Temperature-dependent surface charge modulation, membrane fluidity, and metastatic ability of L51178Y lymphoma

The isoelectric characteristics of Y/ES (metastasizing) and Y/E (non-metastasizing) DBA/2 lymphoma, and the effects of reducing the ambient temperature on the surface charge density of the cells have been investigated. The change in the surface charge density caused by lowering the temperature is greater in the Y/ES than in the Y/E cells. It is suggested that the protrusion of membrane proteins into the aqueous phase, the consequent expression of cell surface charge, and the temperature-dependent modulation of the latter may be related to the lateral mosaicism of membrane lipids and reflect the state of membrane fluidity.