Characterization of plasma membranes from A431 cells, isolated by self-generating Percoll gradient: a rapid isolation procedure to obtain plasma membranes with functional epidermal growth factor receptors

Plasma membranes have been isolated from the human epidermoid carcinoma cell line A431 by a rapid fractionation of lysate on Percoll density gradient at pH 9.6. Endoplasmic reticulum, lysosomes and mitochondria sedimented at the bottom of gradient whereas plasma membranes focused at low density, as shown with specific markers. Plasma membranes displayed a 4.5- and 4.4-fold enrichment in [3H]concanavalin A and 5'-nucleotidase, respectively. This proteic fraction was further characterized by its lipid composition and phospholipid analysis. The cholesterol/phospholipid molar ratio was 0.45 in plasma membranes against 0.19 in lysate. Sphingomyelin increased from 7.5% of total phospholipids in lysate to 16.2% in plasma membranes, as well as phosphatidylserine which displayed a 1.5-fold enrichment in the plasma membrane fraction. This was at the expense of phosphatidylcholine (45.2% in lysate, against 35% in plasma membranes). Electron microscopy of the isolated material showed vesicles essentially free from endoplasmic reticulum and organelles. These plasma membranes retained the ability to bind 125I-labelled epidermal growth factor (125I-EGF) with a Kd = 4.7 nM and Bmax = 63 pmol/mg protein. EGF binding resulted in a stimulation of the phosphorylation protein reaction in the presence of [gamma-32P]ATP and sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gels of phosphorylated proteins indicated that the radioactivity of the major band of molecular weight 170,000 was clearly enhanced by EGF binding. These results indicate that the EGF receptor and its intrinsic protein kinase activity were preserved during our plasma membrane isolation procedure.     

A rapid isolation procedure of plasma membranes from human neutrophils using self-generating Percoll gradients. Importance of pH in avoiding contamination by intracellular membranes

In this study we report an overall procedure for the isolation of both human polymorphonuclear neutrophils and their plasma membrane, by means of self-generating Percoll gradients. After efficient purification (40% yield), neutrophils were lysed by nitrogen cavitation and cellular structures quickly isolated in a one-step procedure. Plasma membrane recovery was monitored by [3H]concanavalin A and 5'-nucleotidase (EC 3.1.3.5) activity. We showed the latter activity is indeed present in human neutrophils. The procedure resulted in a good yield of plasma membrane, since 45% and 55% of total 5'-nucleotidase and [3H]concanavalin A activity, respectively, were recovered within two gradient fractions. Depending on the final pH of the Percoll gradient medium, endoplasmic reticulum markers contaminated either the plasma membrane or the granule fractions. At pH 9.05, NADH-ferricyanide reductase activity clearly separated from plasma membrane markers and displayed the same profile as CDPcholine:diacylglycerolcholine phosphotransferase (EC 2.7.8.2), a typical enzyme of endoplasmic reticulum. These results emphasize the need for strict monitoring of the pH of the gradient medium in subcellular fractionation of neutrophils.     

Properties of heparin binding to purified plasma membranes from bovine granulosa cells

Bovine granulosa cells were disrupted by nitrogen cavitation and the resulting membrane vesicles were isolated by centrifugation using a self-generating Percoll gradient. Transmission electron microscopy and marker enzyme assays revealed a highly enriched preparation of plasma membrane vesicles with little contamination from intracellular organelles. The membranes were examined for their ability to bind [3H]heparin under a variety of physical conditions. Binding was dependent largely on electrostatic interactions which were sensitive to alterations in the ionic strength and pH of the medium. Optimal binding was obtained in the absence of added salt and at pH 6.5 but reduced by 50% at 150 mM-NaCl or at pH values above 7.5. Heparin binding to the membranes was abolished by a 1-h pretreatment with chymotrypsin, plasmin, pronase or trypsin. Detergent treatment of the membranes had various effects, depending on the ionic characteristics of the detergents used. Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gels of plasma membrane proteins revealed a complex pattern of polypeptides with Mr of 10,000-120,000. Autoradiographic analysis of plasma membrane proteins on Western blots labelled with 125I-labelled heparin revealed 3 major heparin-binding proteins with molecular weights of 14,000-16,000. These studies report a new method of rapidly obtaining purified membranes from a limited population of granulosa cells. The characterization of the binding domains as membrane-associated proteins provides opportunities for numerous additional studies. Detergent solubilization of the membranes without appreciable loss in binding activity should simplify attempts to purify the binding proteins. Further analysis of the interactions of these molecules with native follicular fluid GAGs at various stages of granulosa cell development should provide useful insights into the role of complex carbohydrates in follicular maturation.     

Isolation of highly purified rat liver lysosomal membranes using two Percoll gradients

Normal rat liver lysosomal membranes in the form of membrane vesicles have been purified using Percoll density gradient centrifugation. Lysosomes (density = 1.111) were purified approximately 63 +/- 12-fold (mean +/- standard deviation, n = 5) using a gradient of Percoll made isotonic with sucrose and buffered to pH 7.0. These lysosomes were then exposed to 10 mM methionine methyl ester, pH 7.0, the uptake of which resulted in swelling and breakage of the lysosomes with subsequent vesicle formation. These vesicles (density = 1.056) were further separated from residual mitochondrial and plasma membrane enzyme activities using a second Percoll density gradient. Marker enzyme analysis and electron microscopy indicated that the lysosomal membranes were essentially free of both beta-hexosaminidase, a soluble lysosomal enzyme, and contaminating organelles. The specific activity of lysosomal ATPase in the lysosomal membranes was fourfold greater than in the intact lysosomes.     

Alamethicin-induced pore formation in biological membranes.

The effects of alamethicin on the membrane barrier function of rabbit erythrocytes, human platelets and sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles, as well as on that of brain microsomes and liver mitochondria of the rat were compared. An upset of the barrier function was observed for plasma membranes of brain microsomes as well as for erythrocyte and platelet membranes at alamethicin concentrations ranging between 25-80 micrograms/ml. The membrane barrier functions of sarcoplasmic reticulum vesicles, of endoplasmic reticulum vesicles of rat brain microsomes, and of liver mitochondria were disturbed at 3-7 micrograms/ml alamethicin. The different sensitivities of plasma and intracellular membranes to alamethicin were supposed to be due to the presence of considerable quantities of cholesterol in plasma membranes as well as to peculiarities of their protein compositions.     

Altered phospholipid composition of plasma membranes from thrombin-stimulated human platelets

The individual phospholipid concentrations, and their respective fatty acid distributions, in whole platelet lysates and plasma membranes derived from unstimulated and thrombin-stimulated intact human platelets were studied. This was of interest, since previous work had led to the suggestion that altered phospholipid concentrations in plasma membranes of intact stimulated cells may be of importance in mediating cellular responses. The concentrations (nmol/mg protein) of phosphatidylinositol in whole platelet lysates and plasma membranes derived from thrombin-activated platelets decreased by 37 and 45%, respectively, a compared to their corresponding controls. As well, concentrations of plasma membrane phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine in thrombin-stimulated platelets decreased by 20 and 9%, respectively, when compared with their control values. The amounts of phosphatidylserine and sphingomyelin in whole platelet lysates and plasma membranes were unchanged by exposure to thrombin. Fatty acid analyses revealed that thrombin stimulation of intact human platelets induced a decrease in the arachidonate content (from 37.7 to 33.1 wt.% of total fatty acid) of plasma membrane phosphatidylinositol. Similar shifts in the wt% of arachidonic acid in plasma membrane phosphatidylcholine were found. These results indicate that thrombin stimulation of intact human platelets produces a significant decrease in the mass of phosphatidylinositol in plasma membranes and raises the suggestion that the preferential depletion of the plasma membrane in arachidonoyl-containing phosphatidylinositol may be of importance in mediating cellular responses to external stimuli.     

Preparation of immuno-affinity membranes for cholesterol removal from human plasma

Anti-low density lipoprotein antibody (anti-LDL) immobilized polyhydroxyethylmethacrylate (pHEMA) based membrane was prepared for selective removal of cholesterol from hypercholesterolemic human plasma. In order to further increase blood-compatibility, a newly synthesized comonomer, methacryloylamidophenylalanine (MAPA) was included in the membrane formulation. p(HEMA-MAPA) membranes were produced by a photopolymerization and then characterized by swelling tests, SEM and contact angle studies. Blood-compatibility tests were also investigated. The water swelling ratio of the p(HEMA-MAPA) membrane increases significantly (133.2.9%) compared with pHEMA (58%). p(HEMA-MAPA) membranes have large pores around in the range of 5-10 microm. All the clotting times increased when compared with pHEMA membranes. Loss of platelets and leukocytes was very low. The maximum anti-LDL antibody immobilization was achieved around pH 7.0. Immobilization of anti-LDL antibody was 12.6 mg/ml. There was a very low non-specific cholesterol adsorption onto the plain p(HEMA-MAPA) membranes, about 0.36 mg/ml. Anti-LDL antibody immobilized membranes adsorbed in the range of 4.5-7.2 mg cholesterol/ml from hypercholesterolemic human plasma. Up to 95% of the adsorbed LDL antibody was desorbed. The adsorption-desorption cycle was repeated 10 times using the same membrane. There was no significant loss in the adsorption capacity.     

Isolation of plasma membranes from cultured glioma cells and application to evaluation of membrane sphingomyelin turnover

A rapid and reliable method for the isolation of plasma membranes and microsomes of high purity and yield from cultured glioma cells is described. The procedure involves disruption by N2 cavitation, preliminary separation by centrifugation in Tricine buffer, and final separation on a gradient formed from 40% Percoll at pH 9.3. Enzyme and chemical markers indicated greater than 60% yield with six- to eightfold enrichment for plasma membranes and greater than 25% yield with three- to fourfold enrichment for a microsomal fraction consisting mainly of endoplasmic reticulum. The final fractions were obtained with high reproducibility in less than 1 h from the time of cell harvesting. Application of this procedure to human fibroblasts in culture is assessed. The isolation procedure was applied to investigations of synthesis and turnover of sphingomyelin and phosphatidylcholine in plasma membranes of glioma cells following incubation for 4-24 h with [methyl-3H]choline. These studies indicated that radioactivity from phosphatidylcholine synthesized in microsomes from exogenous choline may serve as a precursor of the head-group of sphingomyelin accumulating in the plasma membrane.     

Subcellular localization of inositol lipids in blood platelets as deduced from the use of labelled precursors.

1. By rapid fractionation of blood platelet lysates on Percoll density gradients at alkaline pH (9.6), a very pure plasma-membrane fraction was obtained, as well as discrimination between endoplasmic reticulum and lysosomes. 2. Labelling of intact platelets with [32P]Pi followed by subcellular fractionation showed an exclusive localization of all inositol lipids in the plasma membrane. 3. Preincubation of whole platelets with myo-[3H]inositol in a buffer containing 1 mM-MnCl2 allowed incorporation of the label into PtdIns (phosphatidylinositol) of both plasma and endoplasmic-reticulum membrane, whereas [3H]PtdIns4P (phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate) and [3H]PtdIns(4,5)P2 (phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate) were exclusively found on the plasma membrane. 4. It is concluded that PtdIns4P and PtdIns(4,5)P2 are exclusively localized in the plasma membrane, whereas PtdIns is present in both plasma and endoplasmic-reticulum membranes. This could provide an explanation for previously reported data on hormone-sensitive and -insensitive inositol lipid pools.     

Isolation of cellular membranes from rat mast cells

Large amounts of membranes enriched either in perigranular membranes or in plasma membranes have been successfully isolated from rat peritoneal mast cells. A cycle consisting of a single sonication pulse to disrupt the mast cells followed by centrifugation to separate the released granules was repeated until 90% of the mast cells were disrupted. This technique resulted in a high yield of intact granules since the released granules were only exposed to the single sonication pulse. The intact granules were separated from plasma membrane fragments by centrifugation through a Percoll gradient. The perigranular membranes were then obtained by osmotic lysis of the purified intact granules. The plasma membrane fraction was enriched 4.5-fold (range, 4.1-6.1) in 5'-nucleotidase activity, a plasma membrane marker enzyme. No suitable marker enzyme activity was found for the perigranular membrane fraction. An important aspect of this procedure is its potential for obtaining both a plasma and perigranular membrane preparation in high yield and purity from the same mast cell preparation.     

Simultaneous preparation of paired, syncytial, microvillous and basal membranes from human placenta.

A method for the simultaneous preparation of microvillous and basal membrane vesicles from human placental syncytiotrophoblast is described. Mg2(+)-aggregated basal membranes are separated from microvillous membranes by low-speed centrifugation after initial homogenization and centrifugation steps. Microvillous membranes (MVM) are obtained from the low speed supernatant while basal membranes (BM) contained in the Mg2(+)-aggregated material are resuspended and further purified on a sucrose step gradient. MVM and BM prepared by this method were enriched 20-fold and 11-fold as determined by the membrane marker enzymes, alkaline phosphatase (MVM) and adenylate cyclase (BM). There was minimal cross-contamination of the two isolated plasma membrane fractions and the yields obtained were 26% (MVM) and 21% (BM) compared to the initial homogenate. The MVM and BM fractions were free from contamination by mitochondrial or lysosomal membranes and showed only minor contamination by microsomal membranes. The two membrane fractions were also tested for the presence of non-syncytial plasma membranes by electrophoretic immunoblotting. Contamination of both MVM and BM by fibroblast, endothelial, macrophage and cytotrophoblast plasma membranes amounted to less than 15% of the total membrane protein as determined by immunoblotting. Vesicle orientation, determined from the latency of specific concanavalin A binding, was 88 +/- 4% right-side out for MVM and 73 +/- 12% right-side out for BM. This simple preparative procedure produces a high yield of both MVM and BM from human placenta. The analytical data demonstrates that 'paired' MVM and BM fractions derived from the same placental tissue have a high purity in terms not only of contamination by intracellular membranes, but also in terms of contamination by non-syncytial plasma membranes.     

Primary role of calcium ions in arachidonic acid release from rat platelet membranes. Comparison with human platelet membranes.

The liberation of arachidonic acid (AA) was investigated in platelet membranes prelabelled with [3H]AA. In rat platelet membranes, Ca2+ at concentrations over several hundred nanomolar induced [3H]AA release, with a concurrent decrease in 3H radioactivity of phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine. Some 4-6% of total radioactivity incorporated into platelet membrane lipids was released at 1-10 microM-Ca2+, which is nearly equivalent to that attained in agonist-stimulated platelets. Formation of lysophospholipids in [3H]glycerol-labelled membranes and decrease in [3H]AA liberated by the phospholipase A2 inhibitors mepacrine and ONO-RS-082 suggest that [3H]AA release is mainly catalysed by phospholipase A2. In intact platelets agonist-stimulated [3H]AA release was markedly decreased in the absence of extracellular Ca2+ or in the presence of the intracellular Ca2+ chelator quin 2. These results indicate that in rat platelets the rise of intracellular Ca2+ plays a primary role in the activation of phospholipase A2. In contrast, Ca2+ even at high millimolar concentrations did not effectively stimulate [3H]AA release in human platelet membranes. Thus factor(s) additional to or independent of Ca2+ is required for the liberation of AA in human platelets.     

Isolation of the plasma membrane and organelles from Chinese hamster ovary cells.

Two methods are described enabling the plasma membrane from Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells to be obtained rapidly, relatively pure and with a good yield. In both cases, cells were disrupted by nitrogen cavitation in an isoosmotic buffer either at pH 5.4 or at pH 7.4. In the first approach, cells were lysed at pH 7.4 and the plasma membrane and cell organelles were isolated on a self-generated gradient of Percoll, at neutral pH. Mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum were recovered in the denser fractions, plasma membrane fragments were found in the lighter fractions, but always contaminated by lysosomes. Because lysosomes were found to sediment in acidic conditions, cells were lysed at pH 5.4 and presedimentation (1500 x g) of the cell homogenate at the same pH enabled more than 80% of the lysosomes to be removed. Then, ultracentrifugation of the supernatant over a Percoll gradient at neutral pH yielded plasma membrane fractions practically free of lysosomes with an enrichment ratio of 3 and fractions of mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum with enrichment ratios of 17 and 6, respectively. A major problem was encountered in the final step of elimination of Percoll from the purified plasma membrane fractions. Whatever the technique used for eliminating Percoll, plasma membranes were observed to be contaminated by a Percoll constituent which prevented further purification and biochemical identification of the lipids extracted from these membrane fractions to be carried out. A second method of plasma membrane preparation was tested consisting first in the coating of the cell surface with positive colloidal silica which was stabilized by an anionic polymer. Then, and through differential centrifugations, plasma membrane fractions were easily obtained within less than 1 h, with a yield of 65% and an enrichment ratio of 7. The coating pellicle was quantitatively removed thus enabling any biochemical manipulation of the plasma membrane to be carried out. The lipids present in the plasma membrane of CHO cells were analyzed and are described, both in terms of headgroup and acyl chain composition.     

Isolation of plasma membranes and Golgi apparatus from a single chicken liver homogenate

Chicken liver plasma membranes, minimally contaminated with Golgi apparatus-derived vesicles, were prepared from a low-speed (400 g) pellet by means of flotation in isotonic Percoll solution, followed by a hypotonic wash and flotation in a discontinuous sucrose gradient. Based on the analysis of suitable marker enzymes, alkaline phosphatase and alkaline phosphodiesterase, two plasma membrane fractions were isolated with enrichments, depending on the equilibrium density and marker of 28-97 and with a total yield of 4-5%. Golgi apparatus fractions were prepared by flotation of microsomes, obtained from the same homogenate as the low-speed pellet, in a discontinuous sucrose gradient. The trans-Golgi marker galactosyltransferase was 27-fold enriched in a fraction of intermediate density (d=1.077-1.116 g/ml). Approximately 12% of galactosyltransferase was recovered in the membranes equilibrating d=1.031-1.148 g/ml. Contamination with plasma membrane fragments was low in the light (d=1.031-1.077 g/ml) and intermediate density Golgi vesicles. The isolation of purified plasma membranes and Golgi vesicles from one liver homogenate will enable future studies on receptor cycling between these cell organelles.     

Isolation and characterization of plasma membranes from krebs II ascite cells using Percoll gradient

1. Plasma membranes were isolated from Krebs II ascite cells grown in the mouse. Cells were disrupted by nitrogen cavitation in an isotonic alkaline buffer containing magnesium and ATP. Isolation was performed in an alkaline-buffered self-generating gradient of Percoll with an angular rotor. At each step of the preparation, the pH appeared as the critical aspect of our procedure. 2. External membrane markers were concanavalin A and 5'-nucleotidase (EC 3.1.3.5). They reached a relative specific activity of 10, whereas this value was only of 0.7 for the endoplasmic reticulum marker, NADH dehydrogenase (EC 1.6.99.3). 3. Plasma membrane from 4 ml packed cells were isolated within 1 h after homogenization with good yield: 50% and 67% of total [3H]concanavalin A and 5'-nucleotidase, respectively, were recovered in the two plasma membrane fractions. 4. Electron microscopy examination showed the presence of vesicles of different sizes devoid of other structural contaminants. 5. Using the specific binding of concanavalin A to the external cell membrane, it was calculated that about 50% of the total cell phospholipid and 10% protein are located in the plasma membrane. Their sphingomyelin content is much higher than in the whole cell, in contrast to phosphatidylinositol, known as a more specific endoplasmic reticulum phospholipid.     

Fibrinogen binding to human platelet plasma membranes. Identification of two steps requiring divalent cations

Fibrinogen binding to platelet plasma membranes, which is a prerequisite for platelet aggregation, was determined by incubating 125I-labeled fibrinogen with isolated membranes and measuring the amount of radioactivity sedimenting with the membranes through 15% sucrose. Fibrinogen binding was optimal at 10(-3) M Ca2+. Scatchard analyses of the fibrinogen binding showed that the membrane capacity for fibrinogen was 1.6 X 10(-12) mol/mg of membrane protein, with a dissociation constant (Kd) = 1.2 X 10(-8) M. When Ca2+ levels were manipulated by the addition of varying amounts of EGTA at a fixed Mg2+ concentration of 3 X 10(-3) M, specific binding of fibrinogen to platelet membranes occurred only at Ca2+ concentrations greater than or equal to 10(-6) M. Membranes isolated from platelets of an individual with Glanzmann's thrombasthenia bound only 12% as much fibrinogen as control platelets. The data in the present study suggest that there are two divalent cation binding sites that must be occupied for fibrinogen to bind: one site is specific for calcium and is saturated at 10(-6) M Ca2+; the other site is less specific and is saturated at a 10(-3) M concentration of either Ca2+ or Mg2+. Fibrinogen binding to intact platelets and, consequently, platelet aggregation only required 10(-3) M extracellular divalent cation and was not specific for Ca2+. These data indicate that the cytoplasm is a potential source for the requirement of 10(-6) M Ca2+, and that changes in the intracellular concentration of Ca2+ may cause the expression of fibrinogen receptors during ADP-induced platelet activation.     

Effects of remantadine on fusion of lipid membranes of influenza A virus with plasma and internal membranes of lymphoblastic cells

The method of fluorescence dequenching was used to study the interaction between influenza virus A/Krasnodar/101/59 and Namalwa and Raji lymphoblastoid cells. Experiments with endocytosis inhibitors and fluorescence quenchers have shown that at pH = 5.0 the virus lipid envelopes are fused with the plasma membranes of the cells, and at pH = 7.4 the virus lipid envelopes are fused with the internal, presumably endosomal, membranes of the cells. Remantadine at a concentration of 50-1000 micrograms/ml did not influence the fusion of virus lipid envelopes with intracellular membranes at pH = 7.4 whereas at pH = 5.0 it inhibited, beginning from 25 micrograms/ml concentration, the fusion of virus lipid envelopes with the plasma membranes of cells.     

Physical properties of membrane fractions isolated from human platelets: implications for chilling induced platelet activation.

In previous studies, it has been suggested that chilling induced activation of human platelets is related to a lipid phase transition seen in membrane lipids. Those studies showed a single, surprisingly cooperative transition in human platelets, as determined by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, findings that are confirmed here with calorimetric measurements. Such transitions have now been studied in membrane fractions obtained from the platelets and it is reported that all fractions and purified phospholipids show similar transitions. In order to obtain these data it was necessary to develop means for separating these fractions. Therefore, a novel method for isolation and separation of dense tubular system (DTS) and plasma membranes in human platelets is described here. Lipid analysis showed that phosphatidylcholine (PC) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) were the dominant phospholipids in both fractions, whereas cholesterol and sphingomyelin (SM) were predominantly located in the plasma membranes. Thermotropic phase transitions in the two membrane fractions, determined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and FTIR spectroscopy were found to occur at about 15 degrees C, similar to the Tm of intact human platelets. These data are discussed in relation to the role of the DTS and plasma membranes in the cold-induced activation of human platelets.     

Bidirectional transbilayer lipid movement in human platelets as vizualized by the fluorescent membrane probe 1-[4-(trimethylammonio)phenyl]-6-phenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene

Transbilayer movement of the fluorescent membrane probe TMA-DPH [1-[4-(trimethylammonio)phenyl]-6-phenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene] in the plasma membrane of human platelets was investigated by measuring fluorescence intensity and fluorescence decay. Labeling of unstimulated platelets by TMA-DPH results in a rapid increase in fluorescence intensity, leveling off within 1 min. Dilution of platelets into buffer without TMA-DPH leads to an almost complete rapid efflux of TMA-DPH, indicating that TMA-DPH labels only the outer leaflet of the plasma membrane. Transbilayer movement of the fluorescent probe in unstimulated platelets could be observed upon prolonged incubation and occurs with a t1/2 of 60-90 min. Stimulation of platelets with thrombin directly after the initial rapid uptake of TMA-DPH results in a fast increase in membrane-bound TMA-DPH, fully explained by the increase in plasma membrane caused by secretion of intracellular storage organelles. No indications for increased transbilayer movement of the probe were found, since dilution of thrombin-stimulated TMA-DPH-labeled platelets into buffer without TMA-DPH indicated no uptake of TMA-DPH by intracellular membranes. In contrast to thrombin, stimulation of TMA-DPH-labeled platelets with the Ca2(+)-ionophore ionomycin results in a much larger increase in fluorescence intensity. This process is accompanied by labeling of intracellular membranes as indicated by incomplete efflux of TMA-DPH after dilution of the stimulated platelets. Thus, stimulation of platelets by ionomycin gives rise to rapid and massive inward movement of TMA-DPH (t1/2 approximately 10-12 s). Prolonged incubation of platelets in the absence of any stimulus allows labeling of the total lipid pool, including intracellular membranes.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Lipid composition of subcellular particles from sheep platelets. Location of phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine in plasma membranes and platelet liposomes

The lipid composition of whole sheep platelets and their subcellular fractions was determined. The basic lipids show similar distributions in granules, microsomes, plasma membranes and whole platelets. Phospholipid (about 70% of total lipids) and cholesterol (25% of total lipids) are the principal lipid components. Free cholesterol represents about 98% of the total, whereas cholesteryl ester is a minor component. The phospholipid composition found in intact platelets and their subcellular particles is about: 35% phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), 30% phosphatidylcholine (PC), 20% sphingomyelin and 15% phosphatidylserine (PS). We also investigated aminophospholipid topology in intact platelet plasma membranes and platelet liposomes by using the nonpenetrating chemical probe trinitrobenzenesulfonic acid (TNBS), because they are the major components of total lipids. In intact platelets, PS is not accessible to TNBS during the initial 15 min of incubation, whereas 18% PE is labelled after 15 min. In contrast, in phospholipid extracted from platelets 80% PE and 67% PS react with TNBS within 5 min, while 27 and 25% PE and 15 and 19% PS from liposomes and isolated plasma membranes, respectively, were modified after 15 min of incubation. In view of this chemical modification, it is concluded that 22% of PE and less than 1% of PS are located on the external surface of intact platelet plasma membranes. The asymmetric orientation of aminophospholipids is similar between liposomes and isolated plasma membrane. PS (23 and 28%) and PE (34 and 31%) are scarcely represented outside the bilayer. The data found are consistent with the nonrandom phospholipid distribution of blood cell surface membranes.