title: Arsenic (V) induces a fluidization of algal cell and liposome membranes.
abstract: Arsenate is one of the most poisonous elements for living cells. When cells are exposed to arsenate, their life activities are immediately affected by various biochemical reactions, such as the binding of arsenic to membranes and the substitution of arsenic for phosphate or the choline head of phospholipids in the biological membranes. The effects of arsenate on the life activities of algae Chlorella vulgaris were investigated at various concentrations and exposure times. The results demonstrated that the living activities of algal cells (10(10)cells/L) were seriously affected by arsenate at a concentration of more than 7.5mg As/L within 24h. Algal cells and the artificial membranes (liposomes) were exposed to arsenate to evaluate its effects on the membrane fluidization. In the presence of arsenate, the membranes were fluidized due to the binding and substitution of arsenate groups for phosphates or the choline head on the their membrane surface. This fluidization of the biological membranes was considered to enhance the transport of toxicants across the membrane of algal cells.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School of Engineering Science, Osaka University, 1-3 Machikaneyama, Toyonaka 560-8531, Japan.
authors.forename: Le Quoc
authors.initials: le Q
authors.lastname: Tuan
authors.forename: Tran Thi Thanh
authors.initials: TT
authors.lastname: Huong
authors.forename: Pham Thi Anh
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Hong
authors.forename: Tomonori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kawakami
authors.forename: Toshinori
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Shimanouchi
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Umakoshi
authors.forename: Ryoichi
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kuboi
mesh_terms: D001151:Arsenic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*; D001665:Binding Sites; D001692:Biological Transport; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D048408:Chlorella vulgaris / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008081:Liposomes / Q000378:metabolism; D008560:Membrane Fluidity / Q000187:drug effects; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D013997:Time Factors; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D008081:Liposomes; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D001151:Arsenic