Abstract
FLUIDITY of the fatty acyl chains of phospholipids in cell membranes is required for essential cellular activities, and the degree of fluidity can be influenced by cholesterol. Changes in the ratio of cholesterol to phospholipids can, therefore, affect the internal viscosity and molecular motion of lipids within membranes and this may function as a regulator in cell behaviour1–4. Our studies of the surface membrane of normal lymphocytes and lymphocytic leukaemic cells have shown that the surface membrane of the leukaemic cells has a lower rotational mobility of concanavalin A binding sites5,6, and a higher fluidity of the lipid layer6,7. We have now found that these differences in fluidity are associated with a difference in the cholesterol to phospholipid ratio in these cells.
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