Changes in the surface membrane during myoblast fusion.

1. During fusion of chick-embryo myoblasts in culture, the surface membrane is affected as follows. Uptake of 2-aminoisobutyrate and 2-deoxyglucose, each of which is concentrated 20-fold relative to its concentration in the medium, is unaltered; uptake of alpha-methyl glucoside and choline (15 mM), each of which equilibrates relative to its concentration in the medium, approximately doubles. An approximate doubling also occurs in iodinatable surface protein (and in total protein) and in cell surface area as judged by light-microscopy. Adenylate cyclase (in the absence or the presence of fluoride) increases by more than 2-fold. 2. It is concluded that, during myoblast fusion cells increase in size, and this is reflected in an increased rate of simple diffusion; the rate of facilitated processes such as the uptake of amino acids and sugars, on the other hand, remains unaltered, though the activity of certain enzymes is increased. These results indicate that specific changes in the function of surface membrane occur during myoblast fusion in vitro.