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Effect of pH on fluorescence polarization of DMSO induced Friend leukemic cells

Cancer Biochemistry Biophysics
|January 1, 1981
PubMed

Insights

Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) alters lipid-protein interactions in Friend leukemic cell membranes. These changes affect how cell membranes respond to pH variations, indicating DMSO

Area of Science:

  • Cell biology
  • Membrane biophysics

Background:

  • Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) is known to induce differentiation in certain cancer cells.
  • Understanding DMSO's effects on cell membranes is crucial for its therapeutic applications.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the impact of DMSO on the biophysical properties of Friend leukemic cell membranes.
  • To determine if DMSO affects pH-dependent changes in membrane fluidity and lipid-protein interactions.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized fluorescence polarization (P) with diphenyl hexatriene (DPH) to probe membrane fluidity.
  • Examined Friend leukemic cell lines (FLC) and a DMSO-resistant variant (RFLC).
  • Conducted experiments at varying temperatures (37°C and 4°C) and pH levels, with and without DMSO treatment.

Main Results:

  • Fluorescence polarization (P) values in FLC cells exhibited pH-dependent changes, maximal in alkaline conditions at 37°C.
  • DMSO treatment abolished these pH-dependent P value changes in FLC cells.
  • pH-dependent P value changes were absent in DMSO-resistant RFLC cells, regardless of DMSO exposure.
  • Higher P values were observed at 4°C, also showing pH dependency in FLC, which was lost upon DMSO treatment or in RFLC.

Conclusions:

  • pH-dependent changes in fluorescence polarization reflect alterations in lipid-protein interactions within the cell surface membrane.
  • DMSO significantly modifies these lipid-protein interactions in Friend leukemic cells.
  • DMSO's effect on membrane properties may be linked to its mechanism of action in inducing cell differentiation or resistance.

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