Influence of incorporated cerebrosides on the interaction of liposomes with HeLa cells

The presence of synthetic N-palmitoyl dihydrolactocerebroside in preparations of neutral multilamellar liposomes enhances their fusion interaction with cultured HeLa cells some 5-7 fold. The effect appears to be carbohydrate-specific, and is probably not attributable to a change in the physical characteristics of the liposome bilayer due to the presence of the cerebroside.