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Updated: Jun 12, 2026

Fluorescence-Based Measurements of Phosphatidylserine/Phosphatidylinositol 4-Phosphate Exchange Between Membranes
Published on: March 14, 2021
Modulation of serotonin receptors by specific phosphatidylcholines
K von Hungen1, P Derby, C F Baxter
1Brain Biochemistry, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Sepulveda, CA 90272, USA; Neurochemistry Laboratories, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Sepulveda, CA 90272, U.S.A.; Department of Biological Chemistry, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90024, USA; Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA 90024, U.S.A.
Abstract:
Treatment of mouse cortical brain membranes with dioleoylphosphatidylcholine produced a large (50%) decrease in serotonin binding sites. The time course for this effect paralleled an increase in oleic acid in membrane phosphatidycholine and an increase in membrane fluidity. "Active Lipid" produced a similar decrease in serotonin binding sites, while fluidizing the membranes even more strongly. Distearoylphosphatidylcholine had no effect on serotonin binding sites or membrane fluidity by itself, but was capable of counteracting both the reduction in binding sites and membrane fluidity produced by "Active Lipid". The data indicate that specific phosphatidylcholines can have profound effects on serotonin receptors, but a clear picture of the relative importance of membrane fluidity per se versus more specific phospholipid effects will require further investigation.
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