title: Cholesterol effects on nonelectrolyte membrane transport in human erythrocytes: NMR magnetization transfer studies.
abstract: The cholesterol content of human erythrocytes was altered by incubating them with sonicated dispersions of cholesterol/phosphatidylcholine at 37 degrees C. 31P NMR saturation transfer experiments were used to measure the rate constant for efflux of dimethyl methylphosphonate (DMMP) from the cells, and thereby gain an estimate of the permeability coefficient. It was shown that up to 39% depletion of membrane cholesterol (cholesterol/phospholipid molar ratio of 0.46) increased the efflux rate constant and permeability coefficient of DMMP 1.55- and 1.86-fold, respectively. Enrichment of the membranes with cholesterol by 45% (cholesterol/phospholipid molar ratio of 1.57) on the other hand, decreased the efflux rate constant and permeability coefficient 1.63- and 1.79-fold, respectively. It was concluded that DMMP may be used as a probe molecule to study the functional consequences of changes in the lipid composition of erythrocytes in diseases that are associated with disorders of lipid metabolism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, University of Sydney, N.S.W. Australia.
authors.forename: M H
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Nouri-Sorkhabi
authors.forename: B E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: Chapman
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Sullivan
authors.forename: P W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Kuchel
mesh_terms: D002784:Cholesterol / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004910:Erythrocyte Membrane / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D010539:Permeability; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D009943:Organophosphorus Compounds; D010713:Phosphatidylcholines; C031116:dimethyl methylphosphonate; D002784:Cholesterol