Dielectric breakdown of the erythrocyte membrane enhances transbilayer mobility of phospholipids.
Dielectric breakdown of erythrocytes is shown to result in a loss of asymmetry of phosphatidylethanolamine and in a markedly enhanced transbilayer mobility of exogenous lysophosphatidylcholine. The effect is much more pronounced in non-resealed cells than in cells resealed after the breakdown. A casual relationship between the structural defects in the lipid phase, indicated by these results, and fusion by dielectric breakdown is discussed.
D004594:Electrophysiology; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000502:physiology*; D004912:Erythrocytes / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D008560:Membrane Fluidity; D008564:Membrane Potentials; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood*
D008051:Lipid Bilayers; D010743:Phospholipids