title: Topographical distribution of a membrane-inserted fluorescent phospholipid analogue during cell fusion.
abstract: Potential alterations in the transbilayer distribution of lipid molecules during cell-cell fusion were studied, using the fluorescent phospholipid analogue 1-acyl, 2-(N-4-nitrobenzo-2-oxa-1,3-diazole)-aminocaproyl phosphatidylcholine (C6-NBD-PC). The fluophore was inserted into the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane of Chinese hamster fibroblasts from an exogenous source and cell-cell fusion was induced either with Sendai virus or polyethylene glycol (PEG). After fusion, the cells were examined under a fluorescence microscope and the pool of tagged lipid molecules in the external monolayer was determined quantitatively. The results showed that in contrast to PEG-induced cell fusion, substantial redistribution of the lipid marker occurred when cell fusion was induced by Sendai virus and it was estimated that approx. 40% of exogenously supplied lipid was internalized. The possible mechanism causing lipid redistribution in the case of Sendai virus-induced cell fusion is discussed.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002459:Cell Fusion; D002460:Cell Line; D006224:Cricetinae; D005347:Fibroblasts; D005456:Fluorescent Dyes / Q000378:metabolism; D008081:Liposomes; D008563:Membrane Lipids / Q000378:metabolism*; D010222:Parainfluenza Virus 1, Human / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D005456:Fluorescent Dyes; D008081:Liposomes; D008563:Membrane Lipids; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C017251:1,2-oleoylphosphatidylcholine