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Acanthocytosis and cholesterol enrichment decrease lipid fluidity of only the outer human erythrocyte membrane leaflet

Nature volume 298, pages 290–292 (1982)Cite this article

Abstract

The structure1–3 and functions4–10 of the human erythrocyte are influenced by the composition and organization of the membrane lipids. The outer (exofacial) and inner (endofacial) leaflets of the erythrocyte membrane differ in lipid composition11,12, and recent studies using a group of membrane-impermeant pyrene fluorophores have demonstrated that the lipid fluidity of the outer leaflet exceeds that of the inner13. Using one of these probes, pyrene butyryl hydrazide linked to the tetrasaccharide stachyose (SPBH) 13, we have compared the lipid fluidity of the outer and inner leaflets in normal human erythrocytes treated experimentally to alter membrane cholesterol content14 and in acanthocytes, erythrocytes of altered morphology found in individuals with the genetic disorder abetalipoproteinaemia15. The results, reported here, demonstrate that hemileaflet fluidity can be altered selectively: acanthocytosis and experimental cholesterol enrichment decrease the lipid fluidity of the outer but not the inner hemileaflet.

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  1. Department of Physiology, Columbia University College of Physicians & Surgeons, 630 West 168 Street, New York, New York, 10032, USA

    Michael Flamm & David Schachter

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  1. Michael Flamm
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  2. David Schachter
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Flamm, M., Schachter, D. Acanthocytosis and cholesterol enrichment decrease lipid fluidity of only the outer human erythrocyte membrane leaflet. Nature 298, 290–292 (1982). https://doi.org/10.1038/298290a0

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