Borochov H, Shinitzky M
Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 1976 Dec;73(12):4526-30. doi: 10.1073/pnas.73.12.4526.
Membrane proteins of intact human erythrocytes were labeled with two fluorescent sulfhydryl reagents. The tagged cells were then subjected to simultaneous liposome treatments for either depletion or enrichment of membrane cholesterol content. Cholesterol depletion, which reduces membrane microviscosity, was followed by a series of fluorescence changes all indicating masking of the membrane proteins. Conversely increasing the membrane microviscosity by cholesterol enrichment resulted in an appreciable increase of the protein exposure to the aqueous surrounding. These findings strongly suggest that membrane proteins may be vertically displaced upon changes in lipid fluidity, a mechanism that may play a significant role in modulation of antigens and receptors in vivo.
完整人类红细胞的膜蛋白用两种荧光巯基试剂进行标记。然后对标记的细胞同时进行脂质体处理,以降低或增加膜胆固醇含量。降低膜微粘度的胆固醇耗竭,随后发生了一系列荧光变化,均表明膜蛋白被掩盖。相反,通过增加胆固醇使膜微粘度增加,导致蛋白质与周围水环境的接触明显增加。这些发现有力地表明,膜蛋白可能会随着脂质流动性的变化而发生垂直位移,这一机制可能在体内抗原和受体的调节中发挥重要作用。