured mammalian cells and some effects of bacterial phospholipases C.
abstract: Eucaryotic cell surface hydrophobicity was measured as a partition of palmitic acid between the cell surface and the surrounding buffer. The method was found to be independent of cell mass or amount of palmitic acid within a large interval. An estimation of cell stability could also be obtained. The effects of Ca and Mg ions on cell hydrophobicity and stability of mouse myeloma (SP2/O) cells and of Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells were determined. This system permits measurement of changes in cell hydrophobicity caused by various additives, e.g. ions, purified bacterial products, antibiotics or cytostatics. Studies were made on these eucaryotic cells treated with purified bacterial phospholipases C from S. aureus and C. perfringens. These enzymes were found to increase the eucaryotic cell membrane hydrophobicity. This finding might indicate that bacterial phospholipases C facilitate bacterial colonization at the start of an infection.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology; D002460:Cell Line; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D002627:Chemistry, Physical; D003016:Clostridium perfringens / Q000201:enzymology; D006224:Cricetinae; D003412:Cricetulus; D005260:Female; D008274:Magnesium / Q000494:pharmacology; D051379:Mice; D009101:Multiple Myeloma; D010053:Ovary; D010740:Phospholipases / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013108:Sphingomyelin Phosphodiesterase / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000201:enzymology; D013499:Surface Properties; D010738:Type C Phospholipases / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D010740:Phospholipases; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases; D010738:Type C Phospholipases; D013108:Sphingomyelin Phosphodiesterase; D008274:Magnesium; D002118:Calcium