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Cell membrane dynamics and the induction of apoptosis by lipid compounds
Author(s) -
Fujimoto Keiji,
Iwasaki Chizu,
Kawaguchi Haruma,
Yasugi Etsuko,
Oshima Mieko
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
febs letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.593
H-Index - 257
eISSN - 1873-3468
pISSN - 0014-5793
DOI - 10.1016/s0014-5793(99)00204-5
Subject(s) - inducer , apoptosis , membrane fluidity , chemistry , biophysics , membrane , microbiology and biotechnology , biochemistry , biology , gene
To investigate the induction of apoptosis by some lipid compounds which are a potent inducer of apoptosis, the plasma membrane fluidity of U937 cells was measured using the fluorescent probe, pyrene. The increase of the membrane fluidity was observed immediately after the treatment of cells with lipid inducers. We also found that the trigger of apoptosis was pulled within 30 min after treatment. Data from the dynamic light scattering experiment indicated that lipid inducers were dissolved to form the emulsion. At the very early stage of apoptosis, possibly, the well‐controlled transfer of lipid inducers from the emulsion to the lipid layer of cells can bring about the increase of membrane dynamics which might lead to the induction of apoptosis.